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Ansonia board flags budget pressures, schedules special meeting after transportation billing, turnover concerns
Summary
School officials said rising transportation costs and frequent student turnover are straining the 2025–26 budget; the board scheduled a full budget meeting for Dec. 15, 2025, and accepted budget transfers as presented.
The Ansonia Board of Education on Dec. 10 heard officials warn that transportation and special-education costs are running higher than expected and scheduled a dedicated budget meeting for Dec. 15, 2025.
School Business Administrator Mr. Marriott told the board that athletic transportation expenses rose after the district's bus vendor switched from per-trip billing to an hourly billing model. He said some encumbrances are pending and that the district expects state payments in the first quarter of 2026. "Much of this is related to waiting on payment from the state," Marriott said, describing the timing pressure on cash flow and how IEP-driven services and one-on-one aides could increase costs.
Board members flagged the district's high student mobility as a related financial and academic concern. Mr. Lisi said the district has averaged about 300 student moves in and out within the same year; board members noted that frequent moves can depress attendance and proficiency measures because of notification lags between districts.
Dr. Steven Adamowski pressed staff on which budget areas have encumbrances and how future IEPs might affect the projections. Special Education Director Ms. Fenech said the district is pursuing in-district related services (occupational and physical therapy) to reduce outplacement costs and described SEED grant spending limitations the district must follow.
After discussion the board voted to accept the budget transfers as presented and set a full-board budget review for Dec. 15, 2025 to further examine deficits and encumbrances.
The meeting record shows no detailed dollar amounts in the discussion; officials said state reimbursements and pending IEP decisions will determine the district's final standing in early 2026.
