Mark W. Branco

The key discussion points included updates from the Student Advisory Committee regarding DECA, Drama, Athletics, and upcoming Spirit days. The main focus was the FY27 Budget Development, which involved a public hearing where the Superintendent presented the budget book, including expense summaries and enrollment projections. The proposed school budget totaled $17,728,329, requesting a town appropriation increase of 3.0% over FY26. The Committee later approved this FY27 Proposed Budget. Minor discussion points included praise for the MS Drama department's performance of Matilda, a mention of a recent selectboard meeting attended by the Chairperson, and an upcoming Day on the Hill event.

Key discussions during the meeting included an update on district happenings such as mid-year exams, the Middle School Play, athletic events, and the upcoming District Band Summit. A detailed presentation was provided on the Fiscal Year 2027 budget development process, covering the timeline, development overview, budget components (operating and capital improvement), the goal of zero-based budgeting, historical expenditure and revenue overviews, and programming/staffing priorities. The committee also reviewed and approved the 26-27 RPS Academic Calendar.

The meeting covered the approval of minutes from the previous session. A significant portion of the discussion focused on the public hearing for the proposed FY27 budget, including a detailed review of the 50-page budget book, which details a proposed budget of $17,728,329 with a 3% increase appropriation. Key topics included showcasing student artwork in the budget document, reviewing the district's mission, vision, and strategic objectives, and explaining the zero-based budgeting process and the town's 85% contribution. Personnel updates mentioned the successful DECA competition with 14 students advancing to state, the performance of school musicals, and discussions on expanding computer science, engineering, and biomedical programming, as well as allocating specialized special education staff. The committee also planned for the adoption of new social emotional learning screeners and curriculum.

The meeting, which was the first of 2026, focused extensively on the development of the FY27 budget, following a zero-based budgeting process. Discussions included timelines for budget reviews and the distinction between the operating and capital improvement budgets. Key topics covered budget components, including town contributions, reserves, and grant funding, alongside an overview of salary, wages, and line item expenses across various departments. Specific points included moving teaching and learning expenses to appropriate school levels for better tracking, increases in association dues and community outreach expenses, and budgeting for contractual retirement benefits based on proper notice. The committee also reviewed the special education budget, noting a proposed decrease from prior years due to lower enrollment and programmatic changes, such as shifting IEP paperwork processing to a digital portal to reduce postage costs.

The meeting addressed the minutes of the January 7th meeting and included updates on various school activities, such as midterm exams, the middle school musical 'Matilda', the junior postsecondary planning night, and the district band summit concert. A significant portion of the discussion focused on the Fiscal Year 2027 budget development, which utilizes a zero-based budgeting format. Key discussion points involved the timeline for budget approval and public presentation, maintaining fiscal responsibility while supporting student growth, and the ongoing process of rightsizing the district over the past four years. Furthermore, the committee reviewed expense categories, noting increases in athletics due to updated RTA stipend formats and ice time costs, and decreases in buildings and grounds and transportation budgets. This decrease resulted from a partnership agreement where the town will assume responsibility for the school department's fuel, power, vehicle, and transportation expenses, which is expected to yield long-term efficiencies.