Freetown-Lakeville committee approves $250,000 from reserves to save four staff positions

The Freetown-Lakeville Regional School Committee voted May 7 to move $250,000 from its Excess and Deficiency (E&D) balance into the FY2026 salary budget, a one-time action the committee said will preserve four district positions that otherwise would have been cut.

The vote followed a months‑long budget process that began with a level-service budget of $49,135,217 presented to the committee on Feb. 5 and narrowed after town officials signaled they could not fully support that number. District leaders said additional savings identified after the first presentation — including about $500,000 in line‑item reductions and updated health‑insurance figures — did not eliminate the need for staffing changes. The committee and administration said an initial proposal in March identified roughly 17 positions for reduction; subsequent adjustments cut that number to 11 and, with the E&D transfer, the district will avoid eliminating four additional posts.

Interim Superintendent Dr. Barbara Stockey and Director of Finance Jack Higgins told the committee the budget timeline had evolved as new state and local information arrived. Higgins outlined a sequence of choices: presenting the level budget in February, working with town finance officers in March, proposing personnel reductions March 12, and presenting a $250,000 E&D amendment as “budget adjustment number 4” on April 30. Higgins said some material savings were tied to lower expected substitute costs and other line items but that a handful of positions remain targeted for reduction because of retirements and nonrenewals tied to enrollment declines.

The committee’s discussion featured two recurring lines of argument: members who worried that using E&D for recurring operational salaries would be a “slippery slope,” and members who argued the one‑time transfer would prevent immediate job losses and buy time for anticipated state funds or other mitigation. Committee member Crystal Ing said she opposed the transfer, warning against relying on reserves for ongoing expenses. Committee member Tim Emery framed the amendment as a one‑time measure: “it is as simple as we move 250,000 from E and D as a 1 time thing to keep the 4,” he said during the meeting, noting the four positions would otherwise result in immediate job losses.

A public commenter who identified themselves from Lakeville urged the committee to reject the E&D transfer, saying it could harm town finances in future years. Committee members pressed administration on timing and the district’s corrective actions to align staffing to enrollment; Higgins and Stockey said the district had used school‑choice placeholder planning and grant timing to reduce the number of cuts from the first proposal.

Votes at a glance: the committee approved the FY26 budget adjustment using $250,000 from E&D for salaries (see structured actions below). The committee also approved payroll and vendor warrants for 04/30/2025, multiple sets of regular‑session minutes (04/14/2025 and 04/30/2025), and voted to approve executive‑session minutes from 04/30/2025 but to withhold posting those minutes until collective bargaining is complete. Those non‑budget motions passed by voice or roll call as recorded in the meeting transcript.

Why it matters: Committee members said the transfer prevents immediate staff layoffs tied to the district’s spring personnel changes while the district awaits possible supplemental state funding and final town assessments. Opponents said tapping E&D for salaries reduces a reserve meant for unanticipated costs and could complicate future budgets.

What’s next: The committee’s calendar discussion signaled intent to adjust next year’s timeline so final budget votes occur before town elections. Administration said it will proceed with staffing notifications and scheduling for next year now that the committee has acted.