Tolland Board adopts 7.34% budget request, sends option 6 to town council amid debate over paraeducator cuts

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 acknowledging fiscal limits. One member said the option “secures … a social worker” and “protects programs like Lexia” cited by parents and administrators, calling the package “a compromise.” Another member said the package reflected priorities heard during instructional rounds and community budget workshops.

Opponents argued the package still removed needed staff and services. In public comment, Jennifer McClarny, a paraeducator who identified herself as a Board of Education employee, said the proposed elimination of four paraeducator positions was “disheartening” and warned that reliance on temporary staff had already cost the district money. McClarny said paraeducators support classroom instruction, interventions, clubs and students with IEPs and that cutting vacancies would be unsustainable in the long term.

Financial context and specifics Superintendent Dr. Willett presented a monthly financial report before the budget discussion. He said the district’s available balance was $6,666,858.61 (about 1.52% as of January), and he reviewed several over‑budget line items, including overtime, stipends (special education and athletics), contracted services (psychological services and outsourced paraprofessionals), and tuition costs. He said textbook and subscription renewals were imminent and would change line-item balances over the next one to two months.

The package labeled Option 6 reflected the board’s prior discussions: it restored some items previously targeted for cuts (for example, the Lexia reading program and certain stipends and club advisor funding) while leaving other reductions in place, notably the four unfilled paraeducator positions and certain personnel requests removed from the increase request.

Vote and next steps The board voted to send Option 6 to the town council; the board chair asked district staff to “button it up and prepare for the council.” The board’s action forwards the detailed budget request and supporting materials so the council can review, amend, or adopt the appropriation.

Public comment and board response At the public-comment portion, Jennifer McClarny, of 237 Coaseley Road, testified that using temporary staff to fill paraprofessional needs had cost the district roughly $60,000 to date and urged the board to invest in permanent paraeducators paid at a living wage. Several board members acknowledged those concerns and said the vacancies noted in the proposal were unfilled positions; they said the district remains legally obligated to fill any paraeducator positions required for individual students’ services.

What comes next The town council will receive the forwarded budget materials and hold its own review and public hearings. Board members encouraged residents to review the district FAQ and posted budget documents and to participate in upcoming instructional rounds and budget workshops.

Ending Board members closed the meeting after voting to send Option 6 to the council and after reminders about upcoming instructional rounds and school events.