Region 15 superintendent presents 2025–26 proposed budget; board debates class sizes, facilities and data investments

The superintendent presented the proposed 2025–26 budget for Regional School District 15 at the board’s Feb. 24 meeting, explaining projected staffing changes, capital needs and proposed investments in data systems and facilities management.

The budget presentation outlined a proposed 4.49% increase year-over-year driven by staffing, contractual obligations and inflationary costs; identified a need to restore a director of facilities position (estimated cost about $125,000) and recommended adding about $100,000 annually to the operating capital line to address end-of-life HVAC and roof work. The superintendent said the district currently manages roughly 700,000 square feet of building space and has an operating capital balance of about $475,000.

Board members focused much of their questioning on class-size impacts and where newly budgeted FTEs would be allocated. The superintendent and staff explained planned section reductions and additions at the elementary level — a net increase of one elementary classroom teacher overall, with specific additions at Longmeadow and reallocation of an existing vacant FTE — and said…