Milton School Finance Panel Backs Four-Year Circuit Breaker Reserve Plan

School Committee · Meeting of February 25, 2026

Milton school finance panel backs four-year plan to rebuild special education reserves while restoring four cut positions. The School Committee Finance Subcommittee met February 25 and reached general consensus behind a circuit breaker reserve recovery plan that would increase annual utilization from $2.6 million to $3 million, targeting a healthy balance of roughly $2.7 million by the end of FY29 against a fund that began the year at just $8,000. Interim Superintendent John Phelan said the district faces $1,049,000 in required FY27 reductions and announced that Town Administrator Nick Milano has offered $500,000 in one-time free cash for reserve support, though subcommittee members cautioned that transfer is not finalized.

Phelan recommended restoring the DEIB director to full-time, repurposing a middle school special educator, and retaining both BCBA positions — restorations totaling approximately $300,000 — after community feedback indicated the original reduction list fell disproportionately on students with special needs and families of color. The Warrant Committee has asked for a final budget by approximately March 16.

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Source: the School Committee meeting of February 25, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.