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Board schedules budget workshop; superintendent reports $802,474 in seed grant funding pending legislative confirmation
Summary
The board set a budget workshop for June 11 and heard that Bristol remains listed as an Alliance District pending final legislative confirmation; a $802,474 seed grant for special education expansion was described in recently passed legislation.
The Bristol School District Board of Education scheduled a budget workshop for Wednesday, June 11 to follow the city budget submission, and the superintendent told the board the district should receive more detail on state funding after the legislature completes its session.
Superintendent Iris White said the finance and operations committee decided to hold the workshop after the city of Bristol filed its budget on May 19; she said the workshop will be followed by a 7:00 p.m. special meeting to consider any proposed budget cuts. White said any recommended cuts she presents at the June 11 workshop will be made available to board members in advance for review.
White also updated the board on pending legislative matters. She said the State Department of Education (CSDE) had notified her the district was still listed as an Alliance District as of the afternoon of the meeting but that the department would confirm the status the following morning because the legislative session was closing. Separately, White and staff summarized provisions in House Bill 5001, a bill focused on early childhood and special education services, which includes a new seed grant program (Special Education Expansion Development) and funding the district expects to receive. White told the board the district is slated to receive $802,474 in fiscal year 2026 and $802,474 in fiscal year 2027 under that provision; she said final figures and details remained to be confirmed by CSDE.
White said the legislation also directs CSDE to set a rate schedule for providers that will be reviewed every two years and places a prohibition on special education institutions raising rates midyear. Board members asked whether setting rates could force some providers out of business; White acknowledged that concern was raised during legislative testimony but reiterated the statute requires CSDE to develop the schedule and the department would take the lead on that work.
Board members asked that confirmed budget figures be shared once available and requested the June 11 materials include any proposed position changes tied to budget scenarios.
No formal board action was required to schedule the workshop; the board set the date and confirmed the special meeting time on the record.
