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Scotland Board previews 0% preliminary budget, outlines staffing changes as enrollment falls
Summary
At its March 4 meeting, the Scotland Board of Education reviewed a preliminary budget with no increase, discussed a staffing model that would eliminate one teacher and one para amid lower enrollment, and heard facilities and insurance updates ahead of an April vote.
The Scotland (Conn.) Board of Education on March 4 reviewed a preliminary budget showing a 0% increase and discussed staffing and facilities plans in response to projected lower enrollment for the 2025-26 school year.
Superintendent Valerie Bruneau told the board that water-damaged floors will be repaired over April vacation and that two classrooms used for special education will receive new air-conditioning during the same break. Bruneau said the district is getting quotes to recoat the gym floor and requested a separate price for stripping and recoating to address visible peeling beneath the current surface.
Bruneau reported that the Board of Selectmen approved a capital appropriation to pay for a mandatory HVAC inspection from the capital account and to fund HVAC for the two classrooms; she said the town appropriation keeps the school budget close to zero and would allow a small surplus to move into the town’s 2% non-lapsing account. On insurance, Bruneau reported that the district’s insurer (CIRMA) covered recovery costs for a recent incident except for a $2,500 deductible; receipts and backup data were provided and compensation was applied toward the deductible.
The superintendent said the district solicited health-insurance bids after being notified the insurance consortium rates could rise approximately 22% with ConnectiCare; bids were received from Anthem, UnitedHealthcare and the State Partnership, and Anthem was selected with a reported 0.5% increase and a 98% renewal rate.
Enrollment projections presented to the board show a decline in grade 6 students heading to area middle schools. Bruneau said Scotland is expected to send 17 sixth-graders to Parish Hill next year (compared with 8 from Hampton and 16 from Chaplin), and the district modeled four staffing scenarios to address special-education and behavioral needs, PreK demand, and retirements. The model the administration selected would retain most staff while eliminating one teacher and one paraprofessional and merging a combined 2/3 classroom, with primary instruction delivered at the appropriate grade level.
Bruneau presented a preliminary budget with a proposed 0% tax levy increase for board review; she said the budget will be placed on the April agenda as an action item.
Special-education staff reported a current census of 22 students with individualized education programs (IEPs), one student in referral, and five students with 504 plans (about 25% of the student body). The board noted the state recently voted down additional special-education funding; Chair Cassidy Martin proposed drafting a joint letter from the district and neighboring boards to send to legislators and the Education Committee urging restoration of funding.
Board Chair Cassidy Martin also noted that the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education (CABE) policy-update process is on track for April and that the town’s handling of the 2023-24 audit resulted in a selective surplus transfer into the 2% non-lapsing account.
Votes at a glance • Motion #1-24/25 — Approve minutes of Feb. 4, 2025. Mover: Brittany Santiago; Second: Kaitlyn Shafer. Outcome: Approved; Gracie Martin recorded an abstention. (Recorded in minutes.) • Motion #2-24/25 — Adjourn meeting at 7:39 PM. Mover: Brittany Santiago; Second: Clark Stearns. Outcome: Approved unanimously.
What’s next The board scheduled its next regular meeting for April 1, 2025 at 6:30 PM, when the preliminary 0% budget and policy updates are expected to be acted on.
