001It is now 6:00 and I'd like to call the April 23rd, 2026 Board of Education budget workshop meeting number three to order. Please stand for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. As a reminder, please be sure to turn your microphones on when speaking and voting. And to ensure those online can hear you, please silence your cell phones. Next item on the agenda is public comment. Do we have any public comments tonight? >> No public comment at this time. >> Okay. >> What? Okay. for public comment. We'll have Cristala Ali. Thank you. >> Hi. Good evening. Little nervous. Never been up here before. Good evening, members of
002the board of education. My name is Crystal Alba Alcid and I'm a school social worker at Stafford Elementary School. I'm also a resident at Bristol, a homeowner, a parent raising my young son in this community and expecting another. I'm here today because I recently received a non-renewal notice due to a reduction in force. While I understand the realities of budgeting, I want to share the human impact behind these decisions. I choose to invest in Bristol, not just professionally, but personally. I purchased a home here with the intention of building a life, serving this community, and raising my child in the same district I dedicate my work to every day. My son is part of the system. My family is part of this community. Over the past 12 years in education, and especially in my time
003at Stafford, I have poured my heart into supporting students, families, and staff. As a bilingual social worker and a woman of color, I take pride in being someone's fam, someone whose families can trust to help them navigate the school system, access resources, and feel seen and supported. That work goes beyond a job. It's a commitment to equity, relationship, and student success. At Stafford, I have worked closely with students struggling with behaviors, mental health, and social emotional needs. I've supported 504 plans, facilitated family collaboration, and helped reduce crisis situations by strengthening preventative supports. This work directly impacts school climate, student safety, and academic success. To be told that my position might be eliminated, not because of my performance, but because of the budget decision, is deeply disheartening. It feels like work, the work, the relationships, and
004the investment in this community are not being fully valued. The decision does not just affect me personally. It impacts my family stability, my child's educational continuity, and our sense of belonging in this community. It also impacts the student who rely on consistent trusted support and trusted adults. I ask the board to consider the broader impact of these reductions, particularly on the student support services and professionals who are on the front lines every day addressing student needs. I'm proud to work in Bristol public schools. I believe in this community and I hope that decisions moving forward reflect a commitment not only to budgets but to the people, the staff, students and families who make this district what it is. Thank you for your time. Do we have any other public comment? >> No further public comments.
005>> Thank you. Next we have discussion, no action, overview of potential budget reductions and impacts. Uh, Superintendent White. >> Thank you very much. Good evening everyone, members of the board, colleagues, and members of the community. Before we begin, I want to acknowledge that tonight's conversation is a very difficult one. Budget discussions are never just about numbers. They are about people, programs, and the opportunities we provide to our students each and every day. I also recognize there is concern and uncertainty in our community whenever we begin talking about reductions and that is not something that we or I as superintendent take lightly. The fiscal year 2027 budget proposal that the board of education approved was built thoughtfully and intentionally to meet the needs of our students, support our staff, and maintain the programs that our families
006depend on. Since that time, we have received preliminary recommendations from city hall that requires us that will require us to reduce that proposal. At the same time, there are still important variables that remain unresolved. The board of finance has not yet taken its final vote and at the state level discussions are ongoing regarding a potential increase to the education cost sharing ECS foundation. Both of these decisions could significantly impact our final budget. Because of that, it's important to say clearly that we are obviously the board is not uh prepared or in a position to uh make votes on the budget on the final budget. Um nor will the board want to speak about specific reductions to personnel. Doing so before we have final decisions from both the board of finance and the state would be
007premature and can create unnecessary concern. Our goal is to be responsible, transparent, and thoughtful in how we communicate. And that means sharing specifics only when we have the most accurate and complete information available available. What we will do tonight is walk through the current financial picture, outline the magnitude of the adjustments we are being asked to consider, and provide clarity around how these reductions would be distributed between special education and general education. This will help frame the scope of the challenge that this board is facing while allowing us to remain flexible as new information becomes available. Um during tonight's presentation, I will share some big ticket items uh for possible reduction in terms of discussion. Um we're not putting forward numbers or identifying staff based on assumptions rather than confirmed information. Um there are still
008too many variables to be able to do that at this time to do that responsibly. If we are faced with workforce reductions, my recommendation would be on spreading these reductions in a way that minimizes as most possible disruption and preserves direct services in our schools where the impact on our students is the most immediate. Um you all know that we had to do reductions last school year at the end of last school year and this year we are seeing the great impact those reductions have had. And so as much as possible, um my goal is to um spread the reductions out if we have to make those reductions to try to not have the impact be so severe at our school level because our schools are already suffering and our children and staff are already
009suffering. Um before I begin the presentation, I do want to say that I see some teachers here and obviously our last speaker received um the notice regarding non-renewal and I know that Mr. Grabowski did a very good job of explaining um the statue that we follow. I know it's been some time since Bristol did follow that practice and so it's very hurtful. I can understand that's very hurtful. Um and it's very difficult but of course we want to follow the statute to protect the district, protect the board and protect all of you as much as possible. And I know that you understand that but I just wanted to say that um as a superintendent. I also wanted to thank the principles. I know some of them are here um that were on the virtual call
010the other afternoon with their teachers as Mr. Grabowski went through the process and answered questions. So, I want to say thank you to them for supporting the teachers. I know I meant a lot to the teachers and I also want to thank BFT president um Mike Reynolds and Babs President Michelle Levasser for their support during this process. And I'm now going to proceed um through the PowerPoint presentation. So, as um a review um my original proposal and the proposal that was adopted by the board of education um was a budget of $154,649,443 an overall increase of 17,587,628 over the fisc year 26 approved budget. Um, as you know, after the board of education approves the budget, it is then presented to the board of finance and so the board of finance has been in communication
