001All right. [music] Good evening. Calling to order the West Harford Public Schools Board of Education regular meeting on Tuesday, March 3rd, 2026 at 7:02 p.m. Um Jason, can Oh, sorry. Uh Shannon, can you please call roll? Herz. >> Miss Herz. >> Mr. Absent. >> Mr. Weiner. >> Present. >> Miss Yagalof >> present. >> Miss Maramman >> present. >> Mr. Gagden >> here. >> Mr. Goldman >> here. >> Miss Bleach. >> Present. >> Thank you. Um and Jason, can you please lead us in the pledge of allegiance? I pledge 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. So, um, as you can see, it's a little bit of a an unusual meeting as we we are
002missing some people, but we are making do with the conditions of the weather and we hope everybody found their way here safe and sound despite despite the conditions. Um, before we get started, um, we do not have a revision to the agenda. Um, but I did want to take a moment to make a statement and then turn it over to the superintendent to share some remarks. Um, so on beha be behalf of the West Hartford Board of Education, I want to start tonight by acknowledging the profound weight on our hearts. We extend our deepest, most sincere sympathy to the family of Camden Seagull, a senior at Hall High School, and to everyone who knew and loved him. Last week, our community was shaken by the tragic and senseless loss of this young man, a life
003full of promise taken far too soon. As a parent and a neighbor, I know that words fall short when we are navigating a grief of this depth. There is a collective sorrow felt across our town right now. But in that sorrow, there is also a fierce desire to wrap Camden's family, his friends, and the entire hall and larger West Hartford community in strength, love, and unity. On behalf of the board of education, I also want to express my heartfelt gratitude to our school leadership at Hall in particular, as well as all the other schools and our central office administration. I have a newfound appreciation for how everyone has handled these incredibly difficult days. They have worked tirelessly to ensure that our students, staff, and families have the immediate emotional resources and mental health supports that
004they need to process this profound loss. To any student or neighbor struggling right now, please know that you do not have to carry this loan. We are also aware that Camden's family has created a memorial scholarship fund in his honor. More information can be found on the Greater Hartford Gives Foundation website. We hope that our actions as a district and a community reflect the spirit of care and compassion that Camden deserves. May we continue to look out for one another with extra kindness tonight and in the days, weeks, and months ahead. And I'd like to turn it to Superintendent Venus. >> Thank you, uh, Shannon. Obviously, I echo the beautiful sentiment and my heartfelt sympathy on behalf of all educators um and people in the employee of West Hartford Public Schools. Uh our hearts go
005out to the Seagull family so much. I did want to extend um a dramatic debt of thanks to uh a number of people who have helped to u support us during this uh very very difficult time. Um we were blessed to have a number of therapy dogs uh from across the state uh that were dispatched uh at both Hall and also at Connard High School at the beginning. And I just want to provide thanks to the Farmington Police Department, uh the Graten Police Department, our own West Hartford Fire Department, um ACES, um the University of Connecticut Police Department, University of Hartford, Bristol Police Department, um East Hartford and Meridan, um for supporting us with uh those they were such a um a needed and welcomed resource for our students, for our staff. Um, and I
006know that they also uh were in presence with the seagulls and their closest friends uh very very close to the event. So, uh their impact was so positive and so thankful for that. Um I also want to recognize um some community supports and some specific members uh from the bridge from the bridge family center who provided immediate support to us. Uh a spec you know a thanks to all of them but a special thanks to Chris Dutton and Megan PTE. Um they took our calls early on Sunday morning and immediately mobilized to provide support that continues um not only throughout school closure uh but to this day. Uh their team of clinicians supported individual students both virtually and in a physical presence at the school. Um I also want to acknowledge the hall leadership team
007that has done an amazing job through an amazingly difficult time. Um Stacy Kellogg Chauve in particular has supported the mobilization of our clinical teams um and also worked through these unprecedented conditions during the tragedy with with the weather. Um a special thanks to the Hall clinical team and school counselors. um to all of the clinicians who came from other schools to support the Connor administration and their clinical team and counselors who also provided uh dramatic support. Um I am in everyone's debt for really coming together during what continues to be um the absolute worst thing that any school district, any family has to face. So, thank you. >> Thank you, Paul. Um, we will now turn to public communications. This is an opportunity for the board of education to hear from the public regarding your
008thoughts, questions, concerns, and suggestions. Um, when you come to the podium, please state your name and town of uh residence, and each individual is allotted three minutes to speak. Please be mindful that Shannon uh will raise a yellow card when you have one minute remaining in your time and a red card when your time has expired. Um at that time, please conclude your comments and respectfully take your seat. Please note that we are actively listening while you make your remarks. However, it is a board of education policy that we do not respond to comments as they're being made. Um we will begin with comments uh regarding agenda items. And just as a reminder, our agenda for tonight's meeting includes presentation of the superintendent's 2026 27 budget recommendations and approval of minutes from the February 18th,
