The School Committee Finance Subcommittee convened an early morning session on March 18 to bridge the gap with town leadership over the FY27 budget, specifically targeting how "free cash" might secure the district’s Special Education Stabilization Fund. This coordination follows the committee’s recent approval of a $75.6 million budget and comes as Milton grapples with record-high special education enrollment, which reached 18.6% in the 2024 school year.

Member Mark Loring initiated the discussion, noting that the primary goal was to align with the Select Board on fiscal strategy regarding the town’s unspent reserves. The item on the agenda is discussion with the FY27 budget and coordination with the Select Board around potential free cash allocation to the Special Education Stabilization Fund, Loring said. He invited members to share feedback on the management of the Special Education Circuit Breaker, a critical state reimbursement program that helps districts cover high-cost student needs.

The meeting featured significant representation from town boards, including Select Board members Peggy Winston and Megan, alongside Warrant Committee member Jay and Town Accountant Amy Dexter. The joint discussion highlights the ongoing effort to resolve a procedural standoff regarding a $500,000 reserve fund. School leaders are currently pursuing a four-year plan to replenish the Circuit Breaker fund to a 75% target, which would provide a $1 million year-end buffer to protect against the volatile costs of out-of-district placements and specialized transportation.

Chair Amanda Serio and members Nathan David Hutto, Elizabeth Carroll, Bao Qiu, and Annamma Varghese participated in the strategy session, which sought to define how free cash could be directed into the stabilization fund. This fiscal maneuvering is intended to shield the general education budget from sudden spikes in mandated costs. The subcommittee has previously noted that specialized transportation costs alone are increasing by approximately 8% annually, consistently outstripping standard inflationary growth.

Interim Superintendent John Burrows and Business Manager Katie Pinkham provided technical oversight for the coordination effort. Pinkham, who is currently closing out the FY27 budget cycle before her departure, has been instrumental in drafting the financial policies required to manage these revolving accounts. The committee aims to finalize these management strategies before the upcoming May Town Meeting to ensure a transparent presentation of the school district's long-term financial health.