011um with us um and has begun to make some recommendations and the most current recommendation that was discussed at a board most recent board of finance meeting was preliminary recommending an increase of 11 million764,70 for a total budget of $148,825,885. The exact amount will be voted on by the board of finance on uh this Tuesday, April 28th, and then by city council on May 18th, 2026. Um and at the end of the PowerPoint, I'll review the um budget adoption timeline. For tonight's workshop, we are focusing on this number and estimating that based on this latest recommendation, we would need to make a $5,823,558 reduction to the budget proposal. And I'll break out now um the budget between special education, general education so that we can review the true impact of this reduction. So in terms
012of special education, so um in the approved budget, special education requested 5,222,560 over the fiscal year 26 budget. This was including the special education new position salaries that were part of my um new certified staff and non-certified staff uh personnel proposal. The city uh board of finance has recently discussed allocating an additional $3,98,510 above our request based on fiscal year 26 deficit and prevent future deficits. That is a total increase of $8,321,70 for special education. And um in his remarks to the board of finance, Chair Macowski spoke about um going over the budgets over the years in the special education requests and how it can be viewed that special education was underfunded which has um impacted and has caused year-over-year deficits. And so this proposal which they are making is said to try to be
013able to find a solution to that. Next slide. So this um visual um is just showing the difference between the BOE proposed budget and the total reduction required. Um and the challenge ahead is bridging this $5.8 million gap without compromising core educational mandates. General education. The general education increase request is 12,365,68 over fiscal year 26 budget. This request includes all general ed salaries and benefits for the newly requested positions that were in my original proposal with the city recommending a budget increase of 11,764,70 of which $8,321,70 is allocated to special education. 3,442,68 is remaining to allocate to general education. This amount is the amount needed to maintain current general education staffing and contractual wage increases. This results in a necessary reduction of 8,923,000 in general education. So even though the latest board of finance proposal
014is to increase to 11 million, they are asking in that proposal that the increase go towards special education. And so that leaves still um a deficit for um general education. Um this graphic shows the structure of the 11.7 million city increase which creates a profound operational deficit for general education. And to understand the true impact of the required budget reductions, we must separate special education mandates from general education operations. Next slide. So um before we talk about some big ticket possible reductions, I wanted to provide an update on education cost sharing ECS. Discussions are happening at the state level regarding an increase to ECS funding. If the state votes and decides to increase the foundation, the money will flow through education cost sharing. So based on a $170 million increase, which is um the latest
015proposal that we understand is being discussed, Bristol would be in line to receive an additional $4,952,576. As a result, any increase in funds would be captured as the lines district funding and that money would be specifically earmarked and held back by the CST for the board of education, also known as the ECS card. So, you may hear us talking about the alliance district grant, the alliance district application. If the um state decides to use that increase um and apply it to alliance district funding, that would mean um CSD would um allocate that funding directly to the district and that would be part of the alliance district application process and that's an annual process that the district goes through as an alliance district. As you know, our current alliance district um allocation for the 27th fiscal
016year is flat funded. It hasn't been decided whether or not um the state will go the route of earmarking that for alliance district funding or using it as a general municipal aid grant that the town could use at its own discretion. um and then they could decide whether or not they wanted to potentially use some of that funding towards um the district. So Alliance district funding that is part of ECS but it's a carveout of ECS. ECS goes to the dis to the uh municipality but there is a carveout as an alliance district that we receive. And so the state um as far as we know has not decided whether or not if they do decide to go with this $17 million increase whether that increase would go to the municipality and the municipality could
017decide how that increase would be utilized. um essentially utilized usually to help with um taxpayers, help for taxpayer relief or if they decided to use that money for alliance district funding, which would mean it would go to the district through the CST and it would be part of it would be added to the um grant funding that we received through alliance district this year. So I wanted to go back to my original um proposal which was um general education staff requests. So in my original proposal I proposed both general education and special ed new um staff positions. And so with the um board of finance proposal, current proposal to increase our special education funding, what we would be able to do is take the special ed teacher and parent educator personnel requests from that original,
018take that out, and then remaining would be these positions, the general education positions. understanding that there needs to be a reduction and that we will have to make reductions. The thought my recommendation um would be to start with not moving forward with these positions because these are new ass. So in order to u protect the current staff and also help avoid us from making additional cuts to programming um I would remove this recommendation of these new positions from the budget that um eliminating these new position salaries and benefits would account for a decrease of $2,937,564. And this would leave a reduction of 5,985,436 in the move forward budget. Any questions? I think maybe I can stop here. Any questions around any of the foundational pieces >> through the chair? Just the previous slide. Um you
019mentioned the what you would keep which was the parent position. Could you repeat that part of it? >> Yes. So with the um the board of finance with their current proposal to increase our special education funding, what we did is we took out the special educ education teacher and pair educator um requests. We pulled those positions out and what's left are these general education staff requests. meaning that you would keep the sped teacher and the par educator within the budget act and these together. >> Yes. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Do you know when we would potentially get the information regarding the ECS like what the state's going to decide versus alliance versus um city? >> Hopefully sooner rather than later. Um the last day of session is actually um Wednesday, May 6th. >> So
020like >> so definitely by Wednesday, May 6. >> And so next week with the vote for the board of finance like that can go through and then we could hear after >> that's not the final vote. Final >> for the city council. Okay. Gotcha. So >> yes. >> Okay. >> Thank you. chair. Um I was trying to find um from our last meeting when we the $17 million increase was um presented I was I believe I recall it was 53 new positions and this here is four. So is are I don't remember what other indicators. >> So that's that's the difference from the >> that is the difference. Okay. >> Yes. >> You can subtract those from >> I think we're ready to move on the next slide. So, we didn't want to we didn't
021feel like we were in a position to provide an itemized list of some possible reductions, but we did want to um have possibly the board have a conversation about some reductions with a large fiscal impact. And I'm defining a large fiscal impact here as over $200,000. So, um, first of bullet 180th day of school. Um, the board has had that conversation because of the large number of snow days this year. Um, we moved to 180 days, but it is um certainly a consideration um to permanently move from 181 days or not permanently but next year from 181 days to 180 days. Regarding the stipens A2 and A3, you may recall that uh we put a pause on a year for these stipens um last year during the budget reduction conversation. Um and we originally thought
