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Superintendent Dr. Adley proposes 3.99% FY27 budget for Middletown schools, warns cuts will affect programs and staff
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Adley presented a proposed FY27 operating budget asking for a 3.99% increase, describing roughly $1.2 million in identified reductions and a set of program and staff changes — including preschool section cuts and the proposed elimination of an early‑years International Baccalaureate offering — aimed at closing the gap between a 5.21% core roll‑forward and the requested number.
Superintendent Dr. Adley on Thursday presented the Middletown School District’s proposed FY27 operating budget, asking the board to approve a 3.99% increase while warning that reductions to staff and programs would be needed to keep the request below a 5.21% ‘‘core’’ roll‑forward driven by contractual and benefit costs.
Dr. Adley framed the budget around four priorities — fiscal responsibility, balanced spending, community accountability and sustaining core educational programs — and said the administration identified roughly $1.2 million in reductions to move from a 5.21% core increase toward the 3.99% request. "We have made some difficult choices in this budget," Dr. Adley said, adding that deeper cuts would mean “impacting more staff and more kids’ programming.”
Why it matters: Middletown’s net cost per pupil is about $25,000, Dr. Adley said, a relatively high figure compared with peer districts even as elementary‑ and middle‑school proficiency rates have shown recent dips. The superintendent said student outcomes improve by high school but that the district must reconcile elevated per‑pupil spending with pockets of lower proficiency.
What’s in the proposal: The presentation outlined staffing and program changes across the district. At the high school Dr. Adley said seven positions are being reduced (two math, two English language arts, one social studies, one science and one world language). The middle school model reduces several academic interventionists while reassignment of two alliance‑funded tutors will offset part of that loss.
On early childhood and enrichment programs, the superintendent proposed reducing the KPA preschool from seven to five sections and introducing a sliding‑scale fee expected to yield about $45,000 in revenue; he said the full KPA program costs about $1.1 million. Dr. Adley also proposed eliminating the district’s early‑years International Baccalaureate offering (a program he said costs about $235,000 a year) and shifting STEM/innovation staffing to a K–5 science coordinator to implement Project Lead the Way across elementary schools.
Special education and behavioral supports: Dr. Adley said special‑education enrollment has grown by more than 200 students — about a 37% increase over five years — and the budget adds two compliance positions at the middle and high schools while redeploying elementary supervisors to meet oversight needs. The administration plans targeted MTSS and behavioral investments paid through grants that would add three social workers, district behavioral technicians and a coordinator focused on three schools where behavioral needs are concentrated.
Capital needs: The superintendent stressed urgent facilities needs, including multiple roof replacements, removal and replacement of oil tanks (Moody and others), seven boilers (including three at the middle school), and replacement of failing security cameras. He urged the board and city to plan and fund those projects with urgency.
Revenue and grants: Dr. Adley described the district’s revenue mix, noting current‑year Education Cost Sharing (ECS) revenue and alliance funding; he said the district receives $28 million in ECS with $11.5 million identified as alliance funding and that uncertainty remains about state funding and grant renewals. He also noted health‑benefits costs are rising (about 8.93% year over year) and transportation contract increases were a major pressure.
Board response and next steps: Board members questioned the difference between the 5.21% core and the 3.99% request and expressed concern that incremental, repeated cuts could erode services for both struggling and advanced students. Dr. Adley said the core reflects contractual obligations and that some grants are in their final years or have uncertain renewal. The administration outlined upcoming budget workshops and public hearings as the next steps.
Dr. Adley closed by urging the board to consider the proposed numbers carefully and said staff will provide more detail at upcoming workshops and respond to written questions in advance of future meetings.