0092026 board of education meeting. There is no one who signed up to make public comment, but is there anyone who would be interested in making comment? Okay. All right. Thank you. Um we unfortunately are not joined by our student representatives this evening as we are hoping that they are um safe and sound and staying off the road. So um so we will move on to uh we have no unfinished business and now we have our new business which is the main event of the night uh presentation of the superintendent's 2026 27 uh budget recommendations. This is a very important step in the budget process and we know that there's many steps to follow that we'll be reviewing at the end of the meeting to talk about the timeline and that'll also be part of the
010presentation. Um, but at this time I am seeking a motion that the board of education receive the superintendent's recommended 2026 27 education budget and begin the process of reviewing and modifying for final approval and adoption as the board of education budget at the March 31st, 2026 board of education meeting. >> So moved. >> Thank you, Jason. Thank you, John. And now we will turn it over to Paul. >> Thank you. Um, thank you, Miss Mayorman. With your permission, I'll present from the lect turn and I'll return to this spot uh for any question answer and discussion and um respectfully ask if you have questions um to kind of note them. I hope that I've predicted some questions and that they'll come forward in the presentation. Um but certainly take some notes because I don't want
011to lose anything uh that you have in this. And then obviously uh tonight is uh intended for a high level overview of the major drivers of the budget and where we've landed and kind of why and then at the subsequent meetings with the board workshops and in addition at the community conversations that I'll talk about uh there will be opportunity to engage in very specific and detailed kind of questions that that break down into a line item level. So, with that, I'll just get up and take a moment to power up my computer and uh see if our audio visual is working. All right. I know that that projector was cycling, so we just may need a minute for it to uh I'm going to go and check on it and see if I can't
012provide any technical assistance and we'll get started. Wonderful. All right. So, this is the presentation of my recommendation to the board for the 2627 um West Hartford Public Schools budget. [snorts] And I'd like to begin with sort of uh an acknowledgement that in 2025, US News and World Report ranked West Hartford as the number one place to live in Connecticut and the 19th in the nation overall. We know the prestige with which our community is regarded and our schools are always cited as among the factors that make this town a destination to both live and to work. Uh the work of this board is crucial relative to living up to the promise of our reputation and that of our mission to prepare and inspire all students. Um which is accomplished through your three board goals
013that you see. Our vision of the graduate represents the skills and attributes we seek to impart on all of our learners. It is the embodiment of our mission. And through a rich array of academic programming, extracurricular activities and athletics, our talented teachers, our amazing leaders, and our dedicated support staff create learning experiences that help students find their passions, find their voice, and find pathways to a promising future. Here in this district, we serve an incredibly diverse body of almost 9100 students from preK through to postsecary. Greater than one in four come from homes where a language other than English is spoken, a tapestry of 75 different languages and cultures. Nearly half of our students are students of color. And while many from outside this community think of West Harford as uh a place of privilege,
014nearly one in three have socioeconomic need and one in five receive special receive specialized programming through our pupil services department. No district um within the state matches West Harford's pairing of an incredible diversity and incredible achievement. Our diversity not only of people but that of need when considering multilingual, special education and economically disadvantaged speaks to the importance of our commitment to every child every day. Our programming and therefore our budgeting is built around addressing those needs and the attainment of excellence without exception. >> [snorts] >> The return on investment for our school system is the envy of many, if not most towns from across the state. West Harford is recognized nationally for educational excellence, earning a claim at all levels. From nationally recognized early education programming to award-winning elementary schools to outstanding middle school programming
015producing state and national award-winning scholars and academic competitions to our gold medal high schools to our model postsecary program. Our students and families are benefactors of our incredible staff. Counted among them is no fewer than seven state and local educator of the year award recipients in the last two years alone. Talent begets talent and our students are proud and deserving recipients of incredible national and state honors to include the 2025 Kids Lit United States Championship Award with our 2026 team qualifying and competing in defense of that title this summer. A host of National Merit Semi-finalists who score in the top 1% of the PSAT among all test takers. the 2025 National Gold Council of Excellence Student Council, a National Youth Orchestra Jazz Concert Qualifier, performing at Carnegie Hall. The list of accolades continue whether it's
