Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the District Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Ansonia superintendent asks for 2.4% budget increase as special education costs climb
Summary
Superintendent DiBacco presented a 2.4% budget request emphasizing literacy, career pathways and social-emotional learning, citing rising healthcare, special education and transportation costs. The board discussed administrative reductions and asked for combined budget/grant figures before public hearings.
Superintendent DiBacco presented the Ansonia School District’s recommended 2026–27 spending plan at the Jan. 14 Board of Education meeting, asking the board to consider a 2.4% increase over the current year.
DiBacco said the request is driven largely by rising personnel and fixed costs, noting that health care, special education, transportation and tuition are the main upward pressures. He told the board, “72% of the district’s population are high needs,” and said the district is also CEP-designated and has about 18% of students in special education.
DiBacco framed the budget around the district’s Vision of a Graduate and core beliefs, saying investments in literacy, career pathways and social-emotional learning are intended to improve student outcomes. He described a plan to reduce five administrative positions districtwide while keeping classroom staffing and mental-health supports intact.
Board members pressed for more detail on cost drivers and presentation format. Mr. Marriott said staff reviewed the budget line-by-line and identified reductions primarily in health care and salaries, and worked with special education leadership on potential savings for outplaced services. When asked about caps on outplacement costs, staff noted Connecticut’s excess cost reimbursement helps but does not place an absolute cap on what a district may be charged.
Dr. Steven Adamowski urged the board to present a combined budget that shows local appropriations together with grant revenue so the public can see total district spending and better understand net increases. Mr. Chris Phipps and others discussed scheduling a joint presentation with city officials to improve public engagement; the board noted key calendar milestones for a Feb. submission to the mayor and a March review by the Board of Aldermen.
The superintendent said the recommended budget reflects district priorities and the realities of inflation and fluctuating enrollment, and invited board members to submit written questions ahead of a deeper review and future vote.
The board did not take a final vote on the budget at the meeting; further discussion is scheduled at a subsequent session focusing on the superintendent’s recommendation and any board revisions.
