Tolland Board narrows budget choices; directs staff to prepare Option 4 with additions for next meeting

The Tolland Board of Education met in a special session to continue deliberations on the superintendent’s proposed budget and a set of five alternative “schemas” presented as options for reducing the district’s proposed spending. After roughly three hours of public and board discussion on program priorities — including staffing for social work and security, the EdTech (1:1) initiative, special education costs, school athletics and pay‑to‑play fees, library services and discretionary program stipends — the board directed staff to prepare a final budget pathway built from Option 4 with targeted additions and reductions for the board’s vote next week.

The board’s direction centers on preserving student supports and co‑curricular opportunities while identifying nonstaff cuts to reach a lower budget target. Board members asked staff to return a single, actionable budget that incorporates the agreed changes so the board can vote at its next meeting and forward the result to the town manager and council for their inclusion in the municipal budget process.

Board members and administrators framed the conversation around a short list of “must haves” and tradeoffs. Board members repeatedly said they wanted to avoid reductions that would eliminate clubs, library services or early intervention supports; several members said adding a social worker to the middle school was a top priority. Administrators explained that deeper reductions to get beneath the district’s roughly 6.7% target (as presented in Option 4) would require staff layoffs and more extensive program eliminations, and they described which lines could be adjusted in each scenario.

Dr. Willett, the district administrator who walked the board through the five schemas, said each option mixes program reductions, use of the district’s reserve/ERF and staff changes. He described Option 1 as preserving staff and most programs but relying on nonprogram reductions; Option 2 as similar but eliminating the district’s pre‑K program; Option 3 as a…