Suffield Board reviews proposed 2026–27 budgets, flags staffing and program needs

The Suffield Board of Education on Jan. 20 reviewed proposed 2026–27 budgets for district schools, with administrators emphasizing professional learning investments, literacy and math programs, and emerging staffing needs.

Assistant Superintendent Laura Norbut, Ed.D., told the board the Curriculum and Instruction budget prioritizes professional learning in Bridges mathematics, Amplify CKLA, Building Thinking Classrooms, World Language professional development and a partnership with Antioch University. Norbut said the district is developing a five-year textbook and resource plan to manage subscription and renewal costs and that the district will likely need to add a K–12 English Learners/Multilingual Learners teacher in a future budget cycle as enrollment grows.

"We are developing a five-year textbook and resource plan designed to manage subscription and renewal costs over time," Norbut said.

At A. Ward Spaulding School, Principal Gina Olearczyk highlighted the rollout of the CKLA curriculum and the adoption of mCLASS/DIBELS and Forefront data platforms, and said the primary budget focus is implementing the Fly Five social-emotional learning program and related consumables.

McAlister Intermediate School Principal Kris Pryce said McAlister was recognized by the state as a "School of Distinction" for mathematics growth, crediting Bridges math, instructional coaching and the addition of a second math interventionist. The school's budget request is aimed at maintaining current programs and supports.

Suffield Middle School Principal Ken Smith reported progress with the Illustrative Mathematics curriculum and described teacher interest in an Amplify ELA pilot to align literacy instruction with the science-of-reading work in K–5. Superintendent Matt Dunbar told the board the initially proposed 0.4 FTE for World Language staffing understates projected need and that the district will likely require a 0.6 FTE increase based on enrollment projections.

At Suffield High School, Principal Anthony Hibbert said chronic absenteeism has dropped by double digits and that Honors and AP course performance remains strong. Using a zero-based budgeting process, the high school's operational budget is 4% lower than last year while requesting increased funding for Stage Productions and addressing equipment and facility needs.

Board members asked staff to clarify consumable and additional-duty lines and to provide more information on repair costs cited for Family and Consumer Science sinks and musical instruments. The board also discussed the library media center flood and the insurance-driven replacement process for damaged materials.

The board will continue budget review and incorporate clarifications into future workshops and the proposed budget delivered to town finance officials.