Middletown board reviews financial report; approves nine intra‑budget transfers

The Middletown Board of Education reviewed the district’s financial position and approved nine budget transfers at its Oct. 14 meeting.

Natalie Forbes, executive director of finance, told the board the district had balanced its books with the city for fiscal 2024–25 and reported an unexpended balance of $485,035.93 as of June 30, 2024 — about 0.48 percent of the total appropriation. Forbes said the board may authorize expenditures from that non‑lapsing balance for educational purposes and that the superintendent will report proposed expenditures to the board before use.

Forbes also presented the October financial statement, which showed a beginning‑of‑year surplus of roughly $900,000 but flagged several lines where the district anticipates additional spending, including seasonal and temporary classified salaries, athletics event workers and in some facilities lines related to Kegman School’s reopening. She noted several employee‑benefit lines showed surpluses because payments were completed for those items.

The board voted to approve nine transfers that Forbes described and that the administration said would correct coding or cover newly identified needs: - Bealfield Elementary: move funds to supply lines to meet student needs. - Strings program/grant: reallocate a strings instructor appropriation after securing grant funds and move money into special transportation to cover elevated transportation costs. - Return of an enrolled student: shift funds from out‑of‑district private tuition to cover a 1:1 nursing need after a student returned to the district. - Public information officer reclassification: correct payroll classification from administrator to classified/human resources appropriate line. - Performing arts: reassign funds for band uniform purchases from purchase services. - Special education pre‑K: charge a position to the correct school after classroom relocation from Spencer to Bealfield. - Field trips: move funds from repairs and maintenance into the field‑trips line and make financial‑aid support available to students who need it. - MHS technology dues: reallocate dues money for instrumental supplies. - 2023 vendor billing: settle an outstanding vendor invoice from 2023 at an agreed lower rate.

A motion to approve the transfers passed without recorded opposition. Forbes and the board members discussed several line items in detail, including the need for bus monitors requested by elementary principals and higher athletic event costs tied to large events and the Nutmeg Games. Facilities director Marco Guerra and other staff explained that higher‑attendance events required additional event workers and security, and that the Kegman reopening produced one‑time infrastructure expenses.

Forbes said the district would bring a detailed list to the board if it proposes to expend funds from the unexpended balance and that most of those funds are typically reserved toward the end of the fiscal year for unanticipated, educational purposes.