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Assistant superintendent: District absorbed $100,000 Title I loss and projects a small surplus
Summary
Swampscott assistant superintendent of finance and operations reported the district absorbed a $100,000 Title I funding loss but currently projects a small year‑end surplus; special education is over budget by about $414,000 and school facilities face nearly $200,000 in additional costs driven mainly by electricity at Swampscott Elementary.
The Swampscott School Committee heard its first‑quarter FY26 budget projection on Oct. 23, in which the district reported it had absorbed a $100,000 loss in Title I funding and now projects a modest year‑end surplus.
Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Miss Stella told the committee that, after accounting for the Title I reduction, districtwide projections show a small surplus. She said administrative salary reserves moved into the proper cost centers after recent hires and that some salary savings from new administrators had helped offset pressures. "We did have a $100,000 loss in our Title 1 funding," Miss Stella said, and added the district has managed staffing and cost‑center adjustments to absorb that reduction.
Key cost drivers: Miss Stella reported the special education cost center is projected to be over budget by about $414,000; she said part of that gap reflects a town request to reduce out‑of‑district tuition by $200,000 with a reserve fund offset. She also flagged school facilities as projected nearly $200,000 over budget, driven primarily by electricity costs at Swampscott Elementary School. The town has appropriated $200,000 in free cash to cover that bill, she said.
Energy savings prospect: The district is installing rooftop solar on the new school; facilities staff said panels are in place on the gym roof and final National Grid inspections and wiring are pending. The district estimates the rooftop solar could be online in February, with savings phased in after interconnection.
What’s next: Committee members asked for regular updates and asked the superintendent and finance staff to continue tracking special education and facilities variances. Miss Stella said she will present a further projection after intra‑cost‑center transfers are completed.
Provenance: Budget figures and the solar update were presented by the assistant superintendent during the Q1 budget update portion of the meeting.
