Cheshire Board of Education approves $95.76 million budget to submit to town manager after amendment fails
Loading...
Summary
The Cheshire Board of Education voted to submit a 2025–26 budget of $95,756,450 (about a 6.94% increase) to the town manager after rejecting an amendment to reduce the requested increase; debate focused on a proposed STEM coordinator, retirements, hiring challenges, federal grant uncertainty and capital items.
The Cheshire Board of Education voted to submit a proposed 2025–26 operating budget of $95,756,450 to the town manager, representing an increase the board reported as about 6.94% over the 2024–25 budget.
Board members first considered an amendment that would have reduced the district request to $95,200,269 (a 6.32% increase, a reduction of roughly $556,181). Adam Gripple moved the amendment and Tim seconded; the board discussed retirements, projected tuition outplacement costs and whether a proposed central-office STEM coordinator is a "want" or a "need." The amendment failed on a voice vote.
The board then returned to the original motion to submit the finance committee's recommended budget, which the board approved by voice vote. The meeting record does not list a roll-call tally in detail; the chair declared the motion passed.
Why it matters: the budget the board forwards to the town manager defines Cheshire Public Schools' request ahead of town budget deliberations and affects local tax and staffing decisions. Board discussion touched on staffing, capital projects and the district's exposure to federal-grant uncertainty.
Key figures and motions - Superintendent's initial request: $95,892,631 (presented earlier in the process), an increase the transcript described as $6,350,022 (about 7.09%). - Finance committee recommendation to the full board: $95,756,450 (presented to the board as a $6,213,841 increase, or 6.94%). - Amendment (moved by Adam Gripple): $95,200,269 (a 6.32% increase; proposed $556,181 reduction). Amendment failed. - Final action: board voted to submit $95,756,450 to the town manager; chair declared the motion passed on a voice vote.
What board members said - Adam Gripple said he reviewed line items and proposed reductions that preserve contractual obligations but cut items he described as discretionary, including the proposed STEM coordinator. - Supporters of funding the STEM coordinator argued the position is a continuation of prior commitments and necessary to improve math and science outcomes: "just today, I believe the NAEP scores came out ... we're at a 42% proficiency for mathematics," Ms. Rosenberg said, arguing for early intervention and preparation. - District administrators warned of hiring and retirement uncertainties; Dr. Solon said retirements and hiring timelines can be difficult to predict and that some positions may take weeks to fill.
Other budget matters raised - Board members discussed capital items including a turf replacement and an energy performance contract (EPC) payment line described as roughly $600,000 in a later year of the capital plan. - Members raised uncertainty about federal grants; staff listed estimated federal grant figures including roughly $1.1 million for IDEA (special education) and additional sums for Title I, Title II and other programs, and noted a temporary federal payment freeze had been rescinded.
Next steps The board formally sent the recommended $95,756,450 budget to the town manager. The town manager and town council will consider the request during municipal budget deliberations; board members asked to be kept informed of retirements and other changes that could affect the final ask.
