Superintendent says regional special-education collaborative will raise tuition 12%; district faces roughly $84,000 gap

Superintendent Jason Defalco told the school committee that the regional special-education "by-county" collaborative voted this week to raise tuition charged to member districts by 12% for next year. He said the move followed lower-than-expected enrollment at the collaborative and a projected $800,000 deficit at the collaborative level.

"I voted no," Superintendent Jason Defalco said, describing a months-long budget process at the collaborative that produced the roll-call vote to increase tuition. He told the committee the district had budgeted for a roughly 3% increase and that the combined increase will leave the district with a roughly $84,000 gap next year unless it takes mitigating steps.

Why it matters: the collaborative is the regions primary placement option for higher-needs students; its tuition is a direct charge to member districts and therefore affects the district operating budget and the townsassessment. Defalco said the collaborative is proposing the 12% increase because enrollment is below projections — referrals remain high but actual placements lag — and that the collaborative will still face a large deficit even after the increase.

What the committee heard: Defalco said he argued against the 12% hike during the collaborative board meeting and that he was the lone vote in opposition at that session. He said he has asked the collaborative executive director to reassess program and staffing choices, and to return with a tighter budget. He also told the committee he expects a formal item on an upcoming agenda to authorize a district prepayment of tuition if needed to smooth next years cash flow.

Budget details and next steps: the superintendent described an illustration in which the district had planned for a 3% tuition increase; the added 12% produces a net 9% change relative to the districtbudgeting assumption and an estimated local impact of about $84,000 for currently enrolled students. The collaborative still projects an $800,000 shortfall, and Defalco said collaborative leadership has the ability to use free cash in the short term but must produce a sustainable plan. He said he will continue to press for program- and staffing-level adjustments and will bring any request for committee authorization (including a potential prepayment) back to the committee for a vote.

Committee reaction: members pressed on enrollment versus placements and operational causes of the shortfall, and asked whether students were being delayed for placements. Defalco said referrals remain high (he cited district referrals and regional referral numbers) but that placement and onboarding at the collaborative have been slower than expected.

Whathappens next: the superintendent will seek budget clarifications from the collaborative executive director and anticipates either a committee vote on a prepayment or another formal recommendation once the collaborative provides updated financials.