Norwalk board hears budget reconciliation update as insurance and special-education costs widen gap

Norwalk School District Superintendent Dr. Alexander Estrella told the Board of Education on May 13 that district leaders are working to reconcile an administrative request for a 9.7% budget increase with the 4% figure the board approved and will present a final reconciliation on June 3.

Mr. Esmani, a district staff member who provided the finance update, said the process means “reconciling means getting, the 9.7% request to tie to the 4% that was requested that was approved by, by the board of ed.” He told the board the district has held a series of meetings with the mayor’s office and is monitoring state developments, including recently passed special-education legislation that staff hope could narrow the gap.

The board was given several specific cost drivers. Staff said the state employee insurance plan increased…