Superintendent outlines fiscal 2027 budget drivers: health‑insurance spike, teacher contracts and a larger CEP
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Summary
Superintendent Sue Ginaro presented the fiscal 2027 executive summary, highlighting a 12.9% insurance rate increase and a projected $2 million teacher‑contract contribution as leading drivers of next year’s budget.
Superintendent Sue Ginaro told the board the fiscal 2027 budget will be driven principally by rising health‑insurance costs, contractual obligations for staff, and capital needs.
"One of the drivers this year that I think we're gonna spend some significant time on is the CEP," Ginaro said, noting the CEP had risen from under $500,000 in the prior year to "over $800,000." She identified health insurance as a major cost driver: "Our overall site of service plan is the driver for the district, and that's a 12.9% increase. That represents what we believe to be a $1,700,000 lift." Ginaro also noted the teachers association contract carries a $2 million fiscal‑year 2027 contribution; negotiations with BEPA and BESA were under way and, if concluded, would appear on the March warrant.
Ginaro reviewed enrollment and staffing projections the board will use to calibrate personnel decisions. The district’s current enrollment was roughly 3,985 students, down about 16 from the prior year and projected to fall to 3,918 next year; she described a recurring "Bedford effect" in which cohorts often grow as they progress through the grades. K–8 classroom staffing showed a net projected loss of one regular classroom teacher next year (with specific reductions at Lurgio and McKelvey and increases at Memorial and Peter Woodbury), and high‑school FTE will be refined after March course sign‑ups.
The superintendent previewed CEP projects the board will review, listing painting, annual vehicle replacement, paging/bell‑clock system replacements at Bedford High School and several elementary schools, elevator modernization and discussion about optional ADA automatic door openers. "They're optional, but we wanna talk a little bit about why we'll be recommending those," she said, adding the district is not currently out of compliance but families had reported difficulty entering some entrances without automatic door openers.
Ginaro also listed debt service and major bonds for FY27 — integrated security, HVAC and sprinkler systems — and flagged special‑education costs, lease agreements and proposed facility relocation as items that will require board decisions during the budget cycle.
No formal vote was taken on the summary; Ginaro asked the board to return with questions and said additional budget meetings would provide line‑by‑line detail.