Dr. Kron, a district administrator, presented the school committee with a quarterly FY26 projection on Nov. 24, reporting a “dramatic stabilization” in out-of-district special education costs while projecting a 15% increase year-over-year driven by state cost-setting for placements. He said the overall FY26 budget remained the same as previously presented but that the district was reallocating between salary and substitute lines to reflect hiring and leave activity.

“We're only projecting to increase 15% over the last year to this year, driven primarily by the state setting the cost for various placement locations,” Dr. Kron said, describing the projection as favorable relative to recent trends and noting the district was well below its three-year average on these costs.

Kron flagged unexpected maintenance expenses at the middle school and high school and said the district had recorded a near-record number of staff maternity leaves — 20 as of that afternoon — increasing substitute costs and, potentially, salary line pressures if long-term replacements are hired.

After the presentation a motion was made and seconded to approve the 11/24 projection for the FY26 budget; the committee approved the motion by voice vote (no roll-call recorded). Kron said the administration plans to present updated projections at the spring public hearing.

The committee did not adopt new expenditure authority at the meeting; the vote approved the projection as presented.