Wethersfield Board approves $70.49 million budget focused on early literacy after 5–3 vote

The Wethersfield Board of Education on March 10 approved a $70,490,088 operating budget for the 2026–27 school year, voting 5–3 after a lengthy presentation and debate about priorities.

Superintendent Jeff Whibbey framed the proposal as a “priority and paramount‑needs” budget that increases spending by 4.48%, driven largely by salaries and benefits. Whibbey told the board the proposal includes a request for five elementary reading interventionists (he said the district had identified funding for two of those through internal efficiencies), additional kindergarten paraeducators focused on early literacy, and a $75,000 service‑delivery program review to audit EL, IEP and MTSS systems. Whibbey said these targeted investments total less than 1% of the operating budget but could affect “hundreds and hundreds” of students.

Whibbey argued early reading proficiency is a foundational issue: “By the end of third grade, students shift from learning to read to reading to learn,” he said, linking early intervention to later academic and fiscal outcomes. He told trustees roughly 24% of Wethersfield K–3 students currently need Tier 2 or Tier 3 literacy support and said extending proven interventions earlier is more cost‑effective than remediation later.

Board members who supported the budget emphasized the targeted nature of the request and noted regional comparisons. “This is a responsible investment in education,” one trustee said, praising the clarity and transparency of the presentation and the administration’s work preparing the proposal.

Trustee Amanda moved to amend the superintendent’s proposal to reduce the increase to $70,111,473 (a 3.92% rise) and to add a program audit; she said the board should respect recent referendum spending and be mindful of taxpayers’ capacity. The amendment was seconded but failed on a roll‑call vote (three in favor, five opposed). The board then adopted Whibbey’s original motion on a 5–3 roll call.

During discussion trustees asked for additional detail on prospective savings from retirements and on how any state holdbacks from a previously completed high‑school project would be returned; Whibbey said the final audited closeout amounts are set by the Department of Administrative Services and will be reported when available.

The board did not propose layoffs and the superintendent emphasized the budget contains no RIFs (reductions in force). Whibbey said salaries and benefits account for more than 80% of the total proposed budget and about 92% of the year‑over‑year increase.

The budget will move forward in the town budget process and to joint hearings as scheduled.