Committee reviews fund-flow report, approves facilities assessment and flags unanticipated capital needs

The committee reviewed a pared-down fund-flow report covering recent adjustments to special-education transportation, staff leave costs and several unanticipated facility projects. Administrators said the district will commission a year-long facilities assessment — budgeted at about $100,000 and funded from the capital plan — to prioritize repairs and help guide future budgeting.

Mark Bracco, the superintendent, told the committee that the assessment "is actually gonna take a whole year...that's gonna put a plan in the town's hands for these buildings" and that the $100,000 cost comes from the capital fund. Committee members also discussed recent unanticipated expenses such as sprinkler-system work and new technology: the district plans to add ParentSquare software and install a new audiovisual system in the middle-high cafeteria (the district will cover that cost). One member noted reserve pressures, saying they saw "$237,000 in operating expenses" as a material draw on reserves and reminded colleagues that a sudden special-education placement can rapidly reduce reserve balances that were previously near $2,000,000.

Administrators also described two pre-owned grand pianos arriving for the music program (one donated, one purchased at a discount) and said the donation will appear on the next meeting’s donation list. The facilities assessment report and prioritized recommendations are expected to inform capital requests next fiscal year.