022that we could bring those stipens back this year, but it is um a significant amount. Um so there might be consideration of pausing another year as part of the reduction. Middle school sports facilities, equipment. Um the caveat here with facilities and equipment is there is, you may recall, um what's referred to as drip funds, district repair and improvement funds. Um and so that went through the approval process. And Bristol is in line to receive $411,575,000 in those funds this fiscal year. Um, we've been told by OPM that we should expect that funding by June 30th. So, um, there also should be another allocation next year. So, those funds would be able to fill any holes we would have in terms of the facilities budget. Retirement savings. Um, we are anticipating um some retirements, some teacher
023administrator retirements. As those come in, the goal would be to have um the people who replace them come in at a lower salary. So, we are um estimating some retirement savings there. Salarying and STEP freezes. Um these would have to be agreed upon by um union through um union conversations. Um but that would be a significant savings um as well as school closure. Um wanted to be transparent there. We know there have been conversations um at this or has been mentioned at this board um board of finance at the city um about the large some people perceive large number of buildings that we have as a district. um declining enrollment and whether or not school closure should be on the agenda in terms of saving money in terms of our budget reductions. Any questions about
024reductions here have a large fiscal net? >> Do you have more to present? I I don't want to get too deep into this if we're if there was more, but you're able to talk more about a bunch of >> um the next slide is really just the city budget adoption timeline so everyone knows what the timeline is in terms of adopting the budget. >> Okay. So, I'll let you finish that and then Okay, for questions. >> Yes. Thank you. >> Certainly. Mhm. >> So, um this coming Monday, April 27th, the Board of Finance has um scheduled a special meeting that is at 5:00 at City Hall. And the next evening is the Board of Finance budget vote that will take place at 5:30. May 6 is the last day of the legislative session and it's
025also um happens to be the next regular board of education meeting and May 18th is the um scheduled city council budget vote. Um so depending on the conversation depending on the vote um the board would probably want to schedule decide when you might want to schedule another budget workshop whether it's after the board of finance vote next week or wait till the board meeting, the next board meeting when the session ends, but and then having a possibly um a workshop or scheduling a time for the vote, the budget go after May 18th just so we can try to get the budget wrapped up as quickly as possible. And that was my last question to Antonio. >> Yes. And I I have several so I'm happy to rotate if other people have others. So I'll ask
026a couple and then >> if I have more if that's okay. I want to dominate whole part of the conversation right in the beginning. >> Um I wanted to know if you could tell us about um the current just refresh our memory about the current prek program. Are is our entire prek program full day? >> No, I don't believe so. All the students are in full day. Correct. >> No. >> Did your budget proposal include expanding any of that to full day? >> No, that was that part. >> Okay. Um, another question that I had and it kind of probably aligns with the, you know, salary step freeze conversations that would have to go through union negotiations, but there are other benefits besides the health benefits that are offered to our employees. Is there has
027there been any look at premium optimization and some of the other benefit structures? I I couldn't tell you specifically what Derek because I'm not you know well versed in them but things like um you know if we have um like a particular life insurance benefit you know is there ways to max so provide life insurance and but provide it at a benefit level that could maximize some premium um and if any of that's been explored through the um our human resources department I don't need an answer tonight this was just other things I was Yes, thank you. >> Um, >> and I know that um, last year during these discussions, we asked about uh, classes at the high school level. We offer a generous portfolio of classes and electives for students to take. Um, I'm
028assuming that you're um looking at the budget and looking at as we do every year, low enrollment classes and where we can uh maybe have to alter some non-mandatory cutbacks in the the classes that we offer. I know we go through that exercise anyway every year, but um you know, have we looked at that as well? And I'll stop there and pause and let some others some Yes. Can you hear me? >> Yes. >> Okay. Um, obviously you probably don't have an exact number, but considering that these were options that were visiting, um, is there an a general number for what the cost would be on eliminating middle school sports? It was approximately 400,000. >> How say it again? >> Total. It wasn't higher than that. >> 300,000. >> Thank you. >> Move the chair.
029And just um when we discuss middle school sports, we're moving from four middle schools, right, which required busing from Green Hills or West Bristol or, you know, all across um the town. So, was that taken into consideration when considering the amount that would be saved? Would was that it's only Northeast and West Bristol were the only two uh middle schools participating? motion. >> Can you hear me? That was considered because with the with the consolidation of the middle schools, Northeast being much larger and Chip-ins gaining more students, they were each gaining another team. So, that was taken into consideration. >> So, how much does a team cost? I know we have uniforms. I don't know how much an individual team costs, but I know what was allocated towards middle school sports was roughly 300,000 in
030total. This would be eliminating all middle school sports. >> That's really Yeah. >> Awful because keeping kids engaged in school is >> paramount. I agree. >> You're the chair. >> Yes. Um, what the cost saving would be moving from 181 to 180. Might >> as well just say that. Yeah, >> I do have that number handy. Hang on one second. It's around 275,000, but I want to give you the exact number. Sorry. Thank you. Yes. $275,000. Through the chair. Um, for the retirement savings, is there like a ballpark date when we usually would know the amount of retirements or is there incentives to know so we have like an idea? >> We don't have any incentives set right now. Generally at this time of year, we get an influx of retirements. Um, so they're still
031coming in. >> Thank you. >> To the chair. Uh, talking for you, Jody. Um, this is a lot to take in. I know we've all talked about it. Um, I guess my question is we're at a certain level of programming now. It's not optimal. We know we need to do better, but is there amount we could tell the board of finance we need at a minimum to maintain what we have now without cutting all this? Is that number is there a number we can give them at this point? say we need x increase or x amount like with with contracts and everything >> without the new >> positions, >> right? Without the nothing new. >> It was 3 million for the new positions. So the so the 17 >> right the >> plus you would
032reduce by the three million and then that would be what we would need >> need to just maintain maintenance >> just to be a maintenance budget. >> Thank you. So, just to rephrase that a different way, you're saying 14 million is the maintenance budget. >> Yes. >> I have more. Okay. I was trying to give the uncomfortable pause there. None of this is is fun and you know I don't misinterpret our humor here. It's not uh it's not easy for anyone. Um I'm going to go into the discussion about because I attended the board of finance meetings. Um and I recall the discussion of the chair of board of finance um recommending an additional 3 million over the $5 million ask. And I'm rounding for whole numbers for ease of conversation. Um, and doing that
