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Superintendent proposes $39.1 million FY25-26 budget; Pre-K grant shortfall flagged
Summary
Superintendent Shawn Parkhurst presented a proposed FY25-26 budget of $39,107,550.38, outlined program restructures that would reduce special-education coordinator roles, and warned North Street School faces an $86,681 Early Start CT grant shortfall unless competitive funds are awarded.
Superintendent Shawn Parkhurst presented the Windsor Locks Public Schools initial FY25-26 budget on Dec. 12, proposing a $39,107,550.38 spending plan, an increase of $5,056,364.34 (14.85%) over the current year.
Parkhurst told the Board the package anticipates a $2.5 million medical-insurance line reinstated to the budget and a proposed insurance increase of $992,500, along with contractual salary increases of roughly $1,176,596 and additional inflationary costs such as utilities and mandated indoor-air-quality testing. "Mr. Parkhurst is proposing a budget for FY 2025-2026 of $39,107,550.38 or a $5,056,364.34 increase or 14.85% increase over last year's adopted budget," he said.
The superintendent outlined programmatic savings and reorganizations designed to reduce operating costs, including a proposed restructuring of special-education delivery that he estimates would save $268,824 and relocating the RISE Transition Academy to central office space to save $112,974. Parkhurst described specific staff reassignments and possible reductions tied to that restructuring and said some reallocated positions would move from coordinator roles toward direct service staff.
Parkhurst also described new or expanded items in the request: pathway expansion, online course software, a middle-school summer/transition "boot camp," expanded Science of Reading curriculum work, human-resources software, an increased substitute rate and several proposed staffing additions and changes. He said some items would be funded with grants or the non-lapsing account where available.
On early-childhood funding, Parkhurst warned that changes in the Early Start CT grant definition have reclassified North Street School's Pre-K program as a quarter-day program for Round 1 eligibility, "resulting in a deficit of $86,681 to run the two classrooms" unless the district wins a Round 2 competitive award or secures alternate funding. He said the district submitted the Round 1 application at the reduced allocation and will pursue Round 2 when available.
Capital requests included replacement of Grade 3 and Grade 8 Chromebooks with clamshell cases ($61,712.20) and an updated study and cost estimate for the aging high-school track and football field (estimated $6,218,400; alternate full scope $8,025,300 including bleachers and a concession building).
Parkhurst closed by reviewing the budget schedule: additional meetings in January and a required Board approval deadline of Jan. 23, 2025 so the budget can be delivered to the town by Feb. 1; the Board of Education's presentation to the Board of Finance is scheduled for Feb. 11, 2025.
Next steps: the Board held extended discussion and opened the proposal to public comment; no formal vote on the overall FY25-26 proposal occurred at this meeting.
