RSU 52 budget set at $39.18 million; $500,000 land-acquisition reserve headed to referendum

The RSU 52 school board presented a proposed $39,181,450 budget for fiscal 2026–27 and advanced a separate $500,000 land-acquisition reserve that will go before voters at a referendum on Thursday, May 21.

Superintendent Carrie Med said the total reflects a 4.86% increase over the prior year, and noted several budget pressures: health-insurance costs rose 11.43% this year (compared with 12.9% last year) and an anticipated adult-education subsidy of about $590,000 was removed from the ED279 form and is now being routed differently. "The total budget is $39,181,450," Med said during her overview, noting the district also received just over $1,000,000 in additional state subsidy.

Why it matters: The proposed budget includes staff shifts and program restorations tied to student needs, while the land reserve would fund a multi-use athletic field complex and a consolidated transportation facility, both items the board has been studying for two to three years.

Details and changes Superintendent Med outlined school-level staffing adjustments tied to enrollment and special-education needs: a sixth-grade teacher position at Greene Central is being moved to special education; a contracted special-education role is being converted to a budgeted position; Turner Elementary will add one teacher and three educational technicians; Leeds Central will retain a newly added special-education nurse. Med emphasized the district’s struggle to recruit speech-language pathologists and bus drivers, saying that when positions must be filled by contractors the cost is higher than hiring staff.

On career and technical education, the district will contract with LRTC to provide a technology/CTE teacher so students continue to receive the program without a district-certified hire. "It is a cost-neutral change," Med said.

Reserve accounts and capital needs Board members explained strategic use of fund balances: a technology reserve (Article 17) smooths a triennial license payment and will receive a $47,492 transfer; capital reserves are being increased and $200,000 is being moved from regular instruction into the capital reserve. The budget also covers ongoing capital work — including repairs to the Leeds roof, Turner Primary water work, and wastewater-treatment-plant payments that began this year.

Land acquisition proposal Article 18 would establish a land-acquisition reserve with up to $500,000 to purchase roughly 18–18.8 acres in Turner for athletic fields and a transportation facility. Med said the board vetted the site with an engineering firm before signing an option and that any purchase would require permitting, including review by the Department of Environmental Protection. "We had the land reviewed by an engineering firm prior to the board signing an option," Med said, adding that the district will pursue required permitting.

Members of the public raised environmental and traffic concerns. A resident asked, "Do we know what kind of environmental impact that'll have on the Cincinnati River?" Med replied the district is aware of permitting requirements and that the new wastewater treatment plant should improve river water quality relative to the old system.

Costs and next steps Superintendent Med said the district has not spent architecture fees tied to building fields and would seek cost estimates only if the land purchase is approved. Board members noted they estimated roughly $27,000 per acre based on market comparisons but did not obtain a formal appraisal. If voters approve the land-reserve transfer at the meeting tonight and later approve the purchase at referendum, the reserve would fund future acquisition; if the referendum rejects the purchase, the reserve would remain designated for land acquisition and the board would decide next steps within the option timeframe.

Votes at a glance (Articles read and advanced at the meeting) - Article 1 (Regular instruction): recommended $14,033,767 — approved by voice. - Article 2 (Special education): recommended $10,097,520 — approved by voice. - Article 3 (Career & Technical Education): recommended amount $13,320 — approved by voice. - Article 4 (Other instruction): recommended $883,487 — approved by voice. - Article 5 (Student and staff support): recommended $3,050,168 — approved by voice. - Article 6 (System administration): recommended $955,113 — approved by voice. - Article 7 (School administration): recommended $2,116,701 — approved by voice. - Article 8 (Transportation and buses): recommended $3,010,564 — approved by voice. - Article 9 (Facilities maintenance): recommended $4,931,949 — approved by voice. - Article 10 (Debt service/other commitments): recommended $0 — approved by voice. - Article 11 (All other expenditures): recommended $88,880 — approved by voice. - Article 12 (ESS funding and municipal assessments): district appropriation and town assessments read (Reed, Leeds, Turner figures read aloud) — approved by voice. - Article 13 (Additional local funds beyond EPS): recommended $7,707,840 — required a written ballot and proceeded accordingly. - Article 14 (Summary school budget; FY 07/01/2026–06/30/2027): recommended $39,181,450 — approved by voice. - Article 15 (Adult education): appropriate $417,193; local share $116,237 — approved by voice. - Article 16 (Expenditure of grants and receipts): approved by voice. - Article 17 (Technology reserve transfer): authorize transfer of $47,492 to technology reserve — approved by voice. - Article 18 (Land acquisition reserve): authorize transfer of up to $500,000 to land-acquisition reserve — approved by voice; a separate referendum on purchase will be on May 21 with two ballots (budget and land purchase). - Article 19–24 (Various reserve expenditures, capital repair transfers and authorization to transfer among cost centers, special education reserve, system administration reserve, etc.): motions carried as read, with Article 20 authorizing transfers up to $200,000 and $252,508 among listed funds.

What was not decided tonight The referendum vote by district voters on May 21 will determine final adoption of the budget and whether the land purchase proceeds. The board did not approve any construction or architectural contracts during the meeting; the district plans to obtain estimates only if the land purchase is approved.

Who said what (attributions) - Superintendent Carrie Med delivered the budget presentation and provided the primary figures and program changes. - The moderator read articles, called motions and announced outcomes. - Residents asked questions about environmental impacts, traffic and likely construction costs; the district responded that engineering review and permitting would be required.

Next steps Voters will decide two separate ballots at a referendum on Thursday, May 21 (1–7 p.m.) at town offices: one for the school budget and a second authorizing the land purchase if the land-acquisition reserve is later used for that purpose. The administration will provide more detailed cost estimates and permitting plans only if the purchase option is exercised and the district moves forward.