East Kingston board approves FY26 budget after debate over special-education costs

The East Kingston Elementary School Board approved the district's proposed fiscal year 2026 budget at a public hearing and meeting after public questions and board discussion centered on rising special-education costs and staff-line reassignments.

Board members and school staff said the budget reflects a reallocation of paraprofessionals into the special-education line, the elimination of one regular teaching position and projected enrollment increases. "For this presentation, we're just going to touch on the drivers of next year's school budget, 2526 school budget," Principal Brandon French said as he opened the review of the proposed figures.

Why it matters: Special-education spending drives much of the change between FY25 and FY26. The district moved paraprofessionals from the regular-education salary line into the special-education line, producing a large percentage increase in that category even though some of the change is a bookkeeping shift, school officials said. The board also debated whether to draw on a special-education reserve established by warrant articles in prior years to soften the budget's immediate tax impact.

The numbers and staffing changes

Principal Brandon French told the meeting the regular-education salary line shows a 10% decrease because the district would reduce regular classroom teaching staff from nine teachers to eight next year. He said the special-education line…