East Windsor board hears FY27 shortfall, cuts two positions and holds reserves for special‑education costs

At an East Windsor Board of Education finance meeting, staff warned the district faces a fiscal shortfall for fiscal year 2027 and outlined staffing reductions and contingency plans.

"We did reduce two positions. One was the second nurse at the middle school," said Patrick Kato, a district staff member who delivered the budget update. He said nurse visits and certain health needs remain higher than pre‑pandemic levels and that one nurse has already resigned. Kato also said the district eliminated a high‑school 504/vocational coordinator as part of the reductions.

Kato described recent projection changes that increased the district's cost picture: an additional $48,000 projected from health‑care charges and about $162,000 for two special‑education outplacements, which together moved an earlier projection from roughly 3.43 to about 4.16 (figures reported by staff). He said leadership met in advance with the superintendent and finance subcommittee to plan cuts and avoid late‑notice personnel actions.

Board members pressed staff for timing on final numbers. "I'm going to do a deep dive for the June projections," the staff member identified as Ryan said, estimating that the updated figures would be available in roughly two weeks but cautioning that pending bills and other variables could change the bottom line.

Board members discussed the district's 2% reserve fund. Staff said the set‑aside remains nearly fully funded and is being preserved intentionally to provide a cushion for next year; board members noted about $200,000 of that reserve was being held to cover a possible special‑education outplacement if it occurs.

Members also discussed permissible forms of advocacy for the budget vote. Board members referenced a one‑page guidance sheet from a consultants' group (the Donovan group) on what members may say as private citizens versus actions they cannot take as board members; staff reiterated that board channels and official email should not be used to ask voters to "please vote yes," though members may communicate factual information as taxpayers.

The board heard updates on capital matters connected to the budget: staff reported the town's board of selectmen proposed using proceeds from a TMS lawsuit to purchase a bus and that, if approved by the board of finance, the purchase would be scheduled for a town meeting vote after required public notice. The district also reported it did not receive additional state reimbursement for new school projects in the most recent round; staff said other districts received higher percentages or waivers and that the district is awaiting clarification from state contacts.

The board did not adopt final budget figures at the meeting; staff said they will return with June projections and next steps.