Bristol-Warren JFC hears FY25-26 proposed school budget as district cites rising special-education and transportation costs

The Joint Finance Committee (JFC) heard a presentation on the Bristol-Warren Regional School District proposed fiscal year 2025–26 budget, during which district leaders said rising special-education costs and transportation remain the largest budget drivers.

The superintendent (name not specified) told the committee the budget aligns with district strategic goals — improving culture and climate, teaching and learning, professional learning and career and technical education (CTE). The presentation noted steps to expand CTE offerings including a new health careers pathway and increased outreach to attract and retain students in district programs.

The superintendent said the district began this budget cycle with a larger request — "about 2,400,000" over the prior year — and worked to reduce that to the figure included in the book; the committee packet shows a significantly smaller final increase than the starting figure. The presentation identified specific cost pressures: a projected reduction in total state aid of about $220,000, higher pension and health-insurance costs, a five-year bus contract now up for bid, and higher out-of-district tuition costs tied primarily to special-education placements.

District staff gave a numerical example for special education: the high-cost special-education line rises from about $3,100,000 to about $3,500,000 — an increase the presenter said could represent only a few students because individual out-of-district placements are expensive. The superintendent noted the state’s categorical reimbursement pool for high-cost special education has not grown in recent years and so the district must absorb more of those costs.

Transportation costs drew questions from committee members. The district said it currently budgets for 21 buses per day — a number negotiated under the existing contract when enrollment was higher — and expects to bid a contract that could operate with about 19 buses per day. The district explained it buys the daily run: buses are paid for the day even if routes later run for different grade-level schedules.

On technology spending, the district said it will move from using one-time federal ESSER funds for tech hardware to a municipal lease spread over four years to avoid a single large capital spike in the operating budget. The packet and presentation also list an increase in the district’s “other purchased services” line (an 8% increase equal to roughly $752,000) that the presenters tied primarily to higher out-of-district tuition and insurance costs.

Committee members pressed the administration on out-of-district CTE enrollment and special-education placements. The district said it currently tuitioned in two students for CTE and has “almost 20” students currently going out-of-district for CTE programming; officials urged that expansion of in-district CTE programs and a new high-school facility will, over time, reduce outbound tuitioning and may allow the district to tuition students in from other towns.

Members also asked about school consolidations and closures. The presenters said they will close Gutierrez (referred to in the packet) and will coordinate timing with the towns and the Rhode Island Department of Education; they said families and students will be allowed to finish the school year before packing and that formal notice required by the Department of Education (six months’ notice) has been submitted.

On maintenance and site issues related to the new high-school construction, staff and district operations lead Adam McGovern said the project team will provide an operations-and-maintenance manual from the construction contractor describing required upkeep. McGovern added that the project includes “best management practices” such as bioswales, culverts and sand/stone elements that must be maintained to function as designed; committee members asked the JFC to request clarification from the Bristol Planning Board about which drainage items the board expected the district to maintain.

The presentation closed with staff offering to supply additional data (enrollment trends, detailed transportation run counts and posting the full budget book online via the school committee agendas) and with several committee members thanking district staff for responsiveness during the review process.

The JFC took no final budget adoption action at the meeting; the item was presented for comment and for the committee’s continued review. Public comments on the budget were scheduled for the committee’s next meeting.

Ending — Next steps: the district said the full budget book is available through the school committee agendas, staff will supply requested clarifying numbers (bus counts, enrollment trends) and the JFC will continue deliberations at subsequent sessions where public comment will be allowed.