Bourne School Committee Approves $26.6 Million Budget and $100,000 Special Ed Transfer

BOURNE -- February 7, 2024, Bourne School Committee approves $26.6 million FY25 budget preview and a $100,000 special education reserve transfer. At its February 7 meeting, the committee unanimously endorsed a preliminary budget reflecting a 3.23 percent increase over FY24, supported by roughly $4.53 million in offsets from grants, revolving accounts, and state aid. Superintendent Dr. Joseph Starkey described the plan as level-service, maintaining all current programming while eliminating activity and transportation fees for all Bourne resident students, a change he framed as an equity measure comparable to neighboring districts. In a separate roll-call vote, the committee unanimously authorized drawing $100,000 from the town's special education reserve fund, currently holding $475,000, to cover approximately $175,000 in unanticipated out-of-district placement costs for multiple students; the transfer now requires Select Board approval. Three governance policies were also approved unanimously, including an updated electronic messaging policy clarifying that sequential social media interactions among four or more members can constitute an open meeting law violation.