Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Special Education Funding topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
School Committee approves $364,750 from special education reserve to cover unanticipated costs
Summary
The committee voted unanimously to request $364,750 from the town's special education reserve to cover higher special-education transportation rates and unbudgeted out-of-district tuitions; the request will go to the Select Board for final approval.
The Winchester School Committee voted unanimously to request $364,750 from the town's special education reserve fund to cover unexpected special-education transportation and out-of-district tuition costs for the current fiscal year.
Assistant (staff) Marin presented the request and said new transportation contract rates charged through the district's collaborative rose about 35 percent and that new out-of-district tuition obligations also exceeded the amounts budgeted. He said the district projects a roughly $257,000 transportation overage and about $107,000 in autistic tuition over budget.
In moving the item, Marin cited Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 40, Section 13E, as the statutory mechanism for the committee to approve draws from a reserve fund. Marin said the reserve contains approximately $458,880 in available balance; approving $364,750 would leave roughly $90,000 in the account.
The School Committee voted to approve the request and to forward it to the Select Board for final authorization. Committee members asked procedural questions about how the money is disbursed; Marin said the town comptroller recommended encumbering and spending directly from the reserve fund in Munis so invoices are paid from that account. The committee recorded the vote with individual ayes from Christopher Nixon, Mister Hopcroft, Doctor Matthews and the chair; the vote was unanimous.
The committee and staff noted this is the first time the district has drawn on this reserve in recent years and that prior additions to the reserve came from year-end circuit breaker funds and pandemic-era federal grants. Marin also said the reserve accrues interest; last year interest added approximately $40,000 to the fund.
Bylaw/statute: Marin moved the request "in accordance with MGL Chapter 40, Section 13E"; the committee will forward the approved request to the Select Board for their vote and for the town comptroller to process encumbrances and payments.
The Select Board must vote to release the funds before the school department encumbers the amounts against vendor invoices.
