Connecticut / School Districts / Cheshire School District
District staff reviewed school-transportation contract basics and a clause that would allow contract extension if the vendor operates zero‑emission Type‑1 buses with supporting infrastructure; board members discussed procurement trade‑offs and RFP considerations.
Connecticut / School Districts / Cheshire School District
Administrators demonstrated classroom manipulatives, CTE consumables and recurring digital curriculum costs and defended a request for five elementary classroom teachers (to hold class ratios near targets) alongside proposals for coaching and a STEM coordinator.
Connecticut / School Districts / Cheshire School District
District special-education leaders told the board that growing IEP enrollment and sharply higher out-of-district tuition — averaging about $140,000 per placement and with some quotes exceeding $280,000 — are a major driver of next year’s budget and a central reason the district is requesting additional special-education staffing and assessment technology.
Connecticut / School Districts / Cheshire School District
District staff proposed a secondary curriculum supervisor focused on science and math coaching at the 9'12 level; board members debated prioritizing classroom teachers vs administrative/coaching hires and asked staff for concrete cost comparisons before decisions.
Connecticut / School Districts / Cheshire School District
District will add about 72,000 square feet with two new buildings while carrying Darcy and Chapman through Dec. 31, 2026 at roughly $100,000 in costs; an energy performance contract and solar work depend on special legislation to unlock school construction grants.
Connecticut / School Districts / Cheshire School District
District will maintain a hybrid model (DATCO contracted routes and an in-house fleet); it cut one specialized $95,000 van from the operating ask and plans to seek a $56,000 SEED grant for a community program van; DATCO contract projected to rise about 4%.
Connecticut / School Districts / Cheshire School District
District officials proposed a 6.9% increase to the medical-benefits account to cover projected claims, stop-loss premium increases and HSA contributions, and discussed the trade-offs of joining the state partnership plan.
Connecticut / School Districts / Cheshire School District
District officials told the board they plan to add nine teachers (five elementary classroom teachers plus other partial positions), two administrators and one tradesperson to accommodate enrollment growth and new buildings; class-size averages for grades 4'6 are projected within historical norms.
Connecticut / School Districts / Cheshire School District
The superintendent recommended an 8.83% operating budget increase (about $8.2 million) driven largely by salary and benefit costs, new hires to meet enrollment, special-education spending and added facility carrying costs as buildings are retired.
Connecticut / School Districts / Cheshire School District
Superintendent Dr. Jeff Solon presented a proposed 2026–27 operating budget that would raise spending by about $8.2 million (8.83%) to support projected enrollment growth, a $1.2 million increase for special education, rising benefits and staff needs; the board will review line‑item detail in follow-up sessions and did not vote tonight.