Clinton Schools Request $1.96 Million Budget Increase, Propose Special Ed Stabilization Fund

CLINTON — April 9, 2026 — Clinton schools seek $1.96 million more in FY27, blaming three unbudgeted residential special education placements. Superintendent David Meyer, presenting to a joint session of the Select Board and Finance Committee on April 9, said the district cut its preliminary general fund request by more than $2.7 million across two rounds of revisions — eliminating roughly 11.5 positions — to arrive at a $33.88 million ask that still requires a $1.964 million increase over FY26. Three students with annual residential placements costing $285,000, $417,000, and $285,000 became the district's legal and financial responsibility during the current year, adding $988,000 in unplanned costs. Meyer proposed shifting $350,000 of the ask into one-time warrant articles — $100,000 for technology and $250,000 for special education tuition — and urged both boards to establish a special education stabilization fund under state law, seeded with free cash, to cushion against future surprise placements. Separately, the board disclosed that the Town Administrator search has concluded with a verbal acceptance from a finalist who grew up in Lancaster, has family ties to Clinton, and whose salary ask falls within the Finance Committee-approved range of $170,000 to $190,000.