At their first two budget workshops on January 24 and 25, New Fairfield’s Board of Education (BOE) walked through several budget topics with administrators. The proposed budget includes an additional two and a half million dollars, equating to a 5.99% increase. Superintendent Dr. Ken Craw reminded the Board that much of the increase he is requesting is due to adopting ten positions into the budget that were originally created during the pandemic and afforded with federal school relief funds.
Craw emphasized that the school’s aim is to keep the ten positions to continue to help students bounce back from the pandemic. He pointed to a prediction of similar enrollment size—there are projected to be a couple dozen more students district-wide—as a reason to maintain the same number of certified staff members. He said, “we have a comparable staffing plan to the current year in order to continue to move us forward with our district initiatives, to continue to respond to learning loss and accelerate the growth, and to continue to see that return on investment in both academics and also in supporting students in their growth.”
Many questions from board members involved grant funds and whether more grant applications would help to offset the budget increase. Also, given that grant funds that the schools used to receive—beyond the federal spending packages that were created in the pandemic’s wake—have decreased, they are wondering if the district is pursuing all opportunities. Director of Business and Operations Ms. Carrie DePuy said the district does pursue opportunities on the state list, but there are more out there to investigate. Pupil Personnel Services Director Ms. Katherine Matz explained that she is working on a grant to potentially cover the funding of a school psychologist. However, she noted, “it’s a highly competitive grant.”
At the first workshop, the group primarily discussed staffing, while at the second, curriculum instruction, Central Office, and technology costs were the primary topics of discussion. Regarding curriculum, Craw pointed out that requests for funds in curriculum instruction typically depend on the initiatives that are being offered and whether curriculum changes are occurring. Key initiatives next year include continuing to support the kindergarten through fifth-grade math program with year two of the Bridges implementation. With multiple curriculum program changes in this area in recent years, professional learning is needed for all teachers. Assistant Superintendent Ms. Julie Luby explained that funds are also being requested to support work that’s being completed with dyslexia and general strategies for early literacy and for district-wide professional development.
Craw explained that a restructuring of the technology department resulted in a bit of savings, which helped to offset increases such as diesel fuel which is up $120,000. “Another driver that we have here certainly is electricity and oil,” Craw said.
When the board asked about the projected turnover savings, it was noted that this is a risk in the budget, given that it is impossible to predict who will be leaving. Craw also said that it helped with planning in the past when retirement incentives were offered. The BOE will have held their third and final workshop on January 31.
By Sarah Opdahl