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Tolland Board adopts 7.34% budget request, sends option 6 to town council amid debate over paraeducator cuts
Summary
The Tolland Board of Education voted to forward “Option 6,” a 7.34% budget request, to the town council. The decision followed hours of discussion and public comment opposing the elimination of four paraeducator positions.
The Tolland Board of Education voted on Feb. 12 to forward budget “Option 6” — a 7.34% budget request — to the town council for consideration.
Board members debated dozens of line items before the vote, with supporters saying the package preserved prioritized student supports while opponents criticized the proposal’s remaining cuts to staff and services. The board also heard public comment from a paraeducator who urged the board not to eliminate four vacant paraeducator positions.
Why this matters: The budget the board forwards shapes the town council’s review and possible referendum. Board members described certain elements — two school resource officers (SROs), a social worker, MTSS (multi-tiered system of supports) and pathways programming — as “must-haves.” Supporters said Option 6 kept those priorities while reducing or postponing other items to hit a compromise figure.
Board discussion and rationale Board members who supported Option 6 said it retained essential student supports while…
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