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 increases in part because "we moved all of our paraprofessionals. In the past we've had paras that work with students in both the regular ed setting and the special ed setting. As needs have increased, we have had to adjust. And as a result, we have moved all of our paraprofessionals from the regular red line to the special education line."

School officials clarified that the move represents a reallocation of roughly $77,000 plus an additional ~ $23,000 shift for one aide who is now needed exclusively in special education. Those changes are reflected in the line-item comparisons the principal displayed for FY25 versus the district's FY26 proposed budget.

On enrollment and costs

The district reported 109 students currently enrolled and told the board it expects a kindergarten class that would increase enrollment to roughly 115'120 students next year. Board members and staff noted the small size of the district affects per-pupil calculations because fixed costs for classrooms and staffing do not scale down evenly with enrollment.

Public commenters pressed for clarity on special-education spending. Resident William Branting referenced the budget page showing roughly $586,797 under special-education staff, salaries and services and asked whether that covered about 23 students. School staff responded that the figure reflects staff and services for students served in-district and that the spending is legally required to provide a free appropriate public education.

Reserve fund and out-of-district placements

Board Chair Tiffany DeBrio said the district's special-education reserve (a trust established in prior warrant articles) currently holds about $300,000. The board discussed whether to tap that trust to reduce the FY26 increase. "There's about 300,000 in that special ed trust right now," DeBrio said during public comment.

Staff cautioned the board that the trust was set up, in part, for unanticipated costs and that some high-cost scenarios (notably out-of-district placements) can consume large reserves quickly. Officials said known IEP services for students already identified are included in the proposed budget and that the trust is typically reserved for truly unanticipated expenses. School staff also said the district currently has no students placed out of district.

Other budget details

- Food services: School business staff explained the food-services line rose because food costs are increasing. "The increases in the cost of food are substantial," the staff member said. - Contracted services: Several related services (occupational therapy, speech and other related services) were moved from salary lines into the contractual-services line, which shifts costs on paper. - Transportation: The First Student contract was reported to be increasing by just over $4,000, with special-education transportation continuing near $15,000.

Hiring and personnel actions

Separately from the budget discussion, the district announced the resignation of a fifth-grade teacher, Molly Collins, effective Dec. 20. The board accepted the resignation and the district said it had already hired Jacqueline Silvani to fill the position for the remainder of the year; the board will post and hire for FY26 as part of normal hiring procedures. The principal said the FY26 budget includes a placeholder at a Master's, step 5 (M-5) salary for a new hire.

Board action and next steps

The board voted to accept the FY26 budget as presented. The board also approved other routine items discussed during the meeting, including minutes and several policy revisions. School officials said the presentation materials and related packet items would be posted online following the meeting for public review.

The board and staff emphasized state-level funding pressures: SAU staff and board members noted recent cuts to the state's special-education reimbursement rate and rising demand for services statewide, and they urged residents to contact state legislators about adequacy funding for education.

What to watch next: The board noted that if enrollment or student-service needs change — for example, a newly arriving student requiring an expensive out-of-district placement — the district could need to reassess the budget and consider drawing on reserve funds.