Stratford board reviews superintendent's proposed FY26 budget; members ask for one more workshop

The Stratford School District Board of Education held a budget workshop Feb. 5 to review the superintendent's proposed fiscal year 2026 budget, focusing on salaries and benefits, curriculum and professional development and special education.

District staff told the board that salaries and benefits constitute the largest share of the budget. "Salaries and benefits total almost 76% of our total budget," said Miss Managini, a district budget presenter, while introducing the salary-and-benefits section.

That figure reflects negotiated wage and step increases the district expects to absorb next year, staff said. Staff highlighted three salary areas with notable increases: curriculum-writing and related positions, pupil-support services (largely the restoration of elementary librarian positions that had been funded through a town allocation in FY25) and student activity coaching — the latter driven in part by difficulties hiring athletic trainers and a shift of some expenditures from contracted services to payroll.

Curriculum and professional development were a central focus of the evening. Dr. Chiazza, speaking from the curriculum team, told the board the district wants to restore funding cut in recent years and invest in a…