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Preston School District finance committee reviews $16.18 million FY26 budget; raises transportation and student‑services concerns
Summary
At a Jan. 23 Finance Committee workshop, Preston School District staff presented a FY26 net budget request of $16,176,145 (a $1,144,618 increase). Committee members highlighted rising student‑services and transportation costs, a possible reduction of two paraeducators at NFA, and directed principals to track school spending; no budget vote was taken.
Acting chair Deborah Burke-Grabarek called the Preston Public Schools Board of Education Finance Committee to order at 6:01 p.m. on Jan. 23, and committee members reviewed the district's proposed FY26 budget.
Fiscal Manager Cynthia Varricchio presented an Abbreviated Chart Budget Summary showing a net budget request of $16,176,145, an increase of $1,144,618 over the prior year. Major line items called out included salaries ($7,181,259, up $203,027), employee benefits ($2,380,028, up $211,228), secondary tuition ($2,571,329, up $239,371) and student services and tuition ($2,308,830, up $305,741). The district also identified a $23,010 increase for instructional technology and placeholders for utilities and benefits in the assumptions.
The committee reviewed the assumptions underpinning those figures. Staff said benefits were budgeted with an 11.9% placeholder, utilities were modeled with a 20% placeholder for electricity and 15% for propane, and secondary tuition was estimated to rise about 4 percent. Varricchio said certain increases were driven by projected student census and outside-tuition needs.
Discussion among board members and staff focused on several operational pressures. Committee member Michael Hinton and Supt. Dr. Roy Seitsinger noted the transportation fleet's age and recommended additional maintenance funding and an adjustment to include a transportation assistant. The Student Services Director position was clarified as a 0.8 FTE rather than 0.6. The committee also discussed a proposal to reduce two paraeducator positions at NFA and agreed principals would be responsible for tracking spending at their individual schools.
The meeting record shows no public commenters and no formal committee vote on the FY26 budget. The only formal action recorded was a motion to adjourn at 6:45 p.m.; Michael Hinton moved, Deborah Burke-Grabarek seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
The Finance Committee did not adopt the FY26 budget at the workshop; the record indicates further review and school-level tracking will continue before any final decision.
