Superintendent Joshua Smith told the joint finance meeting that rising health-insurance and special-education costs are the largest budget pressures for Regional School District 15; board members debated risk tolerance, potential targeted cuts and smoothing the district's allocation formula ahead of a referendum and follow-up meeting on April 6.
Multiple Southbury residents at the hearing urged the board to prioritize a second turf field to reduce canceled practices and support youth athletics; others raised concerns about construction impacts on students, hazardous-material mitigation and site placement near I‑84.
Tekton Architects told a public hearing that Connecticut’s revised school-construction guidance (PR2024-046) would cap allowable building costs for K–5 projects at $494 per square foot effective July 1, 2026, potentially leaving local taxpayers to cover amounts above that cap; board members said the district’s grant application is due June 30 and urged timely community action.
District student-services staff told the board that rising out-of-district tuition, transportation and a higher deductible under excess-cost rules are driving budget pressure and proposed adding a third social worker to address increasing referrals and supervision needs.
The Regional School District 15 board moved the capital plan ahead on the agenda and reviewed a $575,000 package of building repairs and upgrades including a Pomeric High School locker-bay remodel, HVAC conversions, window replacements and required groundwater-mitigation planning.
District staff proposed using pay-to-play fee adjustments and a $50,000 athletics revenue line to offset gate fees; the board discussed raising high-school fees while preserving middle-school rates, family caps, and targeted waivers for senior/homecoming events and practical GoFan ticketing issues.
At its March 9 meeting the Regional School District 15 board unanimously authorized a March 23 district meeting/public hearing for a $224 million school construction proposal, approved procedural motions to pursue a roof replacement grant and schematic design work, and certified Connecticut Healthy Food standards for 07/01/2026–01/2027.
Regional School District 15 voted unanimously to call a district meeting and public hearing for March 23 on a proposed $224 million borrowing authorization to build two new elementary schools and agreed to include a separate agenda item to consider adding a second high‑school turf field to the referendum notice for public comment and further costing.
Superintendent Carrie Smith told the Regional School District 15 board that October 1 enrollment — the state'snapshot used for budget calculations — is at the trough of a long decline and is projected to flatten with slight growth over 10 years. The district reported roughly 20 paraeducator openings, one unfilled high-school math position, and uncertainty about how a potential universal pre-K would affect capacity.
Regional School District 15 approved a transfer entry of $1,368,970 to fund a roof replacement at Longmeadow Elementary School. Finance reported issuance of a final repair bond after a competitive process and discussed forthcoming bond scenarios and school construction tours ahead of a March presentation.
