The Nashoba Regional School Committee received financial updates April 30 showing tentative increases in state aid and a district plan to pilot insurance measures designed to slow health-premium growth, and administrators said those developments could enable restoration of some positions cut during budget planning.

Finance Director Ross Mulcahern told the committee that after the House Ways and Means adjustments to the FY26 state budget, updated district estimates showed a net positive change of $297,795 compared with the governors proposal. He cautioned the committee that House figures are not final: the Senate will issue its version and a final conference committee number will not be set until later in the summer, so the district continues to present a conservative budget to member towns.

On health insurance, Mulcahern and human-resources and insurance committee members said the district faced a large premium increase during budget season and is pursuing short- and longer-term options to limit next-year cost growth. Two pilot programs negotiated with the insurer reduced the active-plan projected increase from 19.92% to 16.32%, the administration said. The district also plans to implement an insurance opt-out incentive during open enrollment for employees who can access other coverage (for example, through a spouse); the committee was told neighboring districts, such as Acton-Boxborough, have used opt-out incentives successfully.

Superintendent Kirk Downing said the district has already made staffing reductions tied to budget pressure, including eliminating one freshman-study position at Nashoba Regional High School and reducing dean positions. Downing said administration will return May 14 with a plan outlining potential reinstatements tied to any realized savings from insurance changes and confirmed state aid increases.

Committee members sought clarity about timing and how additional state aid would be treated. Downing and Mulcahern said the budget currently before town meetings is the finalized local request and cannot be changed without calling additional town meetings; any future state-aid receipts will be reflected in the districts fiscal-year accounting and may ultimately be used to replenish the districts excess and deficiency (E&D) balance or to restore positions during the fiscal year, depending on the districts priorities and constraints.

Mulcahern said the district had reached out to other districts and learned examples where opt-out incentives and plan design changes yielded material savings. He said administration will continue to update the committee as the Senate budget and final conference committee report become available.