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Somersworth school officials report nearly $250,000 in unplanned special-education costs
Summary
The Somersworth School Board heard a budget update showing nearly $250,000 in unanticipated special-education and related costs since the last report, and staff said they will revisit the budget in April.
School officials told the Somersworth School Board that the district has absorbed nearly $250,000 in unanticipated special-education and related costs since the last budget update, placing new pressure on the current-year budget.
Business administrator Katie told the board that the district has “been hit with, quite a number of additional special ed costs that we weren't anticipating, just under $250,000 since the last update.” She detailed several components of that total: encumbered contracted services for three registered behavior technicians (RBTs) of “over a hundred thousand,” three additional out-of-district placements totaling about $115,000 and transportation for three newly identified homeless students of roughly $30,000. Katie also said an invoice arrived from another district for services and tuition for students placed there by court order, with services for the year totaling about $121,000; the district is still determining the final charge and said it expects to be billed only for services, not tuition.
The business administrator said the district received additional revenue for Career and Technical Center (CTC) transportation grants, naming CTC director Caitlin Carrington for securing two state transportation grants totaling $64,798.70 that will offset some transportation costs. Katie said the district will review the implications on the budget and that she and another administrator (John) plan to meet this week to determine whether any midyear decisions are required; she will update the board in April.
Board members pressed for clarity on which costs are one-time and which will recur, and on the status of the invoice from the court-placed students. Katie said the district has heard it will be charged for services only but is still “working out the details.”
Superintendent’s remarks earlier in the meeting also reminded residents of upcoming calendar items tied to the budget process: a community forum on federal education developments and a city council budget hearing scheduled for April 7 that the superintendent said will address the school budget request for the coming year.
The board did not adopt any budget action at the meeting but directed staff to continue analysis and report back at the April meeting.
The business administrator provided the figures and said she will present additional updates at the next school-board meeting in April.
