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Committee approves resolution creating special education reserve fund with amendment
Summary
The committee approved a resolution establishing a special education reserve fund allowing up to 2% of annual expenditures to cover unanticipated special-ed costs, with an amendment requiring any reserve-funded expense be folded into the next year's operating budget.
The Medford School Committee unanimously approved a resolution on June 8 to establish a special education reserve fund intended to cover unanticipated or extraordinary special-education expenses, such as out-of-district tuition and specialized transportation.
Member Parks, who introduced the resolution, described the fund as a mechanism to smooth year-to-year fluctuations in special-education costs by allowing the district to place up to 2% of total annual expenditures into an interest-bearing reserve. "This fund would help offset costs as it grows and help when students move in mid-year requiring services not budgeted at the start of the year," Parks said.
Member Rousseau proposed, and Member Parks accepted, an amendment clarifying that any expense covered by the reserve must be incorporated into the district’s subsequent fiscal-year operating budget and may not be funded through the reserve in consecutive years. Rousseau said the change was intended to prevent the fund from being used as an ongoing operating account.
Following roll-call votes the motion passed 7–0 as amended. Committee members noted the resolution will be presented to City Council on June 23 (date corrected during the meeting).
