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Monroe schools report $1.1M surplus, propose $300,000 reading-program pilot and field repairs; board approves FY2024 transfers
Summary
Superintendent Joe told the board the district closed FY2024 with about a $1.1 million surplus and proposed using part of it to pilot a state-approved reading program (~$300,000), add $250,000 for special-education contingencies, and pay roughly $46,000 to replace turf infill; the board unanimously approved budget transfers.
Superintendent Joe told the Monroe School District board that the district finished fiscal 2024 with "roughly one $1.1 million surplus from this past year," and presented staff recommendations for one-time uses of that money.
The recommendations include using about $300,000 to pilot a state-approved comprehension-and-vocabulary reading program (choices under consideration: Bookworms or Wit & Wisdom), asking the Board of Finance to place an additional $250,000 into the districtcontingency established for special-education outplacements, and setting aside funds to replace the coconut turf infill on the district field (staff quoted a vendor estimate of about $46,000). Superintendent Joe said the reading-program funds would primarily cover materials and training required to meet the state waiver.
Why it matters: Connecticut law requires districts to adopt an approved reading program by July 2025; district leadership said piloting a program this fall will allow Monroe to meet the waiver timeline while keeping a portion of the expense one-time rather than built permanently into the operating budget. The proposals aim to cover near-term obligations and reduce the need for an immediate tax-rate impact in the next budget cycle.
Details: Joe said the district already secured a $110,000 Right to Read grant that covered phonics and fluency training; that grant plus other savings leaves an estimated one-time need of about $300,000 to implement the full approved program materials and training. On special-education costs, staff asked the Board of Finance to consider a $250,000 contingency top-up to address unusually volatile outplacement costs.
On facilities, staff described extensive summer repair work after storms and noted that routine and emergency repairs pushed building-systems spending above $100,000 in some line items. For the turf field, two vendors inspected safety and reported the field substrate and underlay remain safe to play on; replacement of the coconut infill was quoted at approximately $46,000. Joe said the district has a purchase order and may also pursue insurance reimbursement for storm-related damage.
Board action: During new business, a trustee moved to approve the fiscal-year 2024 budget transfers as presented; Christine seconded and the motion passed unanimously. A separate consent motion earlier in the agenda also passed unanimously.
Whatnext: Superintendent Joe said he will present the requests to the Board of Finance in the coming weeks and that the board will discuss using surplus funds as a one-time allocation to avoid embedding recurring costs into the operating budget.
