Committee approves spending from Special Education Reserve Fund for FY25 and FY26

The Hopkinton School Committee voted on July 24 to approve spending from the Special Education Reserve Fund for fiscal years 2025 and 2026 to cover projected out-of-district tuition costs. Officials reminded the committee that the reserve fund was created at town meeting in May 2022 and that the district historically spends the general fund appropriation before drawing from the reserve. The committee motion approved the district’s request to spend from the reserve appropriation of $1,094,024 (the FY25–26 appropriation figure presented to the committee). Committee members noted the fund has been reauthorized in prior town meetings when not fully expended; staff said a small unspent balance remained in a prior year and that any additional permitting or outlays would be reported back to the select board as required.