By Linda Conner Lambeck

WESTPORT — Last year, as the annual budget-making season got underway, town leaders came to the Board of Education armed with numbers and expectations.

 On Monday, they came with praise.

“It was the smoothest process we have ever had,” said Sheri Gordon, a Board of Finance member, who last year was its chairwoman.

“Last year was terrific,” added Jeff Wieser, moderator of the Representative Town Meeting.

James Foster, chairman of the Board of Finance, said he couldn’t be happier with work accomplished last year despite the pandemic, a largely new school board and all the social and political issues that transpired.

He praised Supt. of Schools Thomas Scarice and the work done to build confidence between the school board and other town bodies.

“The last budget cycle, I think, went really, really well,” said Foster, “both the process and outcomes.”

This year, instead of suggesting a specific budget increase to aim for, the school board was told to develop a “really good working budget that is going to provide students with what they need,” yet mindful the economy is shaky and the town is embarking on a substantial capital spending plan that will increase its debt.

The annual practice of Board of Finance and RTM leaders meeting with the board gives each side a chance to air expectations.

Scarice has already started budget meetings with his administrative team and has scheduled budget retreats. The board will get its first look at a 2023-24 budget proposal in January.

In the current fiscal year, the school district was provided $129.5 million, which was a 3.1 percent increase over the previous year, but somewhat less than the $130.3 million that the school board requested.

Gordon called it a budget that made sure the district retained its excellence.

This year, the district faces enrollment increases that are projected to continue. That has led to staff increases. Other factors are efforts to improve student transportation and make up for COVID learning loss.

Liz Heyer, vice chairwoman of the school board, said her hope is that the district’s multiple year capital investment, which includes a new Long Lots Elementary School, won’t somehow affect the size of the operating budget.

Capital spending does cast a shadow, Foster said. But he called building and refurbishing assets all positives. What’s important, he added, is making the right choices, in the right order.

School board member Robert Harrington said the sad reality is that the town has not spent enough on its infrastructure over the past 15 years.

“The good news is under Tom’s leadership a lot has changed,” Harrington said of the superintendent. He said plans going forward are systemic and exciting, although redistricting is likely to be required

“It is not popular, but we need to look at it sooner rather than later,” Harrington said.

Some schools are over capacity and others underutilized. The town’s two middle schools have very unequal enrollment numbers.

Dorie Hordon, another school board member, said there might not be the aversion to redistricting that some fear.

“Parents I’ve spoken to think there should be redistricting,” she said.

Hordon called feedback from town officials helpful.

Foster, for instance, requested that the school board spend more time on big-picture issues and less time on budget line items when it presents the new spending plan to the finance panel.

“What are the challenges, issues, concerns?” Foster said. “I want to know what is going on …. before diving into numbers.”

Lauren Karpf, deputy RTM moderator and chairwoman of its Education Committee, told the school board that her desire is to not hear about needs or issues for the first-time during budget season.

Still, Karpf called last year’s budget process “fantastic.”

“Transparency goes a long way,” she said.

Gordon said her desire is for the school board to make sure its number one goal is to turn out students who are critical thinkers.

“Particularly when you consider where we are today. There is so much information,” Gordon said. “Keep your eye on the ball.”

Wieser said despite the positives it is going to be a hard fiscal year.

“Be cautious. Be frugal. Keep the [Consumer Price Index] in mind,” he said.

Scarice said the school district does find efficiencies and, unlike some districts, does not attempt to spend down surpluses in the spring. He said town officials here don’t “play gotcha” when that happens and put that funding in a carryover account.

“I appreciate you,” he told the town officials.

Freelance writer Linda Conner Lambeck, a reporter for more than four decades at the Connecticut Post and other Hearst publications, is a member of the Education Writers Association.