033because they are recognizing that is it we're over budget by $3 million this year will be beholden to that and also have to project for that as being the minimum amount spent this year into next year's budget. So I understood why he was offering the way that he did. Um however, they're going into decision-m next week and we don't have an answer from the state about a um we're assuming an almost $5 million increase in ECS funding. He was very clear at the board of finance meeting and he was sitting along with our current mayor that said any increases in ECF ECS funding that wouldn't be carved out this way because they can't control that would be going to reduce the 8% increase in the middle which is where we were at with that extra
034$3 million that it was going to supplement the board of ed special education budget pass. If they make that decision, assuming that they would be getting any extra ECS funding to help reduce the impact to the community and the state makes their decision after our local board of finance makes that decision, you know, then I think it it >> final decision will be after when the board of finance the joint board has vote after the last. So on May 18, >> Iris, >> thank you. What I'm saying though is they're going in in good faith thinking that if they um give us the what they're interpreting as our maintenance budget for special education considering the $3 million overrun this year, they're probably not going to be thrilled about still asking our city for an 8%
035tax increase if the state decides that they will only give the 5 million in alliance, which means it comes directly to the district. means that the city cannot use it to help reduce the impact of the mill rate. That is a big difference between over the next few weeks of a budget that they're marching towards from the city side >> next week and then when final decisions are being made by the state, we could be back here all the way until the very end. I want to be realistic that I it's my understanding that the board of finance share is trying to do the right thing for special education, but they also are not going to it is not sustainable to ask for an 8% tax increase. It it just isn't. I I don't think
036I'm saying anything that any person who lives here doesn't understand. I don't care whether you can afford it or not afford it. It's just not sustainable because it's not just 8% this year. It's 8% every year after it's approved this year, which means we have to make up that money on the city side with earning it somehow. So 8% which is where we left off on the last board of finance meeting which included that the $11 million, >> it brought it up to $11 million, right? Is still not going to be acceptable to the broad community. There are going to be a lot of very upset people. So, I do think that um we really have to start um collaborating and offering up something as a more budget reductions in order to find somewhere in
037between where we are now and not 8%. And I know we're not here to vote on any of that tonight, but um that's just sort of the reality of what's happening in our community and we're not going to get all of the answers to really finalize things from the state until the state makes the decision about the Lions funding. I am grateful though that they are considering another 5 million wherever it goes >> because it's 5 million more than what we currently have. So, I don't know what if there want if anybody else wants to have a discussion about that or understand that. Um, I thought that the board of finance was very clear that unless the state puts it in alliance, they're going to use it to reduce the increasingly loy. >> Yes. So,
038I think Commissioner Dantonio, you're highlighting the complexities that there's there are many moving parts to this and if there was one good answer, we wouldn't be here today talking about losing some of our extremely valuable um staff members. And certainly if the grand list isn't growing and we're in this position, then we'll be here next year having the same conversations because 8% doesn't seem sustainable. But I don't know how much more the board of education can trim. I don't know how much more the board of education can be responsible for balancing the rest of the city budget because we're sitting here tonight with a paper of 126 names on it. >> 34 134 sorry 134 names that have to be read out should we vote in that direction. So I I don't know what more
039the Bristol Board of Education can do. uh in addition to what we're already doing, considering taking staff and the way that they support their families, taking an additional day of learning from our students, considering closing a school, the impact that would have on a community education model that supports having parents and caregivers access to the the school to children that they love. So, I I understand that we're in a very complex place. Um, and the board of finance has a very difficult job to do as well. I just don't know how we can continue to carry the burden. And if we are looking at our maintenance budget, all departments should be looking at a maintenance only budget. >> The chair. [clears throat] Yes. Um I do uh bouncing off of um Commissioner Simmons, um with
040our new middle school, we do have a capacity versus enrollment conflict. So we are now opening up about minimum of 27 classrooms in two beautiful schools. And um I do think we need to put on the table moving you know obviously not for fiscal 2027 because that's not realistic um discussion about the school. I think you know noticing 134 staff members I think we would be better suited um investing in staff and students than in buildings. And uh so having two wings of schools empty um when we're struggling with our finances, I think we really need to open up a discussion and um figure out how we address that moving forward quite soon. >> Chair u Simmons, something that you said really stuck out um to me that I just really wanted to make a
041comment on or you had mentioned that um everyone should be starting with a maintenance budget. And I think that to me that makes a lot of sense as fiscally responsible right now and build up. Um, but I think if we're having to look at a maintenance budget, everyone should be looking at me. They don't control the city side what they're doing though. So, we're better off concentrating on what we can do here and then let the board of finance concentrate on what we can have feelings about it. We have no control over that. And I'm sure there's lots of reasons. And you know, our district has received much more funding in the last few years than it had in the few years before that. Now, we needed it and we had students in this district
042that required it, but it, you know, I do think that funding has been allocated to us from the city and as best of an arrangement as could be had in the last, you know, few years. There's the MBR argument and I really don't want to go down that path, but I'm still trying to understand that when the MBR decision was made last year and the board of ed was made whole with the $3 million that we were overspent in our budget and had to be supplemented by the city. How are we still $3 million over again this year? Because we did get that MBR funding last year. So, how are we right back in the same place? I can explain that to you. So what happens is when you run a deficit of $3.5 million
043where we are right now, again, >> next year's ask doesn't include the $3.5 million additional dollars. So you're creating a gap. If right now we were to add the 3.5 million to the current budget, it would then reduce next year's ask by $3.5 million. So you're creating every time we would make ourselves whole at the end of the year, we'd start the year knowing that we are $3.5 million in a gap from what we asked for and what we need. So the asks we have on the table this year don't recognize the current deficit. Do you understand? I I do understand. I I don't think I'm in agreement with how we got here. So um and I won't belabor the conversation, but we also can't keep sustaining, you know, 11 plus% asks. We have to
044be able to get control over the budget here somehow with vision. Um thinking outside of the box because this special education component is not going away. Um if there are hard conversations to have about capacity versus enrollment, I like the term investing in staff and students versus buildings. That's not to mean that a building doesn't feel like a piece of our community. It does. But at the end of the day, we still have plenty of buildings that create our education community and we will still make sure our families are thriving in all those buildings to the best of our ability. But the things that we can and cannot cut, even though we have a reduction in enrollment, again, for those that might not understand this or don't know this rule, because we're an alliance district,
