Preston Board of Finance reviews $15.05M school budget as health insurance, salary steps drive increase

PRESTON — At a special meeting March 26 at Preston Plains Middle School, the Preston Board of Finance heard a presentation on the proposed 2026–2027 Board of Education budget, which Superintendent Roy M. Seitsinger Jr. said totals $15,053,740.

Kelly McNamara, chair of the Board of Education Finance Committee, told the Board the roughly 3.75% requested increase reflects maintaining current services rather than new programs, and that the district sought to balance student needs with taxpayers’ capacity. “The district's children are the Town's future,” McNamara said, and the proposal prioritizes preserving staffing and core services.

Seitsinger said the district’s budget is heavily weighted toward fixed costs, with about 89% of education spending classified as fixed. In his slide presentation he reported that salaries make up about 45% of the proposed budget, benefits about 15%, special education about 14% and secondary education about 15%. He told the Board salary costs are projected to rise roughly 6.5% because of contractual step increases and that health insurance costs are expected to increase by approximately 16.2%, which officials described as one of the largest drivers of the budget request.

School leaders emphasized the limits on discretionary spending as more positions and services previously supported by grants move into the regular operating budget; administrators noted one position previously grant-funded (a school psychologist) is now included as a regular budgeted position. Officials also described the district’s instructional priorities — student mental health, development of fine motor skills, technology described as “mission critical,” and curriculum framed around what administrators called the “Pillars of Preston” (critical thinking and problem solving; effective communication; innovation and creativity; global citizenship).

Administrators highlighted partnerships the district has expanded to respond to staffing and service needs, including coordination with North Stonington and Voluntown for staffing support, and work with local public safety and public works departments. The presentation noted the district serves about 65 military-connected students and discussed how inflationary pressures and the expiration of grant funding have pushed more recurring costs onto the operating budget.

Board members pressed school officials for more detail about rising tuition and special education costs, technology spending, and whether any expenses could be deferred. Officials said out-of-district tuition and special education placements continue to increase annually and are difficult to control because the district must provide services and placements as required; they also said the non-lapsing account balance (about $8,500) would not substantially reduce the overall request.

During public comment, resident Johanna Thibdeau said portions of the budget presentation were “misleading and overly wordy” and expressed concern about the long-term tax impact. The Board did not take a formal vote on the budget at the meeting. Mary Gardner moved to adjourn; the motion was seconded by Max Zachem and passed unanimously at 8:22 p.m. The proposed budget documents and the superintendent's slide presentation are available on the Town website for public review.