Special education and student‑support costs rise as district emphasizes in‑house programs

RSU 06 presented increases for special education and student‑support services, citing higher local special‑education rates and the need to budget contingencies for unanticipated placements.

Superintendent Clay Gleason said Article 2 (special education) shows a 7.55 percent increase driven by salaries, benefits and a larger contingency for potential out‑of‑district placements. He said the district’s special‑education population is about 21 percent, higher than the state average of 14 percent, which increases local costs. Gleason added the district operates programs “in house” that would otherwise cost “over $100,000 each” if students were placed outside the district, resulting in net savings even with higher local spending.

Gleason also reviewed Article 5 (student and staff support), noting that previously unbudgeted technology and software renewals—firewalls and a tech lease moved from Article 1—increased the article’s non‑labor costs. He said the district moved those recurring technology costs into the operating budget to be transparent about expenses that had previously been supported with grants or e‑rate funds.

Ending: The district framed higher special‑education and student‑support budgets as responses to pupil needs and as steps to contain overall costs by providing services locally rather than placing students out of district.