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Board approves preschool tuition rise, contract awards and funding to cover storm-related snow removal
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Summary
At its March 12 meeting the Southington Board of Education adopted several finance and facilities recommendations from the finance committee: a 10% increase in regular preschool tuition for 2026–27, multiple grounds-service contract awards, and authorization to use up to $60,000 of FY25 non‑lapsing funds to pay for unexpected snow removal.
The Southington Board of Education on March 12 approved a suite of finance and facilities recommendations put forward by its finance committee.
What passed: the board approved a 10% increase in regular preschool tuition for the 2026–27 school year to align district preschool tuition with regional providers; after an RFP the board approved awards for bid 2026-07 for lawn mowing, trimming and seasonal debris cleanup (NELTS of Connecticut LLC was recommended for several elementary-site locations); and the board authorized up to $60,000 of fiscal 2025 non‑lapsing funds to cover unbudgeted snow‑removal costs related to recent storms.
Why it matters: administrators said meal participation and food-service revenues are down (a reported net loss of $96,886 through January and a student meal debt of $12,686), and the district is under a spending freeze with purchases limited to essentials. The preschool tuition change is intended to keep the district’s rates aligned regionally; finance staff also noted a March 1 special‑education excess‑cost filing that projects roughly $3,200,000 in reimbursement subject to state adjustments.
Facilities approvals: the finance committee also presented plans to expand the SHS tennis‑court project to include a new parking lot of 143 spaces to address neighborhood parking and safety; the board authorized awarding the project (bleachers/press box replacement and tennis court work) through the CREC Purchasing Consortium with project cost figures read into the record ($1,708,305 for bleachers/press box; $3,675,840 for tennis courts and parking lot).
Board discussion and context: board members asked about vendor performance guarantees, multi‑year contract oversight (years 2–3 contingent on year‑1 performance), and neighbor impacts for the high‑school parking expansion. One member urged continued dialogue with the police department to address side‑street safety; another emphasized the opportunity to recapture state reimbursement when building a new elementary school.
Outcome and next steps: the motions passed on the record; administration said it is negotiating pricing with snow‑removal vendors and will report back with more detail. The board also directed continued outreach and attention to neighborhood traffic and safety as projects proceed.
