The North Andover School Committee received an updated budget memo Nov. 20 showing higher-than-anticipated state reimbursements for special education while warning of ongoing risk in transportation and out‑of‑district tuition.

Gail (Speaker 8), the district budget lead, said a supplemental state payment increased circuit‑breaker revenue and that the district is "spending down prior year circuit breaker, prior year IDEA grant, then we're going into general fund expenses." She told the committee the district will prioritize using prior-year circuit‑breaker and IDEA carryover before tapping general‑fund dollars to preserve future flexibility.

Gail said the district received an unexpectedly large supplemental circuit‑breaker payment (discussed as roughly $874,000 in the memo) and that, even so, officials will not assume that level of reimbursement going forward. "I would not budget to assume that we are getting this level of reimbursement," she said, noting the state budget and reimbursement percentages can change year to year.

Committee members pressed officials on the most volatile lines. Transportation — especially out‑of‑district special‑education routes — remains the largest near‑term risk. "You can be looking at $200 a day to transport a student," Gail said, describing how rates and per‑student costs vary with placements and route configuration. She noted that some savings in in‑district special‑education transportation freed funds the district plans to use for short‑term consulting to build capacity and keep students in district.

The committee discussed options to reduce long‑term costs, including the district's current use of the CREST collaborative for out‑of‑district routes. A member asked whether collaboratives could assume a greater role in regular transportation; Gail said the district would need further conversations and that the current transportation contract has time remaining.

Superintendent (Speaker 6) and Gail emphasized that staffing remains an ongoing budget risk but said current projections keep the district within appropriations. The administration plans additional monthly budget updates and a public budget presentation scheduled for January as part of FY27 planning.

The committee did not take any formal budget votes at the meeting. Members asked that administrators include transportation questions for a December presentation and said they would share follow‑up requests in advance so staff can include specific data.