LS School Committee adopts three policies and forecasts break-even fiscal 2026 budget

SUDBURY — February 24, 2026 — Lincoln-Sudbury Regional School Committee adopts three policies and projects a break-even fiscal 2026 budget. Meeting Feb. 24 without Vice-Chair Catherine Bitter, the committee voted 5-0 to approve policies on religious and cultural observances, student absences and excuses, and METCO representation. Director of Finance and Operations Susan Shields reported a projected $62,000 ending balance on a roughly $40 million budget and said the FY25 excess and deficiency fund was certified at $1,505,038 — about $467,000 below the $1,972,000 statutory cap. Shields said the district has confirmation that a planned $350,000 parking lot repaving can be paid directly from a revolving fund holding about $480,000. "I'm so pleased that we have not needed to use the lever of a partial or full budget freeze this year," Shields said. The committee will hold a special meeting the week of March 2 to consider regional agreement changes and health insurance recommendations.