016academic, fine and performing arts, unified arts, uh, excuse me, unified sports or theater, uh, or athletics with many state titles and division recognized athletes. Our amazing accomplishments are not a new trend, but instead represent milestones within a legacy of excellence. What's more impressive is our ability to live up to this legacy amidst the long history of systemic efficiency and fiscal responsibility. I have a long tenure in this district and I can plot West Harford Public Schools spending in terms of my own lifetime. When I was in elementary school, West Hartford Public Schools was the second highest in the state for per pupil expenditure. By the time I graduated high school, we were still at or near the top 10. During my time as an administrator in the district, over the last 20 years, West Harford
017Public Schools has been in the lowest third of all districts relative to per pupil expenditure, while consistently achieving in the top third for state assessments. Our most recent per pupil expenditure calculated for the 2425 school year places us well below the state median and within $74 of the DUIB average. Our current placement for per pupil spending is 92nd and as referenced earlier we are simultaneously ranked number one community in which to live in the state. We have had periods when we were near the bottom of per pupil spending and previous boards asked if we were spending enough. This year, if we spent at the state median, our budget would be $6.3 million higher. Consider that cost relative to a comparison alongside the roughly $3.1 million in value our AP and University of Connecticut early college
018experience programming has afforded our high school families in this past year alone. When we consider our spending, it's important to understand that at the end of the day, we are a people organization. 82% of all costs go directly to salaries and benefits. We remain a destination district, not only for our families, but for educators, especially important during what is a known period of teacher shortage. While our salaries are competitive, they average below many districts in our DUI. Teachers often cite the strength of our programs, our investment in professional learning, and the modeling of our values as the key reasons to work and stay in West Hartford. The other drivers in our budget include transportation at roughly 6%. Tuition at roughly 5 a 12%. utilities, contracted professional services, and general insurance, each of the three at
019roughly 1 and a.5%. And all other expenses netting 2.5%. The variable weight of each category is an important factor when analyzing budget drivers. What's most important to understand is that to preserve the staffing of the district relative, excuse me, to preserve the standing of the district relative to achievement and opportunities for students, we need to preserve the programming. And in order to significantly reduce the budget in any way, we would need to reduce people, which translates to reducing or eliminating some programming. The budget that I am putting forward this evening is generally a maintenance budget. That is to say, I'm seeking to preserve our programming while not introducing any significant new initiatives. We begin the analysis of that approach by considering the roll forward costs to preserve what we're already doing and then analyzing the
020major uh the relevant and modest year-over-year changes across the major categories. In order to replicate today's programming and services with tomorrow's dollars, we would need an additional 14.1 million or an increase of just less than 6.6%. There are six major drivers that inform that number and I'll walk you through uh them all before showing you any potential modifications. As just stated, more than 80% of our budget is tied to people. Salaries and medical benefits are the major drivers of that category and any budget. Based on the negotiated collective bargaining agreements across all classes of employees, we anticipate a 5.6% increase in our salary line, amounting to a dollar value of roughly 7 and a half million. West Harford employs over 1,700 employees, 1,600 of which are paid for out of the general fund and all
021working in support of our educational mission. Medical expenses are another significant driver for the second year in a row. For 2627, we are forecasting a 16.9% increase in overall benefits cost totaling just shy of $5 million. The estimated premium increase for our state partnership plan, the major insurance program, drives the majority of that increase. But costs are also impacted by changes to employee participation based on costs for a single versus a married versus a family insurance plan. All that said, overall the state partnership plan remains a good value for the district. Utility costs are in anticipated to increase by roughly 13% now netting a dollar increase of roughly $370,000. We've all seen the rise in heating costs and we understand the anticipated electric rate increases. Transportation expenses represent one of the largest increases among our
022logistical costs with a roughly 8% increase translating to about a million dollars of increase in expenses. These costs are driven by contract rate increases and outofdist special education busing. We have good news in our tuition expenses line which with expenses expected to be level funded. While we do see increases in tuition rates and continue to anticipate shortfalls in our state excess cost reimbursement, we have been successful in returning quite a fair number of students from out of district. and we are and the provision of funds that you made earlier from the non-lapsing account supports a level set to our needs within this area. Finally, all other expenses are summarized by 2/10en of 1% increase or roughly $275,000. The most significant cost among these is social security contributions. um an increase in that line related to
