Norwich schools report $458,571 surplus after cuts; state adult-education funding cut could cost district about $50,000

Norwich Public Schools closed fiscal year 2024–25 with a small surplus of about $458,571 after administrators implemented spending freezes, delayed hiring and sought other savings, Superintendent Susan Lessard said Sept. 9.

“We finished off last year in the black with a slight surplus,” Lessard told the board. She framed the surplus relative to the district’s roughly $100 million annual budget and said the district’s requested increase of about $5 million for the coming year was reduced by the city to under $1 million.

Business administrator Bob Serpenski provided detail on specific savings. He said the district saved roughly $185,000 on fuel costs versus two years earlier — citing market conditions and prearranged contracts — and that natural gas costs fell substantially after installing high-efficiency boilers at one building. Serpenski and Lessard said those and other reductions allowed the district to avoid a deficit despite an unexpected $700,000 investigation-related expense earlier in the year, which the superintendent said required “constant monitoring, careful decision making, and a disciplined approach to every dollar we spent.”

One area of new concern is adult education. The district learned late in the summer that the state capped reimbursement levels for adult education, reducing the state share and leaving the district potentially responsible for about $50,000 of the adult‑education budget. Serpenski said the state typically pays roughly 65% of adult-ed costs and districts pay 35%, but this year the state’s cap could lower the reimbursement and increase the local share; Norwich administrators were seeking details at a state meeting.

Grant funding remains a major revenue source. The board approved the district’s FY26 Alliance and Priority School District grant submissions. The Alliance allocation for FY26 totals $16,914,723 and supports roughly 178 staff positions, curriculum tools and intervention programs, the administration said. The board voted unanimously to approve the Alliance/Priority School District grant action item.

Separately, the board approved a competitive Connecticut primary mental health grant application. The district applied for the $20,000 maximum and was awarded about $16,000 to fund a part‑time facilitator and materials for elementary-level playgroups and early mental-health connections; the board approved the award unanimously.

Why it matters: The district’s internal cost controls produced a one-time surplus but administrators warned that continuing to carry core services without restoring normal staffing or new funding will be difficult to sustain. The adult education reimbursement cap threatens a program that relies on state funding and may require local dollars if the state reduction is not reversed.

What’s next: Administrators will attend a state meeting to seek clarification on the adult-education reimbursement cap and report back to the board. The Alliance and Priority School District funding and the primary mental-health grant will move forward in FY26 plans and staffing allocations.

Ending: Board members praised administrative austerity and the district’s external grant success while acknowledging risks if state funding shifts continue.