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Board weighs cuts after FY27 referendum failure; board amends van appropriation
Summary
After a failed FY27 budget referendum, East Windsor Board members discussed possible cuts, an auditor review of supplemental state aid that could shift $414,000 of cost to the district, and approved an amendment to a van-appropriation motion while planning community outreach for the Board of Finance meeting.
The East Windsor Board of Education spent a large portion of its regular meeting on Tuesday outlining next steps after the FY27 budget referendum failed. Superintendent Patrick and finance staff said they expect budget reductions but are awaiting the Board of Finance meeting on Monday and further guidance from the town auditor about supplemental state aid.
Patrick told the board that he and staff had recently received correspondence from the auditor questioning the application of supplemental state aid targeted to boards of education; the auditor agreed with the board’s interpretation in conversation but said he was still researching whether the legislative language could lead to a different town-level treatment. Board staff said they had forwarded state Office of Policy and Management (OPM) and State Department of Education correspondence to the auditor and expected follow-up on Friday.
If the auditor or Board of Finance reinterpret the funding and push responsibility to the town side, the superintendent said the district could be looking at an additional roughly $414,000 in required reductions to meet an assumed 2% charter default. Staff are working multiple reduction scenarios, monitoring special-education costs, and waiting for open-enrollment closures to firm up projections.
Board members also discussed outreach strategies to influence the Board of Finance meeting and town votes, including asking booster clubs, PTOs and parents to attend Monday’s meeting and providing simple, plain-language talking points. Several members said turnout in previous sessions has been low and emphasized that the Board of Finance often responds to those who show up in person.
On a separate procedural item, the board moved to amend a prior appropriation request related to the purchase of vans, changing the language from a fixed $230,000 to 'up to $230,000' to allow flexibility in vendor pricing. The motion was made by Courtney and seconded by Fran and passed; one board member verbally opposed during the vote but the transcript does not specify which member voiced that opposition.
Liaison and subcommittee updates included athletics co-op talks with neighboring towns on football, baseball and girls basketball, a scholarship night that delivered about $88,000 in awards to graduates, and the expansion of a pathways program backed by a competitive grant. The meeting concluded with a motion into executive session to begin the superintendent’s evaluation.
The board will reconvene planning and financial review work at upcoming meetings and is scheduled to receive clearer projections after the Board of Finance convenes and once the auditor completes his review.