023salaries. But there are some modest costs to contractual professional services and testing software. As stated earlier, this is a maintenance budget with very few modifications proposed to our existing services. But I am recommending the following changes uh with the associated net increases or decreases as noted on the slide. Relative to enrollment, we are flat across the majority of grade levels and we are projecting stable staffing counts at elementary and middle school. There is a modest decline at the high school level which will result in a savings of two FTEEs. Further, we can reduce one TA at Bugby that was hired, as you'll recall, based on one section exceeding class size guidelines. This year, we are projecting that all sections will be within class size guidelines for the 2627 school year. Under pupil services, we anticipate
024the need for two additional teachers in our intensive academic program and we look to increase a uh part-time occupational therapist and a part-time social worker to full-time. There are other staffing changes within pupil services offsetting increases and decreases among the elementary and secondary resource teachers, but overall it's a net total addition of just those 2.9 FTEEs for special instruction. Under program delivery, I'm recommending changing the supervision model for our ESOL program from a curriculum specialist to a department supervisor. This is a modest change relative to finances, but it's intended to provide very important systemic and programmatic improvements for our multilingual learners. In addition, there's a very small increase to curriculum writing, netting a $35,000 increase total in this category with no changes to staffing uh staffing totals. Non-classroom changes would include the increase of a
025half of a 0.5 school counselor moving them to full-time at Bristo Middle School, offset by a reduction of one TA at Walcott who was brought in for additional supervision given the construction project there this year. Finally, under support services, we would plan to eliminate a clerical position in the budget under information technology. And we would create revenue streams by offering paid tuition seats in our intensive behavioral program and modest very modest revenue under an insurance program uh in a onetoone device uh assignment at the high school level that would feature a multi-year phase in uh beginning with grade nine next year. Those changes under support services should actually reduce the budget by about $164,000. So looking at all of those changes combined, we anticipate a net decrease of 2.6 2.6 FTEES and a dimminimous increase
026of about 26 uh $62,000. All changes proposed align to needs and goals within our five-year strategic plan, your board of education goals, and a focus on our high needs population, specifically our multilingual learners and our special education population. It's important to note that in the last two years, based on changes to enrollment and program efficiencies, the district has had a net decrease of over 20 full-time teaching positions. I believe it's 21.6 and that does not include any of the temporary positions that were brought in under the pandemic and the additional funding we received. Despite those reductions over the last two years, we have expanded college and career pathways to record levels. Through our rich and diverse array of opportunities, our schools continue to earn local and national recognition. Our high schools benefit from the incredible
027foundation of our elementary and middle school programs and continue to earn recognition, ranking among the top 2 to 3% of all schools nationally. This budget seeks to preserve what defines West Harford Public Schools while responding responsibly to the growing complexity of student needs. I am recommending a 6.6% increase to sustain our mission and maintain the services provided directly to children. This proposal reflects discipline stewardship in the face of escalating special education costs and uncertainty regarding federal support. It continues West Hartford's long-standing commitment to the fine and performing arts, intercolastic athletics, and rigorous academic programs that distinguish our schools nationally. This budget represents a steady investment in our students, our schools, and the community's future. The next step in our budget process is laid out as depicted. In addition to these formal board workshops and meetings,
028in collaboration with town leadership, myself and the board chair will participate in community conversations regarding the budget. The dates of those meetings are Monday, March the 16th, Wednesday, March the 18th, and Monday, March the 23rd. The location and times are posted on both the board and town websites. Further, all materials from tonight's presentation and the full budget book that each of you received uh are will be posted on our website no later than 8:00 p.m. this evening. I'm proud to say that our efforts at transparency and the budget process have earned the district recognition through the excellence in educational communication award. In addition, a centralized email address for questions or comments regarding the budget is active. Individuals may email budgetwhps.org at any time. Information sent to this email address will be shared with the entire
029board. At this time, I'm happy to take general questions about the process or highle information that's been presented. Specific questions are reserved for our first workshop on the 11th. But as board members read through the material over the next several days, I would encourage your questions or areas of focus that you would like to see publicly discussed um at our workshops. Thank you. >> Thank you, Superintendent Venus. Um, so I think you know as as one of the three primary roles of the board of education, our responsibility is to steward the funds of the district and make this very uh important decision around the budget on an annual basis. Um, so this is the kickoff of that and very uh interested in seeing what questions folks have. Any questions? Miriam >> in the pie chart.
