Superintendent details budget pressures, $1.7M IT need and wide-ranging facilities repairs

Superintendent Dr. Tomko told the Garfield Board of Education on Feb. 24 that the district faces multiple immediate budget and facilities pressures, including an estimated $1.7 million technology infrastructure upgrade, work on aging boilers and a possible $500,000 shortfall in preschool funding.

Why it matters: the budget for the coming year will be prepared on an accelerated timetable because of the April school election cycle, Dr. Tomko said, and those funding uncertainties — including a possible federal funding reduction and rising health-care and energy costs — could affect staffing and programs.

Dr. Tomko said the district audited key systems soon after he arrived and identified gaps. The technology “pipe” (internet speed) was increased in a prior year, he said, but many switches and supporting hardware are “end of life” and must be replaced; an audit estimate of about $1,700,000 was cited. Facilities issues include multiple boilers that required emergency replacement work; the facilities director…