South Country Central School District cites $12M shortfall, board sends private‑school bus cut to ballot amid demands for accountability

The South Country Central School District board met March 13 for a packed public session dominated by an audit summary, a proposed round of staff reductions and a contentious proposal to scale back private‑school transportation.

Superintendent Santana opened the public presentation by reading directly from the district's external audit: “Budget estimates for several expenditure categories were not sufficient to cover actual 2024 2025 spending due to a combination of ineffective budgeting practices and unanticipated cost increases.” He told the audience the district is still developing a three‑year fiscal recovery plan, has expanded its external audit and has daily collaboration with the state controller's office to stabilize finances.

The superintendent and administration laid out recent steps meant to stem the shortfall: expanded audit work, a retained consultant with decades of experience, daily monitoring with the controller's office and an ongoing review of property and facilities to align with enrollment. Administration said mid‑year adjustments produced roughly $390,000 in savings through position consolidations and vacancy management, but projected benefit and contractual cost increases have limited net savings.

The meeting included several clear, quantifiable proposals from the administration: the district reported a roughly $12 million operating deficit, reminded the public that 53.5 FTE reductions were implemented the prior year and announced a proposed additional reduction of 55.5 FTE for the 2026'27 budget cycle. Administration also said it is pursuing special‑act legislation to finance part of the deficit over multiple years rather than force all reductions immediately.

The business official presenting the budget, Mr. Belmonte, said the district faces rising mandated costs including a 12% increase in health insurance and new debt service from a recent energy project; he described a target special‑act deficit borrow figure the administration is trying to reduce from roughly $6.6 million as the board and the community refine the budget.

Union leaders and dozens of teachers, parents and residents used the public comment period to press for accountability and to describe the human cost of repeated staffing cuts. Carrie Carson, president of the South Country Administrators Association, and Pat Brady, president of the Bport Teachers Association, said they were "deeply concerned" and urged transparent plans to rebuild programming and staff stability. Teacher Matthew Kennson told the board, "You, Mr. Santana, have failed us," and other speakers described years of deferred supports and rising class sizes.

Speakers representing families warned a number of district programs are at risk, including electives and library services; administration said core instructional programs are a priority and that proposed reductions were being reviewed to minimize classroom impacts. The superintendent announced a community town hall set for April 29, 2026, and said the district would post detailed budget documents and FAQs online.

On a separate but related fiscal question, the administration moved to present a ballot proposition that would reduce private‑school transportation from a 25‑mile allowance to a 15‑mile allowance. Administration projected the policy change would cut roughly $900,000 from the district's next year expenditures; due to the timing of state aid it would also change cash flows in subsequent years. Mr. Belmonte explained the short‑term mechanics: the district would spend less on buses (reducing expenditures) but would also lower its tax levy baseline, producing a smaller tax‑base increase in later years. Administration and residents disagreed over the size and timing of the net long‑term saving, with some parents and faith‑based school families warning the change would impose new costs and transportation burdens on families outside the reduced radius.

After extended public discussion, the board approved placing the private‑school transportation proposition on the ballot so district voters can decide; the transcript records the motion as carried, with one no recorded. The board and administration repeatedly emphasized that state approval of special‑act deficit borrowing would be required if they are to finance the shortfall over time rather than force all reductions in a single year.

What happens next: the superintendent and business office said they will continue to refine the three‑year recovery plan, provide additional fiscal detail at the April 29 community town hall and continue legislative outreach to seek special‑act authority in the governor's budget. The board will also distribute material for the upcoming ballot proposition and continue to take public input.

The meeting closed with no immediate reversal of the proposed staffing reductions; administration said program‑level decisions will be finalized as the budget is further developed and as state action on special‑act authority becomes clear.