030Just curious what the 2.5% of the all other might include. >> Thank you. >> Oh, excellent. So, um quite a number of things actually. It can include um certainly all the uh all the resources any you know kind of annual expenditures that we make for textbooks um material you know all the materials for the school the schoolbased budgets. Um, it can include a uh any number of uh probably smaller items and and we will go through them. I don't know if I can give you a major page reference, but as you as you sort of uh orient yourself to the book, um you'll see the different tabs that are laid out that will identify um once you get into the actual budget. you know, there are pages that represent kind of how we're staffed, but
031once you get into regular instruction, pupil services, and then general support, there'll be line items associated with all, but we can uh we can hit any specific kind of a question on that, but it's it's kind of like the catchall for really recognizing that at the end of the day, you know, 98% of the budget is driven by certainly people, transportation, utilities, operating costs of that nature. And then this small sliver um is is being represented for kind of stuffed paper clips more more than that but it's it's the smaller variables. Jason, >> really just a comment and thank you Paul as always for for laying this out and and just for not that we have a big audience tonight and I don't know who's listening but it may seem weird that we don't have
032a lot of questions right now but this is the first time we see the budget so we don't we [snorts] don't have any insight until we get this so we have a lot to digest and and that's what the workshops are for so I don't want anyone to think the silence indicates anything it's just you know we're seeing it for the first time and there's a lot to digest I'm just take some notes so that I'm can begin the process of kind of preparing for those budget workshops um and respond to things and I'll and I'll take your note Miriam to give you a more defined answer. But uh one of the things relative to thank you for that comment Jason um so that you know this this remains a living process. I was talking
033with Barb today and I know that we have uh she's scheduled for two update meetings within the next several weeks. One with our insurance company to get updated insurance uh estimates beyond what we have. Um I think they have those meetings roughly quarterly or several times per year um and receive updated projections in and along the way. And then we were just advised of an updated uh meeting with the state department of education to give us new projections on excess cost reimbursement. So as those figures become um available to us, we will provide that information to the board so that um you can see what uh options it provides you in terms of the direction that you take these recommendations. Ethan, >> so this may be specific question for couple. So you tell me if
034they are. We went from 213 or thought it was 214 on your schedule to 226. There's like a 14 million or $13 million increase in addition to the 36,000 you or the less than 100,000 you identified. Is that like a rolling inflation cost or is that I didn't remember what that was? >> You're asking about the 62,000. I apologize. >> The 62,000 I know. >> Okay. >> There was a additional 13 or 14 million. >> So the 14 million uh certainly not you know there are some not an inflation cost per se like when you when you think about hey the utility costs are going up and all the rest. So, as I was presenting, >> I just trying to understand where the 13 or 14 comes from. >> Yep. So, I'll go I'll walk
035you through it again. I apologize. >> I don't know. Can will that projector go back on or is it cycling? >> I'll try. >> Yeah, you can leave it down so that I can go back to slides. >> Page page three. >> Page three. >> So, um >> salaries medical >> salaries represent when you when you look at that 14. So it turns out to be about 14.1 million Ethan. Um salaries represent 7.5 million of that. It's in the executive summary and then insurance medical expenses represent about 5 million of that. So overall, just those two items um encompass somewhere in the neighborhood of 88% of the overall increase. There's a million dollar cost related to transportation. That's 7% of the overall increase. And then utilities represent about 400,000. And then under the category of
036kind of other which we said was all other expenses the lion's share of that being social security represents an increase of you know close to 300,000. Those are there was u no additional expense this year under tuition. So, those are the major categories, but almost 90% of it is salary and benefits. I'll see if I can get the my screen back up. >> Okay. So, the way I'm looking at it is there's a 5.6% increase in salaries. So, it must be about seven plus on everything else to get to 6.6. And that's 12. >> Yeah, the 5.6% increase on salaries, that's 5.6% what we paid this year for salaries is going to be 5.6% higher next year. So looking at this graphic um the dollar value of the salary increase is 7.5 million. The dollar
037value of the overall increase you know my changes are are negligible. So it's 14.1 million roll forward 14.1 million at the end of the day. The 7.5 million the salaries represent more than half of the overall increase. The insurance represents 35% 5 million of the overall increase >> which is what drives up the percentage. >> Yeah. And then these other these other things this was transportation you know this is utilities and the other was it's two it's technically 275,000 I believe uh but it's uh largely social security >> but social security is it I don't know because I had haven't paid attention this year but is social security percentage going up or it's just >> uh I don't have that degree of specific we can get that for the workshop But I can tell you
038uh it's a combination of a of a number of things with with with an increase in salary. There's going to be an increase in the social security contributions that we need to make. And then um relative to what our budget was last year that was passed and as you know we're we're like six sections over >> so we have six additional teachers. So we kind of have to make up that difference. Um >> is I think you've done this in the And I haven't seen this obviously. Is it possible to look at it against actuals as well as against budget, next year's budget? >> Yes, that's how I believe that we do it at each of the workshops. We'll look at what was adopted, what is actual, and then what is forecast. >> So, >>
039and you'll have a two-year previous trend, I think. Okay. >> Transportation. Is it possible for future to split out out of district cost increase versus >> Absolutely, we can do that. And then >> give me just give me one sec to write that down. >> Go ahead. >> And then um medical costs was up 16.9 and I'm trying to remember the 12 and a half was >> 12 and a half is the rate increase to the um state partnership plan. >> Okay. So, where did the four and a half the 4.4? >> Yeah. No, that's it's it's slightly confusing. So, there's there's a couple of things. The first thing you have to do, we do have those um those six elementary sections, okay, that weren't previously in the budget, plus a couple of resource teachers.