045we can't reduce our budget because there are less students here, you know, we have to maintain our budget. So, how where else can you look to do things? And it's they're not fun conversations to have, but we do still have to look at things that are not mandatory. Where can we get creative? I do think that if we have room and I completely understand that we had hopes and dreams of investing not only in full day prek but it was we were relying on the state to help fund full day prek and they haven't done that. And even if we get extra ECS funding this year there's no guarantee that they will still fund ECS at that same level next year. you know, we might still have the MBR requirement, but they don't have to
046fund ECS to the same percentage. They could still reduce it. They haven't. I mean, they haven't increased it since 2013 either. It would be something they really shouldn't cut if they give us more money, but it's nothing is guaranteed. The state has promised to fund things. And then when it comes down to the district having to make tough decisions, there's their level of funding that they promised doesn't come through. So, we also have to think that what even if this 5 million comes from that, what is the likelihood that we get it next year, too? We don't want to think that just because we got it this year, we're going to get every I don't I guess it depends on how they fun. >> Does Alliance district funding ever go backwards? >> That's only if
047they allocate the extra e the 5 million ECS to Alliance. That may be a reason why they make the decision not to >> so that they don't have to sustain it. I thought your comment was if it came to us, they could take it back. >> Not if it's alliance, but if it's regular ECS fund >> that would go to the city if it's regular ECS, >> right? And they fluctuate how they fund ECS every budget cycle. >> Well, the state >> we've gotten the same amount for I don't know 20 years. >> And it hasn't really increased. it hasn't increase, but it >> I it's just a cautionary statement because they haven't been good with funding the things that they promised to fund. So that's where my com that's where my comments came about,
048you know, we were hoping to grow prek, but until we have the funding to grow prek, we're not going to sacrifice other programming that were mandated to, you know, and that's not a reality right now. There's other things too, especially some thoughts about um you know, increasing special education in a in a in a program level where we could be a center of excellence. I've heard these conversations multiple times. We have to wait for investment money to do that. We don't even have budget maintenance money yet. So we can't hold on to buildings that have a lot of capacity in hopes that we might get the investment to offer uh you know a school of excellence when in in uh special education specialties of whatever we decide. So I I do think that there the
049plan wasn't to invest in a building. It was we have examples in the district where Dr. Martino explained that each student that she brings in generates a revenue and so with the classrooms those revenues would sustain the additional teachers. So it isn't exactly waiting for um a big investment to begin. It's just beginning slowly and building as we go. But with that space that would give us that capacity to do that. That that's all. >> Right. So we're holding on to the capacity to develop to slow walk in a larger program potential. But it's not just the space that we need. We need the staff. We need the vision of how we develop that program. >> Well, the staff would be paid for by the generated income. Because if we if we're going to short-term
050think and say these expenses are never going away, we're always going to incur higher special ed costs, but let's not build programs so that it can self-generate than we are creating our own. Yeah, we're a self-fulfilling prophecy of debt. That's what we are. So, it would make sense to say if Dr. Martino has a model that can generate income and self- sustain additional classrooms that that that would be a reasonable idea to to at least begin. Nothing is we're not going to get out of this hole overnight. I don't think anybody thinks we are. Um, but I don't think that the ideas of the district that are innovative and actually generate revenue should be taken away because we're going to short-term think about why keep space open to start dealing with our own problems so
051that we don't need to ask the city for so much money >> through the chair. [clears throat] >> Thanks, >> you. No, I just wanted to say too, and I I don't want to sound naive or too hopeful, but um there is like the House and Senate bills potentially with the state funding hopefully that coming in to increase the per pupil. Like again, we don't know what will happen, but that's something that is a potential um help in the future. >> So, does anyone have any more questions about the um presentation that the superintendent did? I have one question about the dashboard. What is the status of the dashboard with the board of finance? >> Mr. Turkey, would you like to come up? >> Absolutely. Good evening, commissioners. Um, so I actually do have an
052update. I I'm not able to show it to you right now because I have not had something prepared. Uh but we are actually well underway to um actually having a presentable dashboard that will be available both internally for uh analysis and uh will be available for our general public to be able to uh look at our budgetary be fully interactive and um we do have something in the works. I'm just working with our our city counterparts on the media technology site to gain a little more access to a little bit more information so that we can begin backfilling the history of our data so we build out our our trends and toward building up projections and so we do have a tool underway. I've shown uh Superintendent White uh the tool. I've shown uh Jody
053Bond the tool as well. Um it it does exist at this point. It I'm actually meeting tomorrow with one of the city border finance uh members. um to go through and and um share some ideas to get some input as well. Uh to begin going down that that route of figuring out exactly what um what would be some good additional tools um for our vision of what we want to present to the public. >> Is there a timeline you want to share with us even if it we don't hold you to it and give some generalizations around it? Um the timeline is in all honesty um it could be anywhere from a couple of weeks to maybe a month from now. Um the main caveat is uh just gaining access to the the information more
054readily than I currently have. Um so again that is something I'm working on with the city side IT counterparts to rotate but it is it is well underway. I can uh at the regular board of education meeting for instance I can provide some some uh screenshots and maybe a brief demonstration um to show kind of that there is actual progress toward um having the tool available for us. >> Thank you. >> Okay. So >> Chair Pon, >> yes. >> Could I ask one more question? Yes. It's actually uh some uh in response to something Commissioner Jantonio said and I agree wholeheartedly a lot of points you made and uh that we need to move forward to uh be more creative and how we find solutions and save money. Uh just so you can educate me
055a little bit when you uh said we can't continue to sustain an 11% ask well like help me uh understand why that number is 11%. Is that and does that include inflationary costs? So is it actually um is there a difference in what we ask? because I guess if I'm looking and hopeful that Bristol is on its way to becoming a more um uh what do I want to say a thriving town with more on the grand list? I mean I know the current mayor's only been up for six months and it's hard to grow grand list immediately like that but let's say we do have um a good year for that. So, is does that 11% still hold true? It's kind of hard because I've been reading like every district's budget asset, budget problems.
