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Principals tell New London board Plan B would be "devastating" to schools as budget options are weighed
Summary
Building principals told the New London Board of Education on Feb. 19 that the district's Plan B (the "Revenue Match" model) would be "devastating to the buildings," affecting programming and school climate as the board continued deliberations on the FY2026'027 budget and scheduled a public hearing for March 2.
Building principals told the New London Board of Education on Feb. 19 that the district's Plan B, the so-called "Revenue Match" model, would be "devastating to the buildings, not only for programming but also for the climate and culture of the staff, students and buildings as a whole." The comments came during a continuation of the NLPS proposed FY2026'027 budget presentation.
Superintendent Dr. Cynthia Ritchie and cabinet staff reviewed three pathways for the FY2026'027 budget: Plan A ("Same Service"), Plan B ("Revenue Match"), and Plan C (a district consolidation and reinvestment model emphasizing academic excellence and operational efficiency). Dr. Ritchie invited building principals Bryan Mahon (New London High School Multi-Magnet Campus), Chris Vamvakides (Bennie Dover Jackson Multi-Magnet Middle School Campus), Erin McGuire (Acting Principal, Nathan Hale Arts Magnet School), and Mike Podeszwa (Winthrop STEM Elementary Magnet School) to describe building-level impacts.
According to the principals, significant cuts tied to Plan B would harm curricular programming and would erode staff and student morale. The principals shared the district-level presentation to highlight trade-offs and to make the board aware of the operational consequences of different budget choices. The board did not take action at the meeting and instead set a Special Meeting and public hearing for March 2 to continue deliberations.
The board's presentation materials were described as the "NLPS Proposed FY2026-2027 Budget Book," which outlines options and probable outcomes; cabinet staff remained available to answer clarifying questions. The board also noted a State Public Hearing on the state budget scheduled for March 4 and encouraged public testimony in support of educational funding. No vote on a budget pathway occurred at the Feb. 19 meeting.