040So, part of that is the increase. There's also uh believe it or not there's a a fair increase in terms of what we realized as the actual number of um individuals who are participating in the plan either married and family versus what we may have projected. Um and a lot of that has to do with folks um who either get married or or have children during the school year. And some of that is um maybe more more people that we hired in came in and took a family plan than we might have thought or something like that. >> So that's what be interesting. And you said it could have come anyways because I thought it did versus actual. >> Yeah, absolutely. >> Thank you. >> One thing I'll mention um I think I've more for
041the public. I think I've shared this with you guys before. Um you know I said that the state partnership plan is still a good plan for us. um in communication with the town. The town and the board have been having these conversations this year and last year. Is it still a good deal? You know, when we first joined the state partnership plan, we had previously been self-insured. I think we have close to if not more than 10 years of experience in this plan. Um we have saved over over that time period, we've saved significant money. Um what I can say is that we've looked in the last five years the amount of money that we've paid towards premiums and then the corresponding amount that was necessary to be paid out in claims that if we
042were in self-insured have to pay out it we're at a 98% threshold with that. So um we are seeing good utilization of the plans. We've had, you know, some years where uh it was lower 90s, other years where that ratio was 109%. So sometimes we're, you know, definitely saving money. The plan reduces that volatility that you may see. Um, and we also started to kind of price out, you know, if we were to make any change just because this went up 12 a.5%, you look somewhere else and it might have gone up a different amount. What does it cost? Um, and you know, we still find that what what what the cost of our plan is uh because it's it's it's cost out uh regionally. So, we're in the by county. So, we're in the
043Hartford County uh because we were comparing I was working some numbers actually with Barb today and uh you know, our costs are our costs are good and they're good. You know, we looked at a couple of other districts, uh, a district right within several districts within our DUI, but right nearby to us, and they had, uh, self-insured, they had a significant increase. Um, I know I've mentioned, I don't want to use the town's name. I've mentioned one really large example that I had heard about recently, but you know, we're starting we did an inquiry out to all school districts to try to get some of that information to compare as we say, is this plan still good for us. Long story short, we we do feel like it is. And I'm certain that if that's
044an area of inquiry, we can provide more specifics to you at a workshop. >> I have two other questions. Um, >> I'm sorry, two other questions. the so sort of looking at what the uncertain ones are. You mentioned that Barb was going to go meet on the insurance and something else. I forget what >> I'm sorry when you say uncertain ones. >> Well, it's still to be defined further. >> So, yes. So, so what this budget is based off of uh is the most recent information that we had received both from the state and the insurance and we had fairly recent information from the insurance company. Um, off the top of my head, I'm going to say I'm going to look at Barb and the I'm going to say three or four weeks. Yeah. And
045uh but we're but in a in a in a few weeks, we're going to get an updated uh recommendation from them. And then relative to the state, I had been publishing that excess cost reimbursement was projected to be about 68%. I think I've been publishing that in your board updates for about two months, but we're having an up uh in the next couple of weeks, we'll get an updated figure on that. Yeah, because that's the one that makes that is I guess the biggest unknown from the past. >> Absolutely. >> But I'm glad to know that as of today, as it stands for tuition, we do feel like despite those rising costs, despite the fact that we're we're certainly far from fully funded for excess cost reimbursement, um we we're we're level set for uh
046this coming year. Okay. Will that as far as we know that won't change or will change the budget process >> because last year >> I'll I'll say that last year there were you know last year there were a number of changes. First uh some of the figures came back and demonstrated uh that there was going to be significant shortfalls across the entire state. And then in response to that, the legislature had added um some money um which you know has been very helpful and and I think helps us for this coming year, but it's you know we've talked to our legislative body that these costs continue to rise. Um the state's looking at creating some legislative mandates about what can be charged. So there's a there's a lot of work happening in this area. And
047then obviously our own work we've significantly, you know, we we and it you only need to be successful to bring back I'll say a a relatively small number of students and that can have based on what these costs of tuition are that can have a significant financial impact. Our goal with it um we will we will often um we don't bring students back to the district for financial gain. We bring students back to the district because we believe uh generally that our programming, you know, if it can support a student's needs that our programming is exceptional. Um there are times when students go out. Anytime, you know, Melissa will tell you anytime that a student's going out, our goal is um if we're recommending that you go out for a specific need, um our hope
048and our goal is like anything else that over a period of time, whatever those skills are that you need support with can be met there and then uh over time we can bring you back. We also will receive a number of of uh students who may move into the district with an outplacement and we honor that outplacement, but we engage with those families to try to educate them about what's available here. And we've been very successful in many of those instances um to bring students back into the district and and have them participate in our program and be very successful. So, uh, overall our our our model in terms of how we supervise that, um, and how we work with it seems to be working and, uh, you know, we're we're excited to keep, you
049know, to to not only see some financial benefit from that, but really the true benefit is having the students back in our programs. I was just looking for surprises >> because we had them last year, >> good and bad. >> Certainly. Certainly. >> I'm good. Thank you, >> Miriam. >> Thank you. [clears throat] So, in addition to adopting the budget as a board, we're also uh in, you know, looking out for our student achievement. And so um my question is um what metrics are used to assess impact on student achievement um from both people and programs informing budget decisions. >> Sure. Absolutely. So and and it's a very big question. So so we can we can try to uh I can try to answer that in a number of ways. I'm just going to put
