Ellington School Board debates targeted cuts and messaging after failed budget referendum

The Ellington School District Board of Education met in a special session to discuss next steps after voters rejected the district's budget in a referendum and to prepare recommendations for the Board of Finance.

Superintendent Dr. Scott Nickel said the district had “worked extremely hard” to limit the requested increase to 2.75 percent on the Board of Education side (2.2 percent overall) and that turnout in the referendum — roughly 1,058 voters out of about 12,000 registered — fell far short of what the district expected. “I stand here not wanting a single staff member to lose their job,” Nickel said, adding that the district must now consider options that reduce spending while minimizing harm to instruction.

Nut graf: The board reviewed two sets of options the administration prepared: Option 1 uses newly available state and year-end funds to reduce the gap, and Option 2 adds a temporary freeze on discretionary purchases. Administrators and board members stressed that the choices carry trade-offs — including possible delays to planned curriculum purchases and exposure…