Board adopts $114.25 million budget, adds math interventionist and elementary coach; increases turnover assumption

The Buchanan Board of Education on Jan. 21, 2025, voted unanimously to adopt a $114,247,271 budget for fiscal year 2025–26 after the board approved three amendments: adding a high-school math interventionist, adding one additional full-time-equivalent classroom coach for the elementary level, and increasing the budget's assumed turnover savings by $70,000.

The additions were presented and debated during the meeting's second reading of the superintendent's budget proposal. Board members and administrators said the two instructional hires respond to recent classroom needs: rising numbers of students “doubling up” on math courses at the high school and steady demand for classroom coaching to support new teachers and improve instructional time at the elementary level.

Board discussion and rationale

Superintendent Dr. Krentz described the budget process and said administrators and principals reviewed deferred maintenance needs and instructional priorities after a recent budget workshop. Board members heard from elementary and secondary staff about why the new positions would be needed. The board discussed evidence from this year: an intern pilot at the high school that functioned as an interventionist and a math coach who helped increase instructional clarity for teachers, and an expanded coaching-cycle model in elementary schools that has allowed coaches to spend multiple consecutive days in classrooms when needed.

Board member Matt Wexler moved to add the high-school math interventionist; the motion was seconded and approved unanimously. The board later approved a motion (seconded by a board member identified in the record as Laura) to add one additional elementary classroom coach to be shared across the district's three elementary schools, rather than immediately embedding a coach full time at each building. The board also debated and approved increasing the assumed turnover savings used in the budget from $175,000 to $245,000 (an increase of $70,000) to help offset the net cost of the two hires.

Administrators and board members described how the math interventionist would support both students doubling up on math courses (the district recently reported an increase from roughly 40 to more than 80 students doing so over the last two to three years) and other students who need targeted, individual support. For elementary schools, district staff described a coaching-cycle model in which coaches work multiple consecutive days with teachers to establish routines and increase instructional time; the board heard that the district expects the two classroom-coach FTEs will be shared among the three elementary schools.

Budget vote and next steps

After the three amendments passed, the board voted to adopt the superintendent's 2025–26 budget as amended. Board Chair Bill Hayes announced the motion to adopt the budget as the second reading “as amended,” and the board recorded the final vote as unanimous. The superintendent and administration will present the Board of Education's adopted budget to the Board of Selectmen beginning the following Thursday, per the district's schedule.

Votes at a glance (actions recorded during the meeting): - Motion: Accept donation from New Canaan High School PFA for building signage improvements; amount: $11,006. Outcome: approved (unanimous). (See provenance excerpt for the donation.) - Motion: Approve updated teacher evaluation and leader evaluation professional learning plans (TEPL/LEPL). Outcome: approved (unanimous). - Motion: Add a high-school math interventionist position to the 2025–26 budget. Mover: Matt Wexler (board member). Outcome: approved (unanimous). - Motion: Add an additional elementary classroom coach position (shared across three elementary schools). Second: Laura (board member). Outcome: approved (unanimous). - Motion: Increase turnover-savings assumption by $70,000. Outcome: approved (unanimous). - Motion: Adopt superintendent's 2025–26 budget proposal as amended. Outcome: approved (unanimous). - Motion: Accept transfers as detailed in the December 2024 statement of accounts. Outcome: approved (unanimous).

Financial and staffing details discussed

The adopted full-year budget total reported at the meeting was $114,247,271. Administrators described specific assumptions embedded in the proposed budget, including an assumed turnover-savings figure (adjusted upward during the meeting) and projections for staffing and benefits. District staff noted ongoing difficulty filling certain specialized positions and said vacancy patterns and retirements affect whether assumed turnover savings are realized.

Sean, the district finance presenter, provided the statement of accounts through December: operating fund actuals were about 42.6% of the fiscal-year budget; grants and food-service revenues and expenses were summarized; and the finance presentation noted an increase in the number of students qualifying for free or reduced-price meals from about 130 last year to 162 this year. Administrators said they will continue to monitor enrollments and class-size projections and that the administration will present the budget to the town bodies as scheduled.

Implementation and oversight

Board members asked administrators to track the impact of the new instructional hires and classroom coaching on student outcomes and teacher practices. The board discussed evaluation methods already in the district's framework (including a domain added to the teacher/leader evaluation system that covers teacher leaders and coaches) and asked for ongoing reporting on formative assessments and coaching results. Administrators emphasized they plan to hire from within for coaching roles when possible and to monitor transfers, turnover, and student enrollment trends as the year progresses.

Why it matters

The mix of added instructional support and modest budget assumption adjustments reflects the board's stated priorities for the year: invest in targeted interventions and coaching to improve classroom instruction while managing fiscal impact. The board voted unanimously to adopt the amended budget and will begin formal town-level budget presentations the following week.

Ending

The board adjourned the budget discussion after approving the amended budget; administrators said they will finalize materials for the Board of Selectmen and continue monitoring staffing, enrollment, and expenditures during the fiscal year.