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Board tables school health and transportation POs after questions about enrollment counts
Summary
Finance presented state-statutory purchase orders to cover health/wellness and transportation costs for New Canaan Country School and St. Luke's; members questioned the underlying enrollment data (state-reported 534 New Canaan students at St. Luke's) and asked staff to get school rosters and a five-year look-back before approving; the board tabled the items.
The Board of Selectmen tabled fiscal items related to health and transportation services for New Canaan Country School and St. Luke’s during its June 23 meeting after members raised concerns about the accuracy of the enrollment figures used to calculate per-student charges.
Finance staff said the FY26 per-student health and wellness cost used in the calculation was $249.86 and applied that amount to state enrollment data, producing a figure that corresponded to 534 New Canaan students at St. Luke’s. Board members questioned whether the state submission accurately reflected current St. Luke’s enrollment or the town’s resident share and asked staff to request rosters directly from the schools.
Selectmen asked for a simple verification plan: obtain the school-provided roster with addresses at the start of the school year, re-tally resident students, and provide a five-year look-back to determine if prior reimbursement amounts require adjustment. Sean, representing the Board of Education data contact during the meeting, confirmed the $249.86 per-student number was the calculation used for FY26 but suggested staff obtain the underlying enrollment data for verification.
Because members wanted the verified student counts before committing funds, the board agreed to table approval of the related FY26 and FY27 purchase orders and to return the item to a future meeting with the requested documentation. Staff said the accounting can accommodate moving the amounts to a FY27 PO and charging back if necessary.
