Wareham report: FY25 spending focused on instruction, transportation and special education

Kristen (finance presenter) told the Wareham School Committee on Aug. 21 that the district expended nearly the entire local FY25 budget, leaving about $120,000 unspent of roughly $34 million.

Kristen said instruction accounted for the largest share of spending, with about $23 million in instructional expenditures and $23.1 million in instructional salaries. Special education direct costs totaled $12,754,000, and transportation from the local budget totaled $2,767,000.

The finance presenter broke out major non‑salary items: out‑of‑district tuitions of $2,317,000; utilities of roughly $895,620 for electric and about $250,000 for heating; and non‑salary transportation costs of about $1,435,000 largely for contracted out‑of‑district runs. Copier leases and related fixed charges were listed at about $235,000.

Committee members asked whether particular schools’ substitute and salary overruns reflected higher absenteeism or other causes. Kristen said long‑term leaves, mid‑year resignations and the lag to fill positions can drive substitute spending and that principals do not separately budget salary lines in the same way they submit expense budgets. When asked for more detail, Kristen agreed to provide further breakdowns — for example, how much of the $12.7 million special‑education total represents transportation and out‑of‑district tuition.

Committee discussion also noted ongoing hiring challenges heading into the new year. The superintendent and personnel staff said there were several open positions the district was still filling; the superintendent estimated about seven positions remained unfilled at the time of the meeting.

Kristen’s presentation used the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) functional codes to group spending (administration, instruction, pupil services, operations and maintenance, benefits and fixed charges, community services, and tuition/out‑of‑district payments). The finance presenter recommended continued close monitoring of tuition, transportation and utility accounts.

The committee did not take a formal budget vote at the meeting; members asked staff to return with requested itemized breakdowns and clarifications ahead of the school year.