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Middletown board approves proposed $105.37 million education budget after cuts, flags further talks with city
Summary
The Middletown Board of Education voted to approve a proposed fiscal-year budget that represents a 4.18% increase over the prior year after the district trimmed positions and program costs; board members said more reductions may be required depending on the city allocation.
The Middletown Board of Education on April 8 approved a proposed 2025–26 school budget that district staff presented as a $105,366,000-level request and described as a 4.18% increase over the current year.
The budget, presented by Superintendent Alberto Vasquez Matos and Executive Director of Finance Natalie Forbes, follows multiple revisions and a $503,277 reduction requested by the mayor’s office. “We started at 4.76, and now we are at 4.18,” Vasquez Matos said, explaining the board’s and administration’s successive cuts and reassignments.
The board and administration said the reductions included moving some positions into a federal Alliance grant, eliminating a director-level communications position in favor of a lower-cost public information role, and removing a proposed PSAT expansion for lower grades. Natalie Forbes described the mayor’s reduction to the district request as “approximately $500,000,” later specified at $503,277 in the presentation.
Board members repeatedly flagged that the district’s proposed total still may exceed what city hall will allocate. Several members said they expect further negotiations and possibly deeper reductions or other cost-mitigation steps once the city sets its appropriation. One member urged the board to consider additional internal savings and to avoid immediate staff layoffs if possible; others suggested approaching unions or targeting department-level, non-personnel cuts if needed.
Budget supports preserved or added positions that the superintendent and finance staff argued are tied to state-required indoor air quality work, special-education needs, multilingual learner supports and the district’s Legacy Academy strategy. At the same time, the administration reported the mayor asked the district to reduce Alliance grant support in certain coaching positions and shift some building substitute and benefit costs into grant funds where allowed.
The board voted to approve the proposed budget as presented and will reconvene with the city once the municipal appropriation is released. Superintendent Vasquez Matos and finance staff said they would return with updates and, if necessary, revised proposals after the city’s decision.
Votes at a glance
- Proposed 2025–26 Board of Education budget (presented at 4.18% over last year, presented figure $105,366,000): approved (motion carried). The transcript records the motion and a roll-call procedure; a full roll-call tally was not printed in the meeting transcript excerpt.
- Consent agenda (as amended): approved.
- Transfers for the month (total $63,055.98): approved.
- Moody School microforest (permit for Urban Forestry Commission to establish a volunteer-run microforest on district land): approved.
- Policy 4115 (employment and student-teacher criminal history checks): first reading was presented; policy action to accept the draft as presented passed.
The board's approval of the proposed budget is procedural: final funding depends on the city allocation and possible subsequent board adjustments. The administration will return with follow-up details as the municipal budgeting process advances.
