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School committee reviews FY25 budget; reports small overall surplus and state special-education transportation aid
Summary
District finance staff reported management of a roughly $15 million FY25 budget that closed with about a $2,000 surplus overall, account-level variances, a Deven's account surplus exceeding $200,000, an expected $132,000 in state aid for special-education transportation, release of frozen federal grants, and a plan to return $1,900 to town free cash.
Mandy Ostaszewski provided the Harvard School Committee with a closeout report for fiscal year 2025, describing a complex budget of more than $15 million that ended with an overall surplus of roughly $2,000.
Ostaszewski reviewed multiple accounts, noting that some lines experienced overages while others showed surpluses. She said the Deven's account — the district’s largest account referenced in the packet — ended the year with a surplus of over $200,000 despite higher-than-budgeted spending tied to additional kindergarten sections and building-related expenses. Ostaszewski also told the committee the state will provide an additional $132,000 for special-education transportation and that previously frozen federal grants had been released.
Committee members discussed how to communicate the budget results to the public; they agreed to consider sharing the update via ParentSquare and potentially hosting a chalk-talk. The committee approved returning $1,900 to the town’s free cash.
The committee expressed appreciation for the positive ending position and for the passage of the town override that supported FY25 operations.
