Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #9 administration and the finance committee presented a detailed FY27 budget-planning timeline and flagged Act 73 implementation items the district must budget for, including class-size minimum standards, minimum transportation requirements and potential infrastructure and governance changes tied to statewide redistricting.

Finance chair Ruby and administration said the board set internal deliverable dates: an initial comprehensive draft for the board on Dec. 16 and a third iteration of the budget by Jan. 27. Elementary and secondary drafts will be reviewed by the finance committee in November, with the district’s annual meeting scheduled by the district articles of agreement for the third Tuesday in March.

Administrators summarized how Act 73’s expected rulemaking could affect FY27 budgeting. "Compliance with average class-size minimum standards is effective 07/01/2026," the administration said, and noted transportation standards and potential increased bus routes could raise operational costs in some scenarios. The district plans to assess secondary scheduling and staffing with school leaders to ensure compliance.

The finance timeline includes typical steps — leadership-council input, building-level budgeting, capital-plan review and revenue projections — and also anticipates engagement with a redistricting task force that may recommend fewer, larger districts. District staff said the district’s current capital plan and building automation systems are in good shape, limiting immediate construction pressures.

Board direction: The board instructed administration to circulate the budget timelines and principal- and program-level guidance to staff and to bring updates to the November and December meetings. No formal budget vote was taken at the meeting.

Ending: Finance and administration asked board members to review circulated materials and attend the November finance meeting for the first elementary draft.