Norwich board warns budget gap could force staff cuts as special-education costs climb

The Norwich Board of Education was told April 8 that a proposed $100,420,901 budget for 2025–26 — a 4.95% increase over the current year — still leaves the district exposed to funding shortfalls driven largely by rising special-education costs and fixed tuition payments to regional high schools.

Superintendent Susan Lessard opened the budget discussion by walking trustees through the district’s revenue and cost drivers, saying the district’s current 2024–25 budget is $95,680,898 and the proposal for next year reflects an increase of about $4.7 million. "We were told to expect a flat budget. We heard yesterday 1%, and I'll remind everyone that doesn't even cover the tuitions that we have no control over," Lessard said during the meeting.

School finance staff said special-education spending and uncertain state reimbursements are the largest immediate risks. District staff reported 111 students in special-education outplacements, costing more than $9 million, and described a change to the statewide excess-cost pool that reduced Norwich’s estimated reimbursement rate. Finance staff reported the statewide pool grew by $10 million in March; that growth lowered the district’s estimated reimbursement from about 64.19% to roughly 62.2% in the March update. District staff said that shift reduces the dollars available to Norwich and creates uncertainty about the amount the district will actually receive when final figures are posted in June.

Bob (staf…