056I mean, yeah. I mean, New Britain is crazy. There's, you know, there's towns that don't even agree on whether they're um in a deficit or in a surplus like Hartford and all kinds of things. So, I'm just wondering is has that is that 11% all of a sudden bigger than it ever was before? Well, this since I've been on the board and I can only speak to that. Of course, times change. You know, we have other, you know, things that go on in the economy both nationally, globally, locally. You know, I just said 11% because that's what the the ask was an increase of 11.17%. as the highest increase budget ask since I've been on the board since 2018. So, and and I know the reasons why. I'm not going to argue. It's just the
057fact it is the highest one. And when we have the capacity to um be allocated that much money, you know, they they both have to work together. You can't ask for a whole bunch of money that the city doesn't have. And hopefully if the city has a whole bunch of money, they'll help sustain the school district because that helps keep a healthy, you know, community for for all of us. So I the 11% is just because that's what was sitting on my budget. That was what they asked was this. >> Barbara, I think one of the issues is that the increases we've been getting over the past four years have been for mandated special ed costs and deficits. And so outside of that, relatively we've seen about $2 million of increases over four years outside
058of mandated special ed expenditures that we don't have any control over. So when you look at the typical growth in a year, our contractual obligations next year, the increase is $5 million. If we're not if we haven't been receiving enough money to cover anything but special ed growth, well, reducing the budget is the only way to cover the mandated costs. What the Board of Finance is offering this year is much more than we've ever been offered in a single year outside of our mandated special ed costs. I recognize that. That is a true statement. Um it is cumulative over years as we see other increases happening and the only place we were able to cover has been special education. It caught up and so it worked until it didn't and now I mean as Commissioner
059Simmons said I don't know what else we can cut right. So it's not the fault of uh this current administration that we're in the situation we are but we're still in it. Right. So um through the chair just to answer your second question I'm happy to share this. I did spend some time and when we talk about comparative districts you want to look at the number of students in that district. Um I I looked at what their budget ask was for 2425. you have to look at their DUI um whether they were in our DUI, near our DUI, or nowhere near our DUI. Um and whether or not they were alliance district and then I did a column for the percent of students in those districts that require special services. I'm happy to share what
060I found with the rest of my fellow commissioners. And you sort of have to look at it in that perspective. um you know when we're measuring what we ask versus what other cities ask, those things should be comparable if we really want to know whether we're an outlier or an underlier or we write in where everybody else is asking. Those are the key factors to be make it more comparable. We shouldn't be, you know, comparing ourselves to, you know, um, Glastonbury. You know, they have they have like maybe a third less students than we do and their percent of students requiring special education is about 14%. We're over 20. You know, they're not an alliance district and their DUR group is B. Our DR group is is uh G. So, they're not really near. So,
061I'll share this with you just because you asked about the comparison with other districts, but I did take the time to to put it together in a chart. I think the other thing, Barb, in response to your your question is there was an audit that the city conducted that showed that things that are out of the district's control, the rate of inflation, the increase in transportation, the increase in costs that are out of our control, our increases are not are not stabilizing with the rate of inflation. So as costs are rising, what we have received as a district has not been congruent with the rate of increase, things that have been out of our control. So over time, um, that compounds itself. And when we're looking at comparing other districts, there are so and thank
062you, Commissioner Gentonio, that is really helpful when we're trying to compare apples to apples. even within that unless we're seeing what other towns um have uh union negotiated contracts um annual in >> annual increases insurance costs there are so many other pieces of that puzzle that may not be available when we're looking at um our DURS or looking at uh special education students or those costs. So sometimes there are costs that we're not on the same cycle as other districts because of contracts being negotiated at different times and salary increases um due to contractual responsibilities. So there's a lot of moving parts and it is complex. Um and so I think >> the number of staff is a huge one, right? So there's districts that have, you know, thousands of kids, more than us, but
063the same number of teachers, right? And so when you look at that and you look at their budget and you say their increase might be smaller because they're fully staffed, right? And so these things happen. But I think at this point, if everyone's okay, we are going to move on to the next agenda item. Um, it is probably the most difficult uh responsibility this board has to carry is what we have to do tonight. Um, we are required to issue non-renewal notices to dedicated educators who serve our students with care, professionalism, and commitment. These are valued members of our school community and this is not a decision taken lightly. I want to be clear about what these notices are and what they are not. These are not final layoffs. They are precautionary actions required under
064state timelines because our budget has not yet been finalized. Our goal remains to resend as many if not all of these notices as soon as possible. At this time, the board of finance has not yet voted on the education budget. That vote is scheduled for April 28th. There are also still funding opportunities that could directly impact this. Most notably, a potential 5 million increase in state ECS funding, which could significantly help close our current gap. However, based on the funding levels currently being proposed, we do not have sufficient resources to maintain our existing staffing. Because of that, we are required to act now. The board of education presents a budget based on student need. The board of finance determines the final funding level. The potential gap between those two is what is driving these non-renewal
065notices. There has been significant attention on the board of education budget in relation to potential tax increases. While it is important part of the conversation, it is not the only factor. I appreciate the mayor's efforts to clarify the realities of this budget year, including limited revenue growth and rising mandated costs across all departments. These competing priorities are what ultimately drive tax decisions, not one single budget. I also want to acknowledge the responsibility of the board of finance and the city council. Decisions about the mill rate and taxes impact every resident and those are not easy choices. I would not want to be in their position. But in the role I sit, I see the direct impact these decisions have on our schools every day. These are not just budget decisions. They are decisions that will
066shape the future of our most valuable assets, our children. These decisions affect class sizes, programs, and student supports. They also affect people. Behind every notice is a teacher who has built meaningful relationships with students and families. This is not a reflection of their value. It is a reflection of the financial constraints we are facing. We will continue to advocate for a final budget that allows us to retain our staff. If additional funding is provided, we will act immediately to resend these notices to our educators. We see you. We value you. and we are deeply sorry for the uncertainty this creates to our community. The decisions made in the coming days will have a lasting impact on our schools. At this time, I will entertain a motion to renew non-tenured teachers for budgetary reasons. Following the
