Suffield finance report: $335,000 food‑service surplus, special‑education costs exceed budget

Business Manager Eric Remington told the board on Oct. 6 that the district was awarded a federal equipment assistance grant to replace an oven at McAlister Intermediate School and that the food service fund currently has an excess balance of $335,000.

Remington said the district has prepared a state spend‑down plan for the food service funds that proposes replacing dishwashers at all four schools, replacing the walk‑in cooler at Spaulding School and purchasing a new combi oven for Suffield High School; the cooler at Suffield Middle School was not included in the plan because of the building’s status.

Remington updated trustees that FY26 salary lines are being monitored and that special‑education outplacements continue to be a budgetary challenge; the district is currently over budget on special education spending but no corrective actions were announced at the meeting. He also warned the board to anticipate a sizable increase to the budget for upcoming transportation contract negotiations.

On procurement, Remington noted the district’s bid and purchase policy requires sealed bids for purchases over $15,000 and that federal/state sealed‑bid thresholds are $250,000. He said an RFP will be issued for a pitched‑roof project at the high school and that the high school HVAC replacement project remains on hold until next summer.

Remington’s report provides financial context for upcoming decisions on capital projects, transportation contracts and the district’s grant‑funded equipment purchases.