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Finance committee flags meal-debt, recommends tuition increase and tracks special-education reimbursement bill
Summary
Finance committee recommended awarding a gym floor resurfacing bid, approving a 10% preschool tuition increase, and discussed a fall in breakfast counts this year; administrators and the superintendent reported a pending legislative reimbursement bill and a $17,038 negative meal debt.
The Southington Board of Education received a finance committee report that included a bid award, proposed tuition changes, food-service financial updates and legislative developments affecting special-education reimbursement.
The committee moved to award bid 2025-07 for resurfacing the West Gym floor at Southington High School to New England Overland Floor Specialists of Madison, Connecticut, in the amount of $43,150. The motion carried after a second and an "Aye" vote.
On preschool tuition, the administration recommended a 10% increase for the 2025–26 school year after comparing local preschool rates. The board approved the tuition rates as presented.
Food-service finances: the committee reviewed year-to-date meal counts and finances through January 2025. The report showed a year-over-year decrease in breakfast meals compared with the previous school year (a drop of more than 70,000 breakfasts compared with last year through January) but noted that pre-COVID breakfast counts were lower than this year. The packet included a specific pre-COVID comparison: "in 2017–18 pre COVID our our breakfast meal counts through January were 40,759 breakfast meals served versus this school year, which is 57,173 meals." The board was also told the food-service program currently shows a net loss of $13,689 year-to-date versus a net gain of $128,295 in the prior year. Administration said the change primarily reflects the end of stable state funds that temporarily subsidized breakfast.
The district reported a negative meal debt of $17,038 and administrators asked the community to help recoup outstanding balances. Director-level staff said the district sent letters and information about free and reduced-price applications and SNAP to families with balances and will project year-end impacts.
Special-education reimbursement: Superintendent reported a legislative bill to increase the excess cost grant reimbursement rate had passed both the House and the Senate and awaited the governor. He summarized: "that bill was taken up Monday evening. It passed, it was bipartisan support across the board, at the house...and then it has also now since passed the senate...So now it waits for the governor, to either veto or approve." The superintendent added the money is not "new money" but would reimburse districts for costs already incurred this fiscal year; the appropriation and timing remain subject to executive action and legislative appropriation.
Ending: The board approved the bid award and tuition change and asked administration to continue projection work for the food-service program and to pursue collection and community outreach on meal debt.
