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Board declines immediate vote on Cromwell High track after finance committee deadlocks and budget concerns
Summary
After reading a letter from the mayor urging the board to use surplus funds to pay for a $400,000 track resurfacing project, the board heard budget pressures including unbudgeted staffing costs and state FMLA changes and did not take action, requesting more detailed figures and contractor timing before next week's meeting.
Board members discussed a mayoral request to use the district's fund surplus to fully finance a $400,000 track resurfacing at Cromwell High School but deferred any decision as administrators outlined recent cost pressures and procedural concerns.
The chair read a letter from Mayor Dimitri Addis asking the board to consider using its fund surplus to cover the track and noting the council's willingness to support emergency funding requests. "I hope that with these assurances, the Board of Education will support moving forward to support the track using its fund balance," the letter said.
Administration presented immediate fiscal pressures: Chris, the director of finance, said the district had hired four paraprofessionals this year that added about $118,000 in expense and warned that dental claims and other costs could leave the district behind roughly $12,000 by October. Michelle, the district HR director, outlined recent Connecticut FMLA changes effective Oct. 1 that allow non‑certified staff with three months' service to take state FMLA; the new rules can increase substitute and staffing costs and create longer potential leaves when state and federal FMLA overlap.
Board members recalled the project's history through the town's CNR (capital non‑recurring) process, noting the town initially agreed to fund the track but that the Board of Finance recently voted 3–3, which left the appropriation unapproved. Some members urged sticking to the prior 50/50 understanding; others said the board should not reduce its fund balance without clearer numbers.
Several members emphasized timing: the contractor window for track work is typically summer only, and missing the scheduling window could delay the project. Claudio (facilities) agreed to check contractor drop‑dead dates and bring back timing and cost confirmation.
No vote was taken. The board requested a fuller breakout of current obligations, estimated remaining surplus after known commitments, updated legal bills and a contractor availability timeline for the next meeting before any reconsideration of using district surplus for the track.
"I don't see this ever happening again," Superintendent Dr. Macri said of the current surplus and cautioned against committing funds without accounting for pending staffing and FMLA costs. The board will revisit the item with updated numbers.
