Special education and transportation costs push FY26 monitoring; district to use circuit breaker funds, may seek extraordinary relief

Freetown-Lakeville — The Freetown-Lakeville Regional School Committee was warned on Nov. 12 that special education and transportation costs are above projections for FY26, prompting administrators to tap circuit breaker funds and consider applying for extraordinary relief.

Business manager Jack Higgins said special education costs rose because of changes in student needs and additions after the budget adoption, including out-of-state move-ins that do not carry first-year funding relief. Transportation costs also increased because some students who previously rode together now require separate vans due to health or behavioral needs.

"We will be utilizing circuit breaker funds to make up that difference," Higgins said, adding that the district had not budgeted to use reserves that would otherwise be earmarked for the following year. He said the district may apply for extraordinary relief at year-end to reimburse some of those expenditures.

Student services director Kelly Steele reported the district is up 10 special education students since the start of the school year, with projected special education caseload near 563 for the year. Administrators said they will continue to monitor expenditures closely and present updates to finance subcommittees and the full committee.

No new budget votes were taken at the meeting; the committee continues monthly monitoring to determine whether further adjustments or remedial measures are necessary.