Quabbin superintendent warns of enrollment declines and budget pressure facing Hubbardston

The Quabbin Regional School District superintendent (identified in the record as Lisonbee) presented the district's FY27 budget and enrollment outlook at the May 4 Select Board meeting, warning that falling student numbers and constrained state funding will keep pressure on local assessments.

Lisonbee said the district is projecting a drop in kindergarten enrollment that could reduce two classes to one at Hubbardston Center School if current trends hold. "So we're gonna be watching that kindergarten closely," she said, explaining that a drop from 32 to as few as 26 students would change classroom organization and staffing needs.

The superintendent described the district's revenue plan: using a transportation reimbursement receivable (about $82,780 as shown in her presentation), higher interest on depository accounts and portions of the district's excess and deficiency (E&D) balance to offset FY27 expenses. She said the district was proposing a 4.23% operating increase and was comfortable assuming a $1.50 per-student minimum aid in the governor's budget, while acknowledging the Senate could alter that figure in conference committee.

Board members and regional officials pressed the school about whether the proposed increase could be trimmed; one Select Board member urged the district to consider a lower increase to reduce Hubbardston's assessment. The superintendent noted an array of cost pressures, including special-education placements that can top $100,000 and, in one case, an out-of-state placement in excess of $200,000.

The presentation also detailed district cost-saving steps: cutting 20 positions over three years, negotiating transportation contracts (including a special-education provider who agreed to hold costs flat), revisiting insurance and eliminating some software expenses, and using Medicaid and other reimbursements where available.

The superintendent and Select Board members discussed regional options for shared services and the possibility of the district revisiting its proposed percentage. "We can possibly go down," she said, "but what's that?" The district committed to run additional numbers and report back to the town administrator and board.