15:18The committee faced the challenge of managing limited resources, a situation one member described as a “triage” scenario. To manage the financial gap, a motion was put forward to reduce the shortfall to $59,250, which the town would cover from its general fund. This decision came after reviewing previous budget oversight and attempting to resolve the deficit without severely impacting educational programs. The committee deliberated on ways to restore essential services, especially in reading and math intervention, which had been impacted by the budget constraints.

46:37A focus of the meeting was on the restoration of a special education teacher position that had been cut due to an unsuccessful budget override. The committee proposed using $105,000 of Special Education (SPED) increment funds to reinstate this position and to fund as much of a reading specialist role as possible. The restoration was deemed critical to meet the needs of high-needs students and ensure adequate support for early literacy intervention. Discussions highlighted the importance of addressing early literacy as a means to achieve educational gains, particularly for students in kindergarten through second grade.

01:22:18The committee also examined the allocation of funds for the district’s preschool program. Maintaining the program’s financial viability was a concern, with discussions about the program’s self-sustaining model through peer tuition, contrasted with the costs for students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). The committee considered potential cost-saving measures, such as not employing paraprofessionals on Fridays when preschool classes did not meet, which could save approximately $11,196.

01:19:50Another point of concern was the budgeting for new curriculum materials, particularly for math and English Language Arts (ELA). A proposal to allocate up to $18,000 from school choice funds was made to cover the purchase of necessary educational resources before the June 30 deadline. The committee discussed the balance between physical and digital resources, with some members advocating for updated materials to ensure consistency and alignment with other schools.

There was a concerted effort to ensure compliance with budgeting regulations and to maximize the potential of available financial resources.

01:54:15In addition to budgetary matters, the committee briefly touched on several administrative updates. The appointment of a nurse leader was approved without detailed debate, and discussions took place regarding the need for a clear meal charge policy following a recent audit. Additionally, the superintendent’s evaluation process was reviewed, confirming the transparency of the evaluation as a public document.

02:01:31The meeting concluded with the election of officers for the 2025-2026 term, where Kim Schott was elected as chair, Margaret Larson as vice chair, and other committee assignments were confirmed. The committee then transitioned into an executive session to discuss further matters.