050that slide back up. Um when you think about kind of the general education program as a whole, um number one, in your um what what you'll see from me in in the district five-year strategic plan, there are a number of lines of effort that are outlined in support of the three board goals. And you know, so if I go back to the three board goals, um each one of those board goals has a set of um strategic efforts associated with it. Each one of those strategic efforts has a number of indicators of progress. And those indicators of progress I review with you in total annually at the end of the year, but in part in and along the way throughout a series of board reports. um are you know so so if I'm thinking about
051the general program as a whole the you know prek through post-secary instructional program you know we we certainly utilize our state testing results our um our PSAT SAT our AP and early college experience um as indicators uh and and hopefully measures return on investment uh when we look at specific programming um or perhaps something that's new. Uh we'll associate some some goals with that. Um certainly built into this budget uh somewhere in there there was a slide that referenced a modest increase to uh testing software. Um and part of this uh is based on the state-driven initiative for the science of reading. And you know, we were one of the very few districts who had a homegrown um reading curriculum that the uh state department of education says this meets generally meets the science of
052reading standards that we're after. um we only needed to provide some modest revisions to it as opposed to having to go and purchase a whole new reading program off of off of a vendor list. Um now how we measure that science of reading impact and implementation our program against say other districts will be a combination of some new software uh designed specifically to it's it's an online assessment program for early early literacy early grades literacy as well as obviously the long-term metrics that we can capture through our state testing program. Um but in anything that you might sort of name, we can our goal just like our conversation that we recently had with school climate and what are what are the measures of impact that we can provide um in order to asssure that our
053efforts whether those efforts are you know fiscally related or whether those efforts are just sort of um person hours related are are are providing for the return on investment that we seek. So uh I can give it you know we can get into any degree of specificity and we can define what those metrics would be. But what I want to point out overall what I what I tried to do and I have um quite a list of notes here of very specific things because I I couldn't fit all of it onto one page. Um there are certain things up here um that we are just uh so proud of year-over-year. We've we've been the gold medal program um for advanced placement uh is is in its infancy. I believe it's only two years deep. Um
054and we've we've achieved it both years uh for both Con and Hall. It's one of our standout programs. And it's it's nice to point to the high school sometimes because the high school doesn't just do things magically in four years. They they really rest on the foundation of our elementary and middle schools. Um we won the blue ribbon. Uh it was a few years back now, but year overyear we've had um multiple elementary schools recognized the school of distinctions. And uh it's one of the things that Ann and I really enjoy doing, going out and talking uh to the staffs about about that recognition, going to some schools and they've they've earned it three out of four years or four out of five years in a row. Um we've got, you know, at the middle
055school, I mentioned uh the Quizlet uh as one thing kind of under literacy and social studies. there is a local kind of statewide na history day competition that then translates into a national history day. Um we seem to sweep that thing year after year. First place, second place at at the highest levels. It's um and these are middle school kids doing this. um there's such a passion and interest and they're going forward you know and and these are just some of the kind of the highlights but you know what I don't want to get lost in that um is the multilingual learner who came here in third grade from another country or had an interrupted education and who within three years you know is um learning to read read on grade level within five years
056is taking their first honors course I have just in my own teaching career I have anecdotes of things like that that are just truly inspiring um and and that speaks to you know we've done some presentations on our uh career and technical education one of the areas of focus over the last two or three years and the expansion of that for for all of our learners you know there that's part of our approach we are so diverse um and we feel that we do have a charge not just at, you know, it's nice to point to a lot of very elite academic achievements, but we need to have equal achievements and pride in what's been accomplished for every student. And some of those sometimes that might be I'm the first in my gener in my
057family to, you know, to attend a a four-year college or university or I'm so we've got plenty. We've got graduates that we work with that became business owners um and we're now using them um so many phenomenal stories like that. So, it's a it's a great great question and it's so broad. I'd love to I'd love to find 10 things to tell you about and to find 10 things that we need to work on because our our goal really is every child every day. >> Thank you. Um Latoya has a question on the phone. Latoya. Hey everyone. Um, [clears throat] not a question, just a comment. Thank you, uh, Paul and team for putting this together and just looking forward to the road ahead. Um, and I just wanted to, you know, it is a
058lot of information to digest and just wanted to, um, remind and encourage us to take the time to digest this stuff and not get too much in the weeds tonight. Um and it's just a little you know advice that I also had to be given um on this first night where the we just get the presentation, we get our binder and like are really just thinking a lot of you know general questions around the process um and then taking the time to go through the binder and then using the workshops as an opportunity to really get in the weeds and be more specific with our questions. So, just wanted to throw that out there so that we're not we don't get too much in the weeds tonight because I know this is more of a
059general um overview and and um an opportunity for us to get the time to really digest this so we can be prepared for the workshops ahead. So, thank you. >> Thanks, Latoya. And and just to that point, just to I'll give you a five second orientation to that board book and what what's g what's published online in the next two or three minutes. Um, you will see at the beginning, you know, there's a kind of an executive summary that I wrote and some other some other front-end information. There's a there's a a page in the book that says, you know, read me first kind of thing. So, I would encourage that. Um, the enrollment projections because our students drives our staffing and our staffing drives our budget. Um, section C is, uh, an important section.
