Tuesday, March 10, 2026 Board of Education Study Session

The Sweet Home Central School District Board of Education held a study session on March 10, 2026, focusing primarily on the upcoming 2026-2027 school budget. Key procurement-related discussions included the district's tax cap calculation and budget planning, which incorporates the purchase of seven new buses—four electric and three diesel—with grant funding reducing the net cost of electric buses. The board reviewed budget savings achieved through trimming various line items, including vendor contracts and Bosei participation, totaling approximately $455,000. They also discussed the potential addition of two exceptional classrooms to reduce costly out-of-district special education placements by bringing services in-house, which would involve hiring new staff and aides. Contract negotiations with the service employees association were ongoing, and the district is monitoring health insurance premium increases, which could significantly impact the budget. The board emphasized efforts to avoid using reserves to close budget gaps and highlighted the importance of final state aid numbers, sales tax revenue, and health trust contributions in finalizing the budget. No formal votes were taken during this session, but the board planned to adopt the proposed budget by April 21, 2026, ahead of the May 19 budget vote and board election.