Tolland board hears staffing and student-support shortfalls as budget trade-offs loom

Tolland school leaders and board members used the budget workshop to highlight gaps in student supports and to press the board to avoid cuts that would reduce direct services to students.

Teachers’ aides, nurses and counselors came up repeatedly. Board members said the middle school is short roughly 0.5 FTE in nursing coverage and that library‑media coverage has been split across two schools. One board member said the middle‑school absence of a full‑time social worker is notable and recommended adding a social worker position or swapping a proposed MTSS coordinator for that role in higher‑funding scenarios.

Clubs and extracurricular stipends were also a flashpoint: the superintendent said restoring clubs to the pre‑reduction model would raise costs by about $100,000 but would reduce barriers that force families to choose among activities. The superintendent described a collection policy change requiring payments before clubs begin and said an online payment option is being developed to streamline collections.

Why it matters: Board members said mental‑health supports and nurses reduce safety and learning risks and should be protected. Several members urged the board to prioritize retaining nurses, counselors/social workers and MTSS resources when the superintendent prepares trade‑off scenarios.

Numbers and context: The superintendent estimated a social‑worker salary range (competitive market) in the roughly $50,000–$70,000 range; a PPT facilitator and some other proposed positions were discussed at higher figures (examples quoted during discussion ranged up to roughly $120,000 depending on role and step). Members asked that scenario worksheets show the dollar value of each proposed position or cut so the board can move items in and out.

Quotes: Parent and resident Heather McCann said public meetings should be "civil…friendly, upbeat interactions," and board members repeatedly framed the question as preserving people on campus: "Prioritize security and people over positions."

Next steps: The superintendent will include scenarios that preserve nurses and show the cost to add a social worker and a PPT facilitator in the higher funding option; members asked levelized dollar figures to permit direct tradeoffs.