Budget matters and the central office lease were among highlights at Thursday’s School Committee meeting.

Susan Rothermich, assistant superintendent of finance and operations, reported there was a net positive variance in the fiscal year 2025 budget amounting to $20,000. That money gets put back in the town’s general fund.

Going forward, Rothermich said the district no longer would be using a special education reserve fund, which stayed level at $1 million. The Select Board and the Appropriation Committee want the school district to carry that cost within its operating budget going forward, she said.

“Year one is going to look bad because we are reabsorbing what was pulled out years ago,” member Nancy Cavanaugh said.

Rothermich noted the district also is going to be carrying the cost of software packages within the school’s budget, rather than the town. This change is because the town is moving its payroll to a different system, while the schools are remaining with the same one.

She explained, “We are more ingrained in the existing system, and they weren’t.”

Rothermich also said the district invested a lot of time, money and training into the current payroll system, and it would not make sense to switch.

The budget cycle began in July and will run through Town Meeting on May 2, she added.

Central office lease approved

The committee approved $145,276 to lease central office space from Honey Hill Farms, LLC from 2025 to 2028.

This total includes 1,400 square feet of additional contiguous space that becomes available on Jan. 1.

The current space is 8,000 square feet, with 7,000 of that used for office and the rest for storage.

The total unbudgeted amount to cover the additional rent (January to June) is $10,346, she said. That money would come from movements from smaller accounts.

The idea is to move the Technology Department into the central office and free up space at the high school.

Superintendent Evan Bishop said it would free up enough space for one classroom and some office areas and be a benefit to the high school.

“We’re gaining back [space], but it may not all be student occupied,” Bishop said.

When asked about other options to locate the central office, Rothermich said there are none.

She noted town buildings are overcrowded, and there are no current opportunities for alternatives, at least for the next three years.

For example, talks about how to use Elmwood School once the new Charleswood School opens are years off.

New educators join district

Jeff LaBroad, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, gave a presentation about the recent orientation for new educators.

LaBroad said there are 20 new educators in the district. None are new to the profession, and they have 90 years of combined experience.

Some of the individuals worked in the district previously, left and came back, he said.

The three-day orientation included information from the school resource officer on safety and prevention, social/emotional considerations for everyone and work with peer mentors and department heads on “what it means to successful” in the district.

“I think this is a fantastic group, and I get to reap the benefits of working with them,” LaBroad said.

Misc.: Comment controversy addressed

The committee addressed public attention put on a comment voiced by vice chair Susan Stephenson regarding Masters that was caught on open mic. Stephenson said her remark was “unprofessional” but the result of the usual “bantering” that goes on between the two of them.

She added that it was not ill intended, nor was it an attack on his political views, of which she has no knowledge.

Masters said he and Stephenson had talked about the matter. “It’s water under the bridge and no big deal. Move on,” he said. …

In other business:

— Members welcomed seniors Ella Snyder and Ryan Click as the student representatives to the board;

— The initial enrollment figure for the school year is 4,290 students, including pre-K. While building the budget, the estimated enrollment for June 2026 is 4,377. Rothermich noted there always is movement in the numbers throughout the year.

— The anticipated groundbreaking for an adaptive playground is slated for the summer of 2027. The project has been designed, and construction documents are under development to be put out to bid, according to Rothermich.

— Members saw drone photos of the Charleswood School construction site, which member Chris Masters said he volunteered to take monthly for free. The Elementary School Building Committee (ESBC) had heard a proposal to hire a company and pay $13,000 for photos and a short video to document progress. Masters is the board’s liaison to the ESBC.

— The next regular meetings will be held on Sept. 25 and Oct. 9. On Sept. 23, the board will meet with the Select Board and the Appropriation Committee. A listening session will be held on Zoom on Sept. 21. The topic will be the school calendar.