Committee approves preschool tuition increases and passes fall-adjusted budget and revolving-account closures
Summary
The committee approved FY27 preschool tuition increases (session 4 from $7,500 to $8,000) and a reduction in the free-and-reduced tuition remission for part-day sessions from 75% to 50%; it also approved the fall-adjusted FY26 operating/capital budget adjustments to close a deficit and voted to close inactive revolving accounts and clarify student-activity fund procedures.
The committee considered several finance items, including proposed FY27 preschool tuition changes, a complex fall-adjusted FY26 operating and capital budget, and a recommendation to close inactive revolving accounts.
Preschool tuition: Administration proposed modest increases across preschool sessions and a shift in tuition-assistance rules that would reduce the remission for free-and-reduced households from 75% to 50% for part-day sessions. The administration said program revenue is currently estimated at about $400,000 and program costs are just under $1,000,000; under today's enrollments the proposed rate changes would produce roughly $50,000 in additional revenue. One committee member raised equity concerns, noting the change would have an outsized effect on the most financially vulnerable families (16 currently in the free/reduced bucket). Administration said it already uses flexible payment plans and family-connections programming as alternative supports but acknowledged the change was recommended with regret to preserve program viability. A motion to approve the FY27 preschool tuition rates as presented was made, seconded and put to a vote.
Fall-adjusted FY26 budget: Director of finance and operations Dr. Bishop Flores and finance staff described a fall adjusted budget that addressed an earlier $350,000 deficit and an underbudgeted heating/fuel line (about $200,000) by reallocating salary surpluses and applying additional Chapter 70 revenue. Administration said the assessments to member towns remain unchanged; the adjusted budget will be recertified to towns following committee approval. A motion to approve the FY26 fall adjusted operating and capital budget was made, seconded and carried.
Revolving accounts and student-activity funds: Finance staff proposed closing several dormant revolving accounts and clarified auditor guidance on student-activity funds: monies that belong to student clubs should remain in student-activity accounts under student/adviser/coach oversight, while booster funds should be held by booster 501(c)(3) organizations. The committee approved closures and asked administration to improve transparency, SOPs and training on student-activity accounting.
Votes at a glance: consent agenda (donations and the April 7–10, 2026 field trip) — motion moved/seconded and approved per agenda; CTE/myCAP policy — approved as first-and-final reading (amended); IKF graduation/competency policy — approved as first-and-final reading; FY27 preschool tuition rates — approved as presented; FY26 fall adjusted operating and capital budget — approved as presented; closures of revolving accounts — approved as presented. Transcript does not record roll-call tallies for these votes; motions and seconds are recorded in the meeting minutes.
