The meeting opened with a detailed presentation by Aaron Orcut, the business manager for Cape Cod Regional Technical High School, who outlined the proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2026. Orcut highlighted a 5.68% increase in the school’s budget, driven by significant cost drivers such as a new transportation contract, inflation, and escalating utility and insurance expenses. He emphasized that these increases were carefully considered and not intended for expansion but necessary to sustain current operations without adding new staff.

A primary concern discussed was the transportation budget, which saw an 18% increase due to a new contract that included provisions for electric buses as part of a grant initiative. Orcut detailed the challenges in securing competitive bids, revealing that only one vendor ultimately submitted an offer. The complexities of the contract and fluctuating state reimbursement rates further compounded the financial burden on the school.

The committee turned its attention to the Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) fund, with Orcut confirming that contributions would be reduced to manage the budget effectively. This decision, influenced by budgetary pressures, was necessary to prevent the overall budget increase from exceeding 8%. The reduction in OPEB contributions, paired with the rising costs in materials and services due to inflation, underscored the broader financial challenges faced by the school.

The Monomoy Regional School District also presented its budget, revealing a draft assessment for Chatham amounting to $11,217,418 for FY 2026. This represented an increase of $98,400, partly due to the conclusion of federal COVID-19 funding and ongoing inflation. The district’s budget increase of 6.86% over the previous year was attributed to rising staffing costs in a competitive job market, with the district emphasizing the historical context of budget fluctuations related to high school debt payments.

Discussions on enrollment trends highlighted a shift in funding distribution, as Chatham’s slightly increased enrollment contrasted with Harwich’s decrease, impacting the local contributions required from each town. The assessment increase for Chatham stood at 8.8%, compared to Harwich’s 5.4%.

Committee members explored the minimum local contribution calculations, noting the impact of property values and income on these figures. This formula, determined by the state, factors into the broader budget allocations and assessment methodologies. The complexities of out-of-district placements for special education students were also scrutinized, with the operational services division of the state imposing a 12% increase in costs for these placements, starkly higher than the previous year’s 3% rise.

The school choice program was another focal point, with discussions on how it offsets costs through state funding of approximately $5,000 to $6,000 per student. The committee expressed concerns about the sustainability of this model amid declining numbers of incoming students, emphasizing the need for a long-term strategy to address changing demographics on Cape Cod.

Additionally, the committee reviewed significant projects, such as the expansion of a window project now covering siding and roofing, accepted into the state’s School Business Authorities Accelerator Repairs Program. The urgency of these repairs was underscored by past incidents of leaks and mold risks, with air quality tests revealing isolated elevated readings necessitating temporary closures and deep cleaning efforts.

The meeting concluded with a discussion on staffing reductions, including the elimination of two classroom teacher positions due to enrollment trends, and the introduction of new positions to better address academic and language needs. Despite the challenges presented by decreasing enrollment, the committee emphasized the importance of professional development to equip staff for evolving student requirements.