Freetown‑Lakeville school committee adopts revised FY26 budget, ratifies one‑year contracts and approves $665,960 transfer from reserve

The Freetown‑Lakeville Regional School District School Committee on May 20 adopted a revised fiscal year 2026 budget, ratified one‑year memoranda of agreement (MOAs) covering district staff units and approved a $665,960 transfer from the district's excess and deficiency (E&D) fund to cover the contracts.

The action followed a clarification from the committee that a May 7 vote on budget changes did not meet DESE guidance and the district's legal advice because the committee should have voted to adopt a revised budget rather than amend an already‑approved budget. Interim Superintendent Dr. Barbara Starkey told the committee that "a budget can only be amended after it is voted on or approved by the member towns," and that under the district's rules a revised budget requires a two‑thirds vote of the full committee; because only four members voted in favor on May 7, "the motion did not pass," she…