School committee approves warrant language for $275,000 special‑education drawdown and solar‑canopy leases; opens FY26 budget hearing

The Falmouth Public Schools School Committee voted to include two articles on the upcoming town-meeting warrant and opened a public hearing on the district’s fiscal year 2026 budget.

On the warrant articles, the committee approved language to request a $275,000 draw from the district’s special-education stabilization fund to help cover unexpected out‑of‑district tuition costs. Committee members were told the district’s remaining balance available to draw in April is approximately $636,000 and that the $275,000 request would cover part of roughly $900,000 in additional out‑of‑district tuition costs that have emerged since the year's original estimates. A staff member explaining the request said the warrant item "is just to get it on the warrant at town meeting, and then we would explain to town meeting members why the district budget is so much higher this year than was anticipated." The committee discussed that the draw would still require a two‑thirds vote by town meeting members to be approved there.

The committee also approved warrant language authorizing the…