067motion, the names will be brought into the record. >> Do you want me to read it as it stands? Because on this paper, what I'll be doing is I'll be asking for a motion to move that the board of education votes not to renew the teaching contracts of and then I will read the names of the people on this list. And then following that, I will read for the 2026 27 school year for budgetary reasons only. After I ask for that motion, I'll if we're going to move forward with this, I'll need a second and then we can move um into discussion and final vote from there. And I'll just say that a cursory look at this list um has me seeing so many names that I recognize um that I ask for your patience
068with me as I go through names and also as I try not to be emotional because some of these teachers are teachers that um are leading my children every day and helping them grow. And as an educator myself, I will not put any of that aside and I don't care who's in comfortable that >> through the chair. May I just ask, is it possible to uh amend the procedure, put the motion on the floor without the names written just so we can get through discussion and then amend the motion to include the names? Because if a motion's on the floor and it gets seconded, there's supposed to be discussion after the motion. and and and there there there will be regardless whether we read the names first or whether we don't read the names. Um
069>> so yeah, we'll still we'll still after we read the names, there will still be um discussion before we vote. >> Motion includes me. Can I have a motion to move that the book Bristol Board of Education votes not to renew the teaching contracts of I'll try to pronounce names correctly. Please forgive me if I mis pronounced Sarah Agmman Aliside Caitlyn Alston Kelly Amini Nathaniel Austin Matley Baldwin Olivia Bazerooski Andrew Bukar Karen Bedlac Emily Baler Abigail Bossman Kaylee Boss Achinson Jacob Bhuton Erica Bradley Ethan Brown, Cara Brown, Spencer, Tristan Brunette, Patrick Burke, Andrea Bernell, Michael Cassinary, Mariah Claire Castillo, Cristiano Chavez, Jameson Corey, Melanie Coyle, Megan Cros, Sylvio Augustino, Elizabeth David, Jacquellyn Davis, Jessica Dvau, Julia Doulsece, Aaron Dhy, Jason DS, Cassie Engel, Allison Fitzpatrick, Kayla Gardet, Melissa John Carly, Karen Glenn, Melissa Green, Logan
070Greger, Bridget Grineer, Michelle Guella, Joseph Gueran, Joseph Pereira, Megan Hamill, Michaela Hayden, Jessica Hernandez, Jessica Hogan, Elaine Honig, Amanda Hull, Victoria Aras, Amy Uranimo, Paige Janick, Nicole Johnson, Laura Jordan, Kimberly Hanneski, uh Eric Kaufman, Brittany Knoff, Katherine Traviet Suckley, Patricia Lansy, McKenzie Laroka, Daviana Larok, Aldi, Brianna Larson, Samantha Livero, Pamela Lei, Cheyenne Lee, Kayla Leto, Susan Lopez, Jessica Lunta, Sarah Maglio, Lache Mamua, Morgan Matoss, Megan McCain, Riley Maguire, Sarah Mallaloy, Madison Moren, Scotta, Emily Morrise, Alicia Naidu, Heather Neidam, Lean Negron, Melissa Newell, Kelly Newton, Christa Nichols, Hannah Ojard, Kate Olsen, Julia Paul, Megan, Paul Ngcar, Peter Pakora, Maria Brady, Allison Failen, Jessica Pike, Kelly Pogue, Kayla Pocarpio, Colin Pratt, Alexandria Provenano, Julie Quinland, Courtney Ravita, Nicole Rockcliffe, Sandra Rober, Susan Rodney, Mitchell Rossi, Bana Rella, Orlando Ruez, Emily Ryan, Andrea Santos, Jerry Schustster, Tatiana Slottnik,
071Colin Sonstrom, Dana Suko, Benjamin Stafford, Olivia Stanley, Craig Steooski, Leanne Stone, Danielle Sulo, Kevin Taylor, Sydney Theion, Trevor Thomas, Jacquellyn Tobin, Jessica Toro, Maria Torres, Rebecca Torres, Jacece Trelly, Emily Trudeau, Kenishha Villanoeva, Jonathan Wedowski, Pat Ward, Amanda White, Rachel Wizetski, Wets, I'm so sorry. Ryan Wolf, Jessica Wman, Marica Wright, Michaela Wisio, Ashley Zagorski, Samantha Zrazulka Ardita Zuta for the 2627 school year for budgetary reasons only. Motion to approve. So moved. Motion has been made and seconded. Any discussion? >> So I have some questions. Um why did we read all 130? How many? 130 something >> 135 >> when in reality we're not looking to cut that many. Can we explain that to both the board and the gallery? If we do not, there is state statute that requires when you're in a budgetary um place
072where you know that you most likely will have to reduce size if you do not notify everyone in writing that they may that they are not being renewed by May 1st. If you were to reduce force after May 1st, it would not say non-renewed on their transcript. It would say ter terminated and that isn't what anybody is being no one's being terminated. And so it is not appropriate to have that misrepresentation on somebody's transcript this early in their career or at any time. Um, and for legal purposes, putting that on your transcript would also put the board in jeopardy of being sued because it's inappropriate for us to call you terminated when we're not terminating any. And so to protect you and the board, there's state statute that requires we do this and that we
073name every single person out loud. So, I understood the clarification about um non-renewal versus termination. That is not my question. If we wanted to um if we really think that we're only going to reduce I'm throwing a number out, it's not real. 20 positions, why did we read 139? That was my question. Because with bumping and the different jobs and the different certifications and the different needs per building, we don't know where people will necessarily land if there's reductions. And so you have to do everyone because you have no idea how it's going to play. >> Okay, that answered my question. Thank you. Um the um how many do you think is there real discussion? There's you don't because of retirements and we don't have a real number yet at the city or state level
074that we can we don't we don't think it's responsible to give a number at this point. >> So the deadline was to notify by May 1st. Today is the 23rd and next week are two board of finance meetings. Why didn't we wait until after the board of finance meetings and right before May 1st until we had more information? because this was what was recommended by the attorneys. It's a lot to put together these lists and to and to notify people and we think that it's fair to give people the information as soon as we have it. So, we don't want anyone to go looking for another job. that if that is their reality, that they were the last person to be hired and they're nervous about it and they need to find another job for
075next year, it would be completely irresponsible to not share that knowledge. >> I hope my questions benefit those that might have the same thoughts in their mind. I know you and I already had a discussion. I thought it was good to still ask the question so that the people in the gallery understood. I also want to note um that there was what I thought was um a a skillful explanation that was um sent out to staff um in addition to receiving a letter. There was also an email that Superintendent White um sent. Superintendent White came from you or did it come from human resources? Okay. So there were two different notices that explained some, you know, somewhat the process so that those receiving the letters and also those in the school community may understand um
076the process and why it was rolling out this way with the chair. Um, one thing that I just feel that I know that one thing I really want to express after hearing those names, there are many things on that list that have personally impacted our and that was very hard to hear. And I I I really want to pay respect the names on that list. Um because there's several people in there that without their dedication, their passion, and their skill, my daughter would not have been walking through the doors of that. And and quite honestly, I feel like we have failed the people of this district in a sense because we sat here last year with similar conversations, very hard conversations. And um there were teachers who are sitting in this audience right now that
077received um non-renewal notices and actually didn't have a job. And I do recall me personally saying at one of our board finance meetings that we have to do better and we're going to do better. And I feel like we haven't done any better for you. And sure, there are lots of variables that are out of our control, but those are just excuses at this point and certainly nothing that I would try to convince you to to comfort you in any way. Um, so I apologize for that. And there were several people on this list. um my 10-year-old's third grade teacher who I absolutely adore who's sitting in this audience whose name I had to read and um my 13-year-old wellness instructor sitting in the audience um as well as some other names. So, I apologize.
