Wallingford Board approves amended 2025–26 school budget with $850,072 in reductions

The Wallingford Board of Education approved an amended 2025–26 district budget on Tuesday, June 3, accepting $850,072 in reductions after a public hearing and a presentation from Superintendent Belizzi.

Board members said the changes preserve student-facing programs while targeting noninstructional costs. The board approved the amended budget by roll-call vote; the motion passed unanimously.

The vote followed a presentation by Superintendent Belizzi summarizing the district's original budget request and the cuts negotiated after the mayor's and town council's recommendations. The district had sought a $4.5 million increase in January (a projected 3.86% overall increase). The mayor recommended $382,900 in reductions and the town council cut another $467,000, producing the $850,072 net reduction and an adjusted increase of about 3.14%.

Belizzi detailed specific reductions and savings: an insurance forecast revision that lowered the district's insurance increase (about $225,000 in savings), the recommended removal of one-time strategic enhancement items ($157,900), and a six-month delay in hiring a director-level personnel position (estimated $75,000 savings). The administration also recommended not filling a vacant full-time clerical (Clerk 5) position (about $67,000 including benefits) and reducing one English teaching line by 0.6 FTE after a recent resignation (about $21,000).

Other changes included trimming two Quinnipiac University internship slots (from a nine-slot placeholder to five slots for 2025–26), prepaying the district's Munis cloud migration to realize multi-year cost stability (one-time prepayment of about $125,000 was discussed), adjusting custodial staffing at the soon-to-be-occupied Fort Fairfield site in favor of a night cleaning vendor (eliminating a new full-time custodian while adding an estimated $24,000 for contracted cleaning), recognizing an actual Lyman Hall cleaning bid that lowered budgeted costs ($25,731), and a $40,000 reduction tied to anticipated boiler efficiencies in district buildings.

Belizzi and business-office staff said the press-box air-conditioning work at both high schools and Securly e-hall pass software for the district's two middle schools remain recommended uses for the district's 2% discretionary fund; together those items total about $25,600 as a one-time purchase. She also noted three boilers had been funded through bonding; two elevators (Dag Hammarskjold and Sheehan) were listed as capital needs but were not funded in the town's action.

Public comment included a written letter from resident Sean Govan asking for deeper administrative cuts and for the board to remember that elected officials make the final decisions. Govan wrote, "I implore the board members to remember that they are the decision makers at this point." Several speakers at the meeting, including teachers, building principals and the president of the Wallingford Education Association, urged preservation of student-facing positions and defended administrators and school staff.

Board members debated tradeoffs in depth. Several members expressed concern about delaying the human-resources hire for six months and about the district's reliance on attrition. Others praised the administration for prioritizing classroom staff and programs and for proposing cuts that would not increase class sizes or eliminate core services. Board and staff discussion also reviewed contingency-fund constraints: the town council's $467,000 reduction matched the district's contingency line and the board was warned that contingency funds include contract settlements and potential retroactive payments.

Facilities staff and board members flagged building maintenance needs as an urgent, separate issue. Facilities staff described ongoing elevator reliability problems at two schools and reminded the board that the district had prioritized three new boilers in the town's capital bonding this year. Board members said they expect to raise the elevator issue again with the town council if service failures occur.

At the meeting's conclusion the board took a roll-call vote on the motion to accept the amended budget (reduction of $850,072). The motion passed unanimously and the board adjourned.

Votes at a glance: amended 2025'26 budget (reduction $850,072) — Motion to accept the amended budget as presented; outcome: approved (unanimous roll call).