Revere Public Schools administrators told the School Committee at its Nov. 18 meeting that unusually high residential and out‑of‑district tuition costs are straining the district’s budget and that state reimbursements through the education “circuit‑breaker” program will be received in a later fiscal year, limiting immediate relief.

Why it matters: Officials said a recent residential placement carried a very large price tag and that several such placements in a single year can create significant short‑term deficits. Because circuit‑breaker claims are processed and reimbursed on a lag, the district’s cash flow can be harmed even if the state eventually reimburses a portion of the cost.

Administration described one recent placement listed in the budget materials as costing $576,000; a later repetition in the transcript contained an inconsistent figure. The district warned such outplacements are the kind of account that “can have surges in cost depending on unexpected outplacements,” and that multiple high‑cost placements amplify budget pressure.

District staff explained that the tuition and related 1:1 aide costs for out‑of‑district residential placements are eligible for the state’s circuit‑breaker reimbursement. However, those reimbursements are claimed in the following fiscal cycle and therefore do not help current‑year cash flow. Officials said the reimbursement percentage varies annually and requires legislative approval; the discussion recorded a 78% reimbursement rate for the current reference year but noted the percentage has been as low as 60% in prior years.

School leaders told the committee they monitor these tuition and placement accounts monthly and bring unexpected swings to committee meetings so members understand the budget risk. The discussion flagged transportation and other program priorities that may be deprioritized when large outplacement costs occur.

Next steps: Administrators did not propose a formal board action at the Nov. 18 meeting but indicated the committee will continue to monitor tuition and placement accounts and return with budget options as needed.