MERIDEN — Talks regarding the school district’s spending plan for the upcoming school year are underway.
In mid-December, Meriden Public Schools officials shared their budget projections for the 2023-2024 school year with members of the Board of Education’s finance committee. These estimates would increase the district’s overall budget to more than $107.12 million — a total that could increase spending by more than $4.94 million from the department’s current $102.18 million budget, which was adopted last spring as part of the overall city budget.
School officials expect an influx of more than $2.2 million in additional funds from the state’s Alliance district to cover part of the proposed increase. If the school board votes to adopt the spending plan as proposed, the remaining balance of approximately $2.7 million would be covered by a funding increase requested from the city.
Officials outlined the costs driving the budget increase. They include a projected $2.35 million increase in employee salaries, as well as a projected $762,953 increase in health insurance costs. Other drivers include an increase of $747,276 in heating expenses and $586,594 in tuition for special education students who are enrolled in out-of-district programs. The projected overall cost for all students enrolled in out-of-district schools is just under $10.16 million, including $8.36 million for special education travel.
In an email to the Record-Journal, Superintendent Mark D. Benigni noted that many other items in the budget request will “remain funded at the level” over the coming year.
The proposed spending plan does not cover positions that are currently funded by the district’s share of federal American Rescue Plan Act COVID-19 relief funds. These funds must be committed by September 2024.
Benigni explained that the district currently has approximately 140 positions, including 40 certified educators and 100 uncertified, which are supported by ARPA funds and therefore are not part of the budget request.
“While we will have these positions funded for another year, next year will certainly bring additional challenges,” Benigni wrote, referring to budget deliberations 12 months from now.
Past budget breakdowns show that state funding, through the Education Cost-Sharing Grant, the District Alliance, and other programs, accounts for more than half of the city’s education funds. city. Municipal funds typically cover about one-third of expenses, while the rest of the funding comes from federal and other sources.
Michael Grove, assistant superintendent for technology and operations, explained that the increase in Alliance funding the city expects to receive reflects the state’s effort over a 10-year period to balance its allocations. education cost sharing. During this period, urban neighborhoods like Meriden, previously underfunded under the state formula, see increased funding. Meanwhile, other suburban districts, which had not been chronically underfunded under the state formula, will see state ECS dollars decline.
During this time, Meriden Public Schools will continue to evaluate the use of its ARPA fund balance. Grove explained that the funding must be committed by Sept. 30, 2024. So the next school year will be the last year the district can use those funds for staffing.
As these positions are vacated, they will not be filled, Grove explained.
“We don’t expect a large number of employees to leave,” Grove said. “But as staff leave, we need to make sure we have projects ready to go – to spend the money on.”
These funds will therefore go to other uses permitted by the ARPA funding rules. One such use is the continued expansion of air conditioning and other ventilation systems in some school buildings.
The board and its finance committee are both due to review the proposed spending plan when those bodies meet on Tuesday, January 3. The finance committee is scheduled to meet at 5:00 p.m. in the board meeting room at 22 Liberty St. The board as a whole will meet in the same location one hour later.
The spending plan adopted by the Board is subject to change. Council will send its budget to City Manager Timothy Coon’s office. The CEO, in turn, will make his budget recommendations to the board in February.
Council is expected to submit its budget request to City Council in the third week of March.
Grove explained that the district is awaiting retirement notifications from staff. Officials are also awaiting finalized health insurance numbers as well as utility cost figures.
Board of Education Chairman Rob Kosienski Jr. described the budget as “a work in progress.”
Kosienski explained his priorities during these deliberations. They include maintaining staffing positions currently in place, as well as improving the district’s curriculum and programs “as much as we can, so that we can continue to give our students the best opportunities,” a said Kosienski.
“We have made so much progress in math and English. I would like to continue to provide more support as we go through the budget,” Kosienski said. “I would like to make permanent the position of dean of students in middle and high schools. I would like to see continued funding for sports and arts programs.
He added: “All these programs that I’m talking about – programs mean people.”
mgagne@record-journal.com203-317-2231Twitter:@MikeGagneRJ