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Berlin School District board reviews 2026–27 budget, discusses K–2 device replacement
Summary
Board members reviewed the 2026–27 budget, noting a $181,000 town contribution that restores two McGee ELA positions while leaving a high‑school math position unfunded; members also discussed K–2 device replacement cycles and agreed to schedule a fuller technology discussion for September.
The Berlin School District Board of Education on Tuesday reviewed elements of the 2026–27 operational budget, including staffing changes and plans for classroom devices.
District staff told the board the district received $181,000 from the town for the operational budget and that funding will restore two McGee School sixth‑grade ELA positions. The presenter said the district did not have funds to fill a high‑school math position and that the in‑school suspension (ISS) supervisor position will be shared between the high school and McGee.
“The ISS supervisor will be shared,” the district staff member said, noting the schedule leaves classes with sometimes larger sizes but generally not exceeding 24 students.
Staff also outlined assumptions behind the district’s request for classroom technology. The presenter said K–2 is configured as a 1:1 iPad deployment at the K, 1 and 2 grade levels and that iPads are typically replaced on a five‑to‑six‑year cycle. “We don’t replace iPads… typically every 5 to 6 years,” a staff member said, adding the rough replacement cost is about $25,000 per grade level when averaged across the cycle.
Officials noted the earlier $400,000 budget ask did not include K–2 devices and that grades 3 and 4 often receive refurbished Chromebooks recycled from secondary students. That, staff said, reduces the need to buy full class sets for elementary grades.
Board members discussed classroom usage and whether the district should change device policy. A board member referenced recent actions in larger districts and said the issue is timely: “seeing that come out last week” prompted the board to consider how other districts are handling K–2 technology.
The board did not take action on the budget item Tuesday. The chair asked members to email topics they want addressed and the board agreed to put a fuller technology discussion on the September agenda so staff can prepare more detailed information for the board and the superintendent.
What’s next: The board will receive the materials requested for the September meeting; no formal budget vote or amendment was taken at this session.
