Jack Higgins, the district finance presenter, told the Freetown‑Lakeville Regional School District School Committee that administrators recommend the committee vote an FY26 budget of $47,975,033 — $400,000 higher than a $47,575,033 draft — using $400,000 from school‑choice funds as a placeholder while awaiting possible state aid.

Higgins said the budget process began in November and produced an initial level‑service proposal of $49,135,217 that included a 3% contract increase for teachers, paraprofessionals and secretaries. After meetings with town finance officials and updated salary and health‑insurance numbers, central office identified roughly $500,000 in savings; further reductions would require staff cuts tied in part to declining enrollment, Higgins said.

Higgins: "It is my recommendation ... that the budget number would be voted at $400,000 greater at $47,975,033 with $400,000 as a placeholder being used from additional money from our school choice fund." He said the placeholder gives the district time between the committee vote and town meetings to see whether anticipated state aid arrives.

Why it matters: Committee members were told that, without additional state funding or the placeholder, the remaining areas to reduce are primarily staff positions. Higgins described an administrative accounting change that moved positions previously funded through IDEA grants into the general fund by reallocating related out‑of‑district transportation costs; he said the change did not raise the overall budget, only shifted line items.

Regional context: Committee member Courtney Brightman told the committee the regional finance committee voted unanimously to support the option that uses the $400,000 school‑choice placeholder. Higgins said he had attended a Ways and Means hearing at UMass Amherst and that state Chapter 70 funding calculations remain a concern for the district.

Public comment: Multiple district educators urged the committee to reject the proposed budget when it comes to a vote on April 9, saying the revised proposal would still cut services that support vulnerable students.

Dan Rutledge, who identified himself as a district educator, said: "I urge the school committee to reject the proposed budget on April 9." Alex Duff, a music teacher, Jacqueline Hinckley, a middle‑school staff member, and other teachers and paraprofessionals made similar appeals, warning of larger class sizes, reductions in paraprofessional and intervention services, and cuts to extracurricular and maintenance needs.

What’s next: The committee discussed both the $47,575,033 figure and the recommended $47,975,033 placeholder budget. Committee members and town officials will take the recommendation to upcoming town meetings; Higgins and others said the district will continue to pursue state funds and work with the towns to avoid staff reductions.

Clarifying details: Initial level‑service proposal: $49,135,217; draft revised budget after savings: $47,575,033; recommended placeholder budget: $47,975,033; identified additional administrative savings (Feb. 26): approximately $500,000; placeholder proposed to be funded from school‑choice funds: $400,000 (not an additional town assessment).