078Um we do have to do better. I'll say it again, which means we have to be a little bit bold and have continued tough conversations with city leadership. And um even though where we are right now with the grand list was not created with the current leadership, we have to figure out how to do better because eventually people are not going to want to take a risk and come to Bristol Public Schools. >> Thank you. >> You're the chair. >> Just echo Commissioner Simmons. I think as the board, as administration, we owe it to start this process on May 19th, 2026. We do not start next December. We do not start next October. We owe it. We have to be better. We start May 19th. I need everyone here to promise this. Make a promise
079to the people here and people watching that we are going to be better. And that starts May 19th. You have city leadership who wants to work with us. We can get things done, but we cannot pretend that it's just going to go away. We can just wait and wait and wait. That's going to get us nowhere. We have to start this process May 19th when we know what our budget is for next year. We do it for a year from now and we come to the table next fall with rocksolid proposals, outside the box thinking, and numbers that we can work with the board of finance so we never have to go through this again. make that promise that starts May 19th. We have to do better. Thank you >> through the chair. I don't
080know if you guys could hear me. It's Commissioner Osenowski. Um I couldn't agree more with Commissioner Simmons and Pari. This is so unfortunate and really really heavy. Um from the middle school sports to the names on the list, they're not just names. they're just, you know, these are people who impact our our children's lives, not just students, it's their friends, their families. Um, and it ripples down and it's this is a really really hard to digest. Um, can I just ask how these um these people on the list were notified with the letters? I know it was mentioned with an email but was anything hand delivered or how does it work the process? uh an email came from HR. uh a separate letter came from the superintendent and then HR held a Q&A information session
081online um on Tuesday was I can't yeah Tuesday um where they were able to ask questions and receive answers uh hopefully to kind of explain that this is budgetary and had nothing to do with any kind of performance or you know you get a slip like that you probably want to make sure that people didn't feel like it was for any other reason. Um and I know uh Mr. Garbowski did assure people over and over again and work with the unions to to make it clear that our intention is not is to call back the majority of these people as soon as possible as soon as we get a budget. Um this isn't something we want to drag out the minute we know who we can call back. We will be doing that. >> Yeah.
082It's just disappointing that we're at this spot now that we even have to consider, you know, calling people back. It's it's unfortunate. >> Okay. Thanks. >> Yeah. Um, I would just like to say too that uh I can speak from experience because uh for the first few years after I um got my teaching job in Bristol um I remember there was one year in particular where I got pink slipped and I forget the actual reasons whether they were budgetary or or what the deal was but I had worked so hard because I had reset my teaching career and ended up being in Bristol. and committing myself to long-term subbing and closer to the mic. Sorry. literacy internships and PD internships and I put all my um all of myself into Bristol and every year there
083would it was a time the late 2000s where um there were not jobs and uh for years Bristol had you know one or two positions and the year that I was hired I was one of just two or three people hired that year and I was just lucky to be in there. But the year that I was given a pink slip, so here I am. I got a job. I decided that, you know, okay, so my son can go to a good college because I'm going to put my whole salary into paying for his part of his education. And I didn't find out until the last day of school that I still had a job. So, and that's not even as uh, you know, a younger person fresh out of college and starting teaching, but
084it's somebody who like really legit went through the trenches to get a job and then all of a sudden, oh, I might not have a job. You know, it's it's not fun. It's certainly um very disappointing again that we have to do this. I would hope that all these people are given a chance to come back with like we said there may be people who are not um willing to and this happened before not willing to chance it for another year. So I'm just trying to offer up some hope that it's not all to spare but um certainly do not ever want to be in this position again. So I totally agree with Rob. the work has to start right away to make sure we're doing everything we can. Um, not to cut things that
085we need, but to cut or to save and recreate things that are more affordable so that we can move in that direction going forward and have a model that's not going to be um questioned and uh argued about every year during budget season. So I just my thoughts too. Thank you >> through the chair. Um just a tail in on uh Commissioner Penty's um request. When we say do better, we have to start in May. I I want to just say that, you know, we we are the stewards of the district. Um, we're in charge of passing the budget, but the budget recommendations come from the experts, which are our staff and our leadership. And you know, this is now the the second year in a row where we're in an untenable situation. My commitment
086would also be my commitment to the promise would also be to ask that if we need expertise that I am requesting that the superintendent seek it out, secure it and help to make sure that all of the right decisions are being made that we have another um resource that can assist the staff with putting together a budget that doesn't put us in this situation. repeatedly. It's I'm not this is not an assignment of blame in any way, shape, or form, but when if we need budget experts in here, we should seek them out through the chair. I mean, I I see several experts in this room. I see Carly Forin. I see Joe Burowski. I see Dr. Levasier. I see principal Mel. I see a lots of I see Deputy Superintendent Hawk and um Superintendent
087White. I I I see Jody, Bon, and I see people that I would consider um experts in knowing what their schools need and knowing what we need as a district. I I don't want us, not that you're suggesting that we don't aim high, but >> I'm not suggesting that in any way, shape, or form. We could all use >> I'm not suggesting that we don't aim high. I'm not suggesting that we don't um you know do what we discussed in a meeting last year with former mayor Kajano which we were tasked with being creative and creating new programs and creating special education um opportunities that bring revenue into the district. But we can only do that when there's a fiscal backing. We can only do that when we're given the wings and the space to
088grow. And it's hard to do that when we're making such devastating cuts. So, I do trust in the people and the leadership and the recommendations of this district. And I still trust in the proposed budget uh that Superintendent White put forward that we voted to approve and send to the board of finance. I still trust in that. Just unfortunately, we the city does not have the funds currently to back something like that. Um, so I think we have the talent with the people we have in the district and um I want us to continue to fly high. Superintendent White, did you have something? >> Yeah, I wanted to respond. I didn't take what you said personally at all, Commissioner G. Antonio, I want I know it wasn't meant that way. Um, I've had conversations, the
089mayor and I have had conversations about the same exact thing. So I >> Thank you. That Thanks for validating. I wanted to say that publicly because I don't want people to pick the wrong question. >> I appreciate you. Thank you. >> With no further discussion, um the motion has been made and seconded. All in favor? >> I I No. >> No. Motion passes. Reading is adjuned.