Residents urge council to fully fund Board of Education as town faces enrollment-driven costs

The Town Council heard more than two hours of public comment on the Board of Educationproposed 2026–2027 budget after Dr. Solan presented staffing and benefit-cost pressures that he said are pushing the districtbudget above $100 million.

Dr. Solan summarized his earlier recommendation of ‘‘a little over $101 million,’’ saying the Board of Education reduced that request by about $1.2 million during January deliberations and that the district is seeking a net increase of eight certified teaching positions for 2026–27 to respond to enrollment growth. He warned that without hires the districtwould face historically large class sizes and listed possible areas that could be cut to reach a proposed $300,000 reduction, including middle-school athletics, deferring staff desktop replacements and small supply accounts. He also said an outside firm (USI) projected a 6.97% increase in medical benefits, roughly $1.3 million annually, and reported the districtmedical claims reserve at 2.31 months (the districttarget is two).

The hearing then moved to public comment, where parents, educators and community leaders largely split along two lines: those urging preservation of the Board of Education budget and those calling for restraint to limit the tax burden on seniors and long-term residents.

"A low per-pupil expense is no longer a compliment. It is a detriment," said Leslie Pair, a 30-year Cheshire resident and 29-year educator at Cheshire High School, arguing the town must invest now to avoid higher costs and reduced services later. Several paraeducators and classroom teachers described acute staffing shortages and student-behavior pressures: Elizabeth Ciuca, an ABA paraeducator, said crowded kindergarten classrooms left children without adequate attention and warned that cutting paras increases the likelihood of costly outplacement for students with intensive needs. Christina Vella, a 13-year paraeducator and founder of school programs, told the council she is seeing staff burnout and departures tied to rising workloads.

Supporters of the Board of Education budget warned that cutting services would not only harm students but would also depress property values. "Research shows every dollar in per-pupil spending preserves home values," said Matt Kerr, who said his family moved to Cheshire largely for the schools. Several speakers said extracurriculars, counselors and nurses are essential parts of the education budget, not extras.

Opponents urged the council to consider the tax impact on seniors and residents on fixed incomes and questioned staffing growth and step increases. Dr. Barbara Massey, who described herself as a researcher with experience in school budgets, challenged a 4.46% teacher salary step and noted Cheshire's increased debt from two new school construction projects that limited expected state reimbursement. Mandy Miller asked for a five-year projection and greater transparency about the increase in full-time equivalent positions since 2015–16.

Business groups also weighed in: Yvette Auger, president of the Cheshire Prospect Regional Chamber of Commerce, told the council local businesses (often Cheshire residents) will feel higher taxes and urged the council to seek alternative savings.

The council clerk summarized about 33 written letters received before the hearing, reporting a majority in support of the Board of Education request and several specifically rejecting the proposed $300,000 reduction. No formal vote was held at the hearing; the Town Council adjourned the public hearing and moved to deliberate downstairs. Council members said they hope to adopt the budget on April 28, or on April 29 if needed, to comply with the town charter requirement that the budget be adopted by April 30.

What happens next: the council will deliberate the budget in closed deliberations and is scheduled to vote to adopt the budget before the charter deadline. Residents who requested action at the hearing will likely follow the councilas it moves to those deliberations.