060Kind of gives you kind of the the mile high view, budget summaries. You can kind of see, uh, how we're staffed, how, um, kind of what the big picture categories are, um, before you dive in. And then the next several sections, uh, definitely dive down into very specifics around regular instruction. So kind of like these are the classroom sections, these are the numbers of uh you know math teachers at at the middle school or high school, the number of uh English and so on. Um then you get into section F which is general support. These are more systemwide positions. So, you may find some uh if I have it, you may find some of the systemic pieces or even some of the um kind of general services that are in there, not just uh you
061know, the office of my office and superintendent, but then uh adult education, things of that nature. Uh you have the pupil services section, uh which I might have gone in the wrong order and skipped. Pupil services will outline everything under special education. uh you have other fund sources. So you have information in and around our grants, our nutritional uh things of that nature. And then the section at the end um so sorry it's at the end because it it is the data supplement. It provides an absolute wealth of information kind of on all things. And what what you'll find is generally speaking when you're coming across a question, something that you're curious to know about, if you peruse the data supplement, the the chances are pretty good that you'll get the answer in there um
062somewhere. And if not, it's not an issue. That's, you know, part of our job to navigate this and and to kind of walk you through where you can find those answers at those workshops. Right. Well, we have a lot to dig into and uh time that's well paced for us to do just so um so you know continue to think about the questions, keep track of them and bring those to the future workshops and thank you Latoya for your comments. Um anything else on that topic? All right. Well, thank you so much. We're we're looking forward to the month ahead. Um, moving on to staff communications and reports. Back over to the superintendent for your report. [laughter] >> No, no other report tonight except to say um March among many things is uh board of
063education appreciation month. And I it is not lost on me that is the month where we've positioned our budget. So I will simply say that I appreciate you and your support and I appreciate the work that's involved. uh this is obviously one of your most critical tasks and the financial stewardship of the community is an important part of that and uh I look forward to supporting you in in that as in any way that I can. >> Thank you Paul. Um we do not have any staff reports or further board discussion. So we'll move on to routine matters approval of the minutes. Uh, seeking a motion that the board of education approve the minutes of the regular board of education meeting of February 18th, 2026. >> So moved. >> Thank you, Jason. And I have
064a second. >> Second. >> Thank you, John. Uh, any discussion or questions? Okay. All those in favor say I. >> I. I. >> I. Latoya. I I >> uh um any uh against and any uh abstensions? I don't think anyone was missing at the last board meeting, but okay. Um all right, motion passes. Approved minutes from February 18th. Um moving on to information and reports. Board member communications. Any reports from other boards or organizations? Uh any other information or discussion and then future business? Uh we have a lot of upcoming meeting dates so bear with me. Um our next meeting uh will be as um as was noted on the side point uh PowerPoint presentation. Wednesday, March 11th, 2026, a budget workshop um first workshop at 7 PM here in the legislative chamber at town
065hall, followed by Tuesday, March 17th, a regular board of education meeting at 7 p.m. here in town hall, room 314. Then on March 25th, 2026, we will be meeting here for a public hearing um on the budget uh to be followed by a budget workshop uh number two um starting at 7 p.m. here in 3:14 in town hall. And then we will wrap up the month on Tuesday, March 31st with a regular board of education meeting which will be inclusive of the adoption of the formal budget for the 2627 school year. and that and that is also at 7 PM here in the town hall. Um and then that will move on to the town council for their review and approval. So, um, lots of meetings to keep track of as well as the community
066forums that Paul mentioned, which are available on the board website and strongly encourage members of the public if you can't make it to one of the upcoming board meeting uh, hearings or or public comment opportunities to come to the community forums where you can share uh, your questions and comments regarding the budget process, which will be focused on both this board of education budget as well as the town council budget. So you'll get both the full picture uh for the town of West Harford. Um so with that summary um any requests from the board for future agenda items. Okay. Thank you. Um any uh other members of any members of the uh public who would like to make a public comment to close out our meeting. Seeing none. Uh we have no executive session. So
067seeking a motion to adjurnn. >> So moved. Thank you, Ethan. >> Second. >> Thank you, John. The uh board of education meeting is adjourned at 8:06