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Select Board allows Ipswich schools to tap $100,000 special education reserve for mandated services
Summary
The Select Board unanimously approved a School Committee request allowing the School Administration to access $100,000 from the FY2026 Special Education Reserve to cover unanticipated mandated out-of-district tuition and transportation costs; the reserve balance was reported at about $742,000.
The Ipswich Select Board voted unanimously on June 1 to allow the School Administration to access $100,000 from the Fiscal Year 2026 Special Education Reserve to cover unanticipated mandated services, including out-of-district tuition and transportation.
Tom Markham, director of finance and operations for Ipswich Public Schools, explained that the School Committee had voted to support the request and that the reserve — established for extraordinary special education expenses — has a balance of about $742,000 and had not been used since 2020. Board members asked questions about the nature of the expenses and whether the costs would be incorporated into the FY2027 budget.
The board approved the request by a 5-0 vote. Members framed the reserve as the appropriate mechanism for one-time mandated costs while staff and the School Committee continue to manage longer-term budget planning.
