Spencer-East Brookfield School Committee Approves $597,740 to Plug FY26 Budget Gaps

CARLISLE — April 15, 2026 — Spencer-East Brookfield Regional School Committee approves $597,740 in budget fixes ahead of May override vote. The committee voted unanimously at its April 15 meeting to approve $297,102 in line-item transfers and $300,638 from excess-and-deficiency reserves to close fiscal year 2026 shortfalls driven largely by the new David Prouty High School, including $136,000 in unanticipated electricity costs and $43,354 in new building insurance. Business Administrator Gary Suitor noted that an unexpected drop in charter school tuition payments helped free transfer funds, calling it "a really positive sign for the district." Superintendent Dr. Jahid Haki warned that the FY27 budget leaves the district with only two instructional coaches come September — down from the ten interventionists and four academic coaches the committee had previously endorsed — and told the committee he has said directly to state officials that "we can't give you what we don't have." A Spencer Select Board member, in his final appearance before the committee after 15 years, urged all board members to publicly campaign for the May 12 override question, which he described as adding 14 cents to the town's $10.98 tax rate.