Newington Board adopts $93.06 million budget, approves $292,245 in targeted cuts

The Newington Board of Education on Wednesday adopted the superintendent's proposed $93,063,003.71 operating budget for 2025'26, approving the measure by a 6'2 vote after a two-hour review and a series of smaller votes trimming the plan by $292,245.

Why it matters: The adopted budget would be transmitted to the town. Board members said the measure balances contract obligations, rising special education costs and rising benefits while attempting to limit the net tax impact. Several members urged continued review before the town council receives the figures.

Board discussion centered on several high-cost items that drive the budget''special education outplacements, the district's Open Choice allocation, grant revenues and the Chromebook damage/replacement reserve. School and central office staff provided a line-by-line update in response to questions raised at earlier workshops and offered possible, optional reductions the board could adopt to lower the overall request.

Key figures staff and board presented to support the budget: special-education private tuition and outplacement obligations total roughly $5.3 million for 37 outplaced students, with outplacement costs ranging from about $60,000 to as much as $250,000 per student; the district projects an "excess cost" grant reimbursement of about $1.2 million for the coming year (subject to state action); Open Choice currently was budgeted at $8,000 per student but could rise to $10,000 if the state funding threshold is crossed; and the district has budgeted $250,000 (proposed; partial reduction considered) for Chromebook damage/loss recovery to cover repair or replacement costs.

During the meeting staff and board clarified how some dollars are currently handled: Open Choice receipts are recorded based on an enrollment declaration; excess-cost reimbursements are received in installments and flow to the district's nonlapsing CIP account unless otherwise redirected by an MOU with the town; and some contracted services (for example, Medicaid-claims management) offset operating costs but cannot be billed to private insurance by district-employed providers.

The board also heard additional details about grants and staffing. Administration staff said federal and state grants (Title I, Title II, Title III, Perkins, IDEA and Open Choice allocations) account for meaningful offsets to the operating ask and that many grants are one-year awards that can fluctuate. Staffing adjustments over a seven-year window reflect increases in special education and multilingual (ML) staffing and flat or small changes in other departments.

Actions taken: After the board moved to adopt the superintendent's budget as the board's proposed budget, members voted on several targeted reductions that together lowered the operating total by $292,245. Those reductions included: - $50,000 net reduction in ESS contracted services (account details provided in the meeting packet) after contracted costs came in lower than originally estimated; - $52,250 reduction in media/library book purchases (account codes and itemized lines in the packet); - $120,995 reduction in reading supplies (line-item detail in the packet); - $100,000 reduction for Chromebook damage/loss recovery (partial reduction of a previously proposed $250,000 allocation); and - $20,000 reduction in conference/training costs; and - a $21,000 reduction accomplished by lowering a proposed 4% increase for select non-bargaining staff to 3% (administrative/AT salary line adjustments). The board also removed $28,000 for AP Psychology and financial-literacy textbooks.

The board discussed but did not finalize several discretionary items, including a proposal to raise participant athletic fees (staff suggested $125 per sport with no third-sport waiver, but members asked staff to return with options including family caps and sliding scales), the district's SRO and security staffing (one SRO districtwide, security guards at each school) and the possible effect of pending state action increasing excess-cost reimbursement for the current year.

Next steps and staff directions: The board directed administration to continue reconciling open purchase orders and report back at the next meeting; to refine athletic-fee options (including family caps and tiered rates) and cost projections; and to monitor state-level movement on excess-cost grants that could reduce next year's net operating need. The board will transmit the adopted budget to the town by its deadline but noted the town council can alter the request.

Votes at a glance (formal actions recorded in the meeting minutes): - Adoption of Superintendent's 2025'26 budget, $93,063,003.71 (6.86% increase): passed 6'2 (see vote record below). - Reduction: ESS contracted services (net) $50,000: passed 8'0. - Reduction: Media/library books $52,250: passed 8'0. - Reduction: Reading supplies $120,995: passed (roll call recorded in the transcript). - Reduction: Chromebook damage/loss recovery $100,000 (partial): passed 8'0. - Reduction: Conference costs $20,000: passed 8'0. - Reduction: Lower select non-bargaining raise from 4% to 3% ($21,000): passed 8'0. - Reduction: AP psychology and financial literacy textbooks $28,000: passed unanimously.

Board and staff emphasized that some of these reductions represent one-time or timing-sensitive actions rather than permanent program eliminations; in several cases staff noted the item could be restored if additional state or grant revenues materialize.

Ending: The board closed the budget portion of the meeting by asking administration to return next week with updated reconciliations and fee options; the board will transmit the adopted budget to the town on schedule and continue discussions as the town council and state actions are clarified.