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Scotland Board reviews preliminary 2026–27 budget with 10.3% proposed increase
Summary
The Scotland Board of Education reviewed a preliminary 2026–27 budget proposing a $253,226 (10.27%) increase, citing rising special-education costs, BCBA services after grant expiration, and higher insurance; trustees discussed cost reductions including an anticipated teacher retirement.
The Scotland Board of Education reviewed a preliminary budget for 2026–27 that would raise spending by $253,226, or about 10.27% over the current year. Superintendent Valerie Bruneau and Chair Cassidy Martin presented the drivers of the increase, which include BCBA services through Bloom (grant funding ends this year), special-education tuition with transportation, and an estimated roughly 7% increase in medical insurance costs.
Board members discussed options to reduce the increase, including expected savings from a potential teacher retirement and a proposed reduction of one special-education teacher. Bruneau said Scotland currently receives about $14,000 in SEED funding and is pushing for additional Special Education expansion dollars but did not give a firm estimate of new state aid. The Board asked staff to continue identifying reductions and noted that the RD11 superintendent encouraged focusing on the dollar amount of the increase.
The budget discussion remains preliminary; the Board did not adopt a final budget at the March 3 meeting. The Board scheduled additional budget work for upcoming meetings and listed the budget as a next-meeting item for April 7, 2026.
