Norwalk board approves tentative 9.7% BOE budget request and central-office reorganization; leaders cite rising health, transportation and grant shortfalls

The Norwalk Board of Education on Jan. 14 voted unanimously to approve a tentative FY 2025–26 operating budget to submit to the city and also approved a revised table of organization that reduces central office staffing.

Superintendent Zuri Estrella and budget staff summarized the drivers behind the recommended budget, which they said reflects a 9.7% year‑over‑year request. The district told the board that a combination of factors is producing the increase: projected blended health‑insurance cost increases (assumed at about 10%), resumption of contributions to a self‑insurance account after a one‑time reduction, contractual wage increases, and a reduction in grant funding that had previously subsidized services.

Finance staff (presented by Mr. Arzamani during the meeting) said roughly $2.4 million in services that were previously grant‑funded — including special‑education summer programs, certain security and counseling services — are no longer covered by grants and must be addressed in the operating budget. The district also cited a roughly $1.8 million supplemental allocation in the prior year that had temporarily preserved programs but must now be absorbed if those programs continue. Transportation contracts that serve specialized learners have increased (examples given of a 5%–7% rise) and the district will add about four more buses to meet program needs.

Estrella and staff described recent reorganizations at central office intended to preserve school‑level services. The administration said it eliminated 21 central office positions while creating seven new roles focused on curriculum, STEM, digital learning and “future ready” programs — a net reduction of 14 positions. The board approved adding the revised table of organization to the agenda and then approved it by voice vote.

Board members and public commenters repeatedly raised concerns about the impact of reductions on mental‑health supports, school counselors, deans, assistant principals and nurses. Several board members said many pandemic-era grants (ESSER/ARPA) that funded counseling, drug and alcohol counseling and social‑work roles are expiring. Estrella said the grants helped reduce chronic absenteeism and suspension rates and that replacing those services locally is challenging given limited new grant opportunities.

District staff presented scenarios to show possible combinations of cuts (larger class sizes, shared elementary principals, shared nurses/counselors) and warned that many reductions would have people‑level impacts because roughly three quarters of the budget funds salaries and benefits. The administration said that to reach 9.7% it had already made central‑office cuts and that additional reductions could risk “dismantling systems in a way that is irreversible.”

The board approved a motion to submit the tentative budget to the city. The superintendent and business staff said they will return with updated scenarios if the city’s contribution differs from the recommended request.

Votes at a glance: approval of the tentative FY25–26 BOE operating budget (9.7% request) and approval of the revised table of organization (net -14 positions) were each approved by voice vote with all present board members recorded as voting yes.

Ending: District leaders said they will continue to meet with stakeholders, pursue external funding opportunities and provide follow‑up reports to the board as the city budget process proceeds.