Greenwich School District approves summer transfers to cover repairs and tech purchases

Pat Patrick presented a package of summer budget transfers that the Greenwich School District board approved on a voice vote, reallocating district funds to cover school repairs, textbooks and technology purchases.

Patrick said the district’s revised operating budget stands at $201,000,000 with an unaudited available balance of about $2.4 million, and that additional June expenses could reduce that cushion. He told the board the transfer package relies on expected special‑education out‑of‑district tuition savings to cover one‑time items totaling $457,500.

The transfers include a $205,000 reallocation in transportation to reflect use of the town’s fueling arrangement rather than commercial gas stations; $119,500 to repair water damage at Hamilton Avenue School and $26,500 to replace damaged furniture there; and roughly $22,000 for Chrome devices and supplies for the Greenwich High School art program. The district also listed $151,500 for reviewed science textbooks (biology, chemistry and physics) and grade‑6 Spanish materials.

Patrick also proposed technology purchases for middle schools: virtual‑reality equipment for Eastern and Central Middle Schools to align them with Western’s existing EdTech program, and $87,000 for robotics equipment to serve all three middle schools. He said IT equipment for the new Central Middle School building was placed in the operating budget to meet ordering timelines and that staff coordinated with building committees to avoid duplicate spending.

Doctor Jones, asked by a board member to explain the virtual‑reality purchases, said Western already runs a long‑standing VR program that began with a grant and summer program; the district’s goal is to equalize EdTech offerings at Eastern and Central. “They do a little bit of everything,” Doctor Jones said of the VR program, adding that it’s used across content areas and requires training.

Board members discussed whether to place the year’s fund balance into a non‑lapsing account. Michael Joseph and others said they had heard opposition from BET contacts to placing funds into the non‑lapsing account unless the board had a clearly specified, non‑recurring educational use. Patrick said the unaudited fund balance shown was about $2.396 million and that prior transfers — notably last year’s transportation contract work — had factored into earlier non‑lapsing decisions.

After discussion, Michael Joseph moved to approve the summer transfers “as presented,” the motion was seconded and the chair announced the voice vote in favor; the board recorded the motion as passing. The meeting then adjourned.

The district packet lists the individual transfer amounts and supporting explanations; board members said they will track final, audited numbers when the fiscal year is closed.