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Superintendent warns of budget pressure; board to revisit high‑school construction scale and staffing fills
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Johnston outlined budget challenges, confirmed three vacancies will not be backfilled, said the district will review scaling options for a proposed high‑school project (staff referenced an $80M construction estimate and $99M overall), and noted a submitted $80,584 grant for bus driver training and bus camera upgrades.
Dr. Johnston, the district superintendent, told the Wallingford‑Swarthmore School Board on April 27 that the district is facing budget pressures driven largely by personnel costs and that the administration will continue reviewing vacancies before choosing to backfill positions.
Dr. Johnston said the district has identified three positions that will not be backfilled — two at NPE and one at SRS — and has communicated with families at affected schools. He said staffing decisions will aim to preserve core programs and maintain class sizes consistent with collective bargaining agreements. He added that the administration will return in May with more detailed budget analysis and expects to bring specific strategies for FY27 to the board in June.
On facilities planning, Dr. Johnston said KCBA Architects will be asked to present alternative scales for a proposed high‑school project. At a recent facilities committee meeting the board had reviewed an $80 million construction estimate (about $99 million overall) and members were asked to consider whether to scale back elements; any addition to the capital plan would require reallocation elsewhere in the budget, the superintendent said.
Transportation Director Allison Sloat prepared an Automated School Bus Enforcement Grant (ASBEG) proposal to fund CDL training for up to eight drivers and to upgrade interior cameras on leased buses; the requested amount is $80,584 and the submission deadline was April 30. Dr. Johnston said the district was on track to submit the application.
Dr. Johnston also announced community partnership updates: Swarthmore College donated bleachers and has waived annual fees for the college amphitheater for the district’s graduation commemoration, an arrangement the board is set to approve as a formal agreement.
The superintendent described the budget process as collaborative and said the board will receive further budget and enrollment analysis as it prepares a FY27 proposal.
