Finance committee approves $249,000 in budget transfers, sends them to full board

Norwalk — The Board of Education finance committee approved three budget transfers totaling $249,000 at its Jan. 14, 2026 meeting, sending the transfers on to the full board for final action.

Budget director Christian Karsmit told the committee the transfers are routine monthly items the committee reviews before they go to the full board. “These are budget transfers that we bring to the board every month,” she said, and explained the transfers are each over $10,000 and move funds from accounts with surplus to those with needs.

Karsmit described three moves: surplus from the district’s oil account and a custodial vacancy were shifted toward a food-services deficit; $93,000 moved from a district-wide teacher holding account into full-time teacher positions (split between Brookside and Marvin) to meet IEP/caseload requirements; and funds from a preschool NECC account and a special-education teacher district account were reallocated to convert a part-time (0.5) social-worker position to full time and to add a special-education aide. Karsmit summarized the total as $249,000.

Chair Sherry McCready Pritchett reminded the committee this review is the members’ opportunity to ask clarifying questions before the transfers go to the Tuesday full-board meeting. Committee members asked for a year-to-date roll-up and clarification that the $249,000 figure is in dollars (thousands), not millions; staff confirmed the amount is $249,000 and explained how amended budget columns reflect transfers.

Procedurally, the committee recorded a motion to approve the transfers; the motion was moved and seconded by members identified in the meeting record as Speaker 4 and Speaker 5, and the committee approved the item. The transfers will appear on the full board agenda for final approval.

The committee also approved its Nov. 12, 2025 minutes earlier in the meeting (motion by Diana Carpio, second by Garrett Oliver).