Adult education funding shift, school‑nutrition changes highlighted in RSU 04 budget review

RSU 04 staff briefed the board on two program funds that are distinct from the general fund: adult education and school nutrition.

Adult education: The board heard that beginning in FY27 the state will allocate the EPS subsidy for 16–20‑year‑old students to adult education programs rather than to the students’ sending high schools. "This is good news for us," the presenter said, noting an estimated new $24,000 adult ed line. Staff described adult ed as a distinct fund (fund code 1500) with a half‑time director shared with athletics; total adult education expenditures were listed near $92,000.

School nutrition: Staff reviewed the school lunch fund and explained a $39,112 increase from FY26 to FY27. Changes include moving to a 50/50 split on the director’s salary with facilities, adding a part‑time support position at the high school, and purchasing a cloud‑based menu planning system to manage dietary restrictions. "The new system helps staff and is an asset to families who have students with dietary restrictions," the staff presenter said. The point‑of‑sale and menu software lines are annual fees included in the budget.

Grants and revenue: Staff noted the district did not qualify this year for the fresh fruits and vegetables grant and zeroed out the related expense and revenue lines. School nutrition maintains its own fund balance and ended the prior year in positive position, a staff member said, allowing a modest balance forward to offset next year’s expenditures.

Next steps: Board members asked for enrollment figures, program brochure details and a breakdown of advertising; staff pointed the board to materials in the Feb. 25 packet and offered follow‑up data if needed.