Willington board confronts $259,000 budget shortfall and weighs program, staffing cuts

The Willington Board of Education spent much of its July 14 meeting weighing reductions to the proposed 2026–27 budget after administrators reported a projected increase of about $259,271, or 2.59 percent, over current spending.

Superintendent (speaker S3) told the board the administration had already applied several offsets, including a $100,000 non‑lapsing transfer, but said more reductions would be needed. “You need to figure out what positions are gone,” the superintendent said, urging the board to decide quickly so principals can rework schedules before school begins.

Board members and staff discussed several high‑impact options. The superintendent and administration identified moving athletics to a pay‑to‑play model, eliminating or reducing district literacy and math coaching positions, consolidating unified‑arts staff, not filling a recently vacated classroom position and changing bus routing as potential ways to reduce costs. One board member noted the combined effect of bus‑route consolidation and an agreement with the teacher association on insurance waivers could approach six figures in savings.

Supporters of keeping staff in place cautioned that some items proposed for reduction — notably the instructional coaches and an intervention paraeducator — are closely tied to student interventions and professional development. A teacher‑role advocate said the coaches “go between the teachers and the data and what is going to be the best practice for teaching those students to get them to achieve.” Administrators warned that eliminating positions without planning for seniority and bumping could produce unknown financial and scheduling consequences.

Several board members favored starting with lower‑impact lines, such as converting sports stipends to pay‑to‑play. “Sports does not impact your staffing tonight,” the superintendent said, distinguishing stipend lines from staff positions; removing stipends would shift costs to families rather than eliminating staff positions.

The board did not vote on specific reductions. The superintendent asked that members be prepared to make decisions quickly after the outcome of an impending referendum and suggested a special meeting on Aug. 3 if the referendum failed so affected staff would have adequate notice to plan. “If this budget does not pass, you need to, on August 3, call positions,” she said.

Votes at a glance - Election of board secretary: Jen McCool was nominated and approved by voice vote; meeting remarks recorded a 7‑vote approval for the secretary position. - Appointment to School Building Committee: The board moved and seconded Anne Borjon to serve as the BOE representative to the SBC; the motion passed by voice. - Certification of Connecticut nutritional standards (Connecticut Gen. Stat. §10‑215f): The board moved, seconded and approved the statutory certification by unanimous voice vote.

What’s next The board asked administration to refine projected savings and timetable options and signaled it may act quickly after the referendum. Administrators warned that deep cuts will complicate scheduling and staffing because of seniority and certification rules; the superintendent said she would return with more precise scenarios and that principals would need short lead time to revise schedules if positions are removed.