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Superintendent: district seeks $950,000 federal support for autism expansion and flags $740,000 special-education overrun
Summary
Superintendent updated the board on instructional rounds, principal search progress, a $950,000 federal grant application for autism-program expansion, and a roughly $740,000 overrun in special-education out-of-district spending that staff will analyze ahead of May budget deliberations.
The Winchester superintendent told the Board of Education that the district has submitted a federal grant application seeking about $950,000 to expand autism programming and that staff will report back on an unexpected special-education spending overrun of roughly $740,000.
In a detailed superintendent’s report, the district leader described recent instructional rounds that included student observers and praised staff for open-classroom collaboration. The principal search process is underway: focus groups, surveys, screening of more than 40 applicants, full-day candidate assessments and return-visit finalist interviews are planned with an anticipated hire date of July 1 for the new principal.
On federal funding, the superintendent said applications were submitted through Representative Larson’s office and via Senator Murphy and Senator Blumenthal’s channels. The grant request — about $950,000 — seeks staffing, supplies and materials to grow the autism program at Hinsdale School; the district provided multiple letters of support from local partners and officials.
In the monthly budget review, the superintendent reported a significant variance in special-education out-of-district costs: approximately $740,000 over plan after accounting for excess-cost grant returns. That figure covers tuition and transportation; board members directed staff to research drivers of the increase and provide findings at or before the May budget meeting so the board can consider any adjustments during budget deliberations.
The superintendent also reminded the board that the district’s Board-of-Selectmen budget hearings are scheduled for April 13, 15 and 20 and urged community participation ahead of the budget referendum.
The board received the report and set follow-up analysis of special-education costs for a future meeting.
