Wilmington School Committee approves mid-year budget transfer, hears special education report

WILMINGTON — March 26, 2026 — Wilmington School Committee hears sweeping special education report and approves mid-year budget realignment. At its March 26 meeting, the committee received a presentation from Special Education Director Kristine Murray and staff member Maura Kilbride showing that students with disabilities make up 19.7 percent of district enrollment — below the state average — with 182 initial evaluations completed to date this year, 114 of them parent-initiated. The committee unanimously approved a motion allowing the director of administration and finance to shift salary adjustment funds to proper line items and to distribute $2,539,000 in circuit breaker funds to special education tuition and transportation, against a total district budget of $51,723,526 with a February 28 balance of roughly $119,785. Members also heard a first reading of several policy revisions — including removals of outdated class-ranking and graduation-ceremony policies — to return at the next meeting for a second reading, and the committee took no vote on a proposed town meeting warrant article to name the high school's Athletic Hall of Fame display after volunteer Jack Tawner.