Gill-Montague School Committee authorizes $140,000 special education tuition prepayment

GILL -- July 11, 2023, Gill-Montague School Committee votes to prepay up to $140,000 in special education tuitions using a fiscal year 2023 surplus. The committee voted 6-0 at its July 11 remote meeting to authorize the prepayment under M.G.L. chapter 71, section 71D, drawing on savings from unexpectedly low charter and school-choice outflows. Business and Operations Director Joanne explained the move is designed to free up fiscal year 2024 budget capacity against unanticipated high-cost placements, noting that one out-of-state placement alone cost the district roughly $100,000 last year that was never budgeted. Director of Special Education Diane described circuit breaker reimbursement as limited, saying the district received only $28,000 despite excess costs closer to $200,000 to $300,000 because most individual students fell just below the per-pupil reimbursement threshold. The committee also approved three fiscal year 2024 warrants totaling roughly $37,904, updated banking resolutions for Wilmington Trust and Greenfield Savings Bank, and set August 22 as a target date to resume in-person meetings.