By Linda Conner Lambeck

WESTPORT–Those budget headwinds Schools Superintendent Thomas Scarice warned about before the start of the school year seem to be appearing most prominently as the groundwork is laid for the 2026-27 district school budget.

Between the assistant facility position that is perennially tossed from the budget– regardless of what the district calls it–to addressing special education needs through the purchase of two vehicles and expanding mental health services in the elementary schools, the budget impact may or may not be mitigated by a certain degree by reallocating existing expenditures.

Budget assumptions

This year, Scarice is attempting to get the school board to reach consensus on up to seven “budget assumptions” before finally adopting a budget proposal. That way, what’s in and out of the package sent to the town is not in question late into January.

“I am recommending the board contemplate … a more strategic and unified approach to constructing the FY27 operating budget,” Scarice told the board at its Thursday meeting held at Staples High School.

Priorities

The early timing, Scarice said, will force the board to decide where its priorities lie separate from basing the decision solely on money. That way, the January budget hearings will focus on the budget as a whole rather than debating the merits of individual items.

If things go as Scarice envisions it, only health insurance, which is a traditional uncertainty well into the spring, will be a question mark.

Most board members seemed to appreciate the opportunity to discuss the items outside the context of a full budget proposal. 

As of yet there is no bottom line to the budget ask. Scarice called it “too premature.”

The current year budget is $150.4 million, a 4.7% increase over the previous year.

During the presentation and board discussion, some members of the Board of Finance and Representative Town Meeting, as well as newly elected First Selectman Kevin Christie, watched from the audience.

The items Scarice wants the board to come to terms with include:

Assistant director of facilities and security position

Proposed several times now, district officials have argued a second in command in the department is needed to meet the rapidly expanding capital and operational demands across the district.

This time around, position duties were outlined and it is proposed that funding for the position be offset by restructuring a Coordinator for Health Services role. The person in that position retired. The idea is to reduce the position from 261 to 198 days, thus reducing the salary.

“For me, it’s much clearer description of what the new position would do as opposed to what is happening now,” said Board Chair Lee Goldstein.

Listening from the audience, RTM Moderator Jeff Weiser suggested another way to handle the extra workload in facilities would be to partner with the town.

“It really is something we should think about to save money,” Weiser said.

Special Ed transportation

Increasing costs in out-of-district placements has the district looking to cut transportation costs by buying two specialized vehicles for the district Connections Transition program for special education students aged 18-22 who need help developing life skills for post-secondary independence. In addition to the vehicles, the plan is to use current district paraprofessionals as drivers.

At present, the district contracts the service.

The cost for each 10-passenger bus could be $75,000 to $95,000. One would be handicapped accessible. Annual maintenance for the vehicles is estimated between $3,000 and $5,000 and would be addressed through the general fund.  If the vehicles are purchased with the district’s carryover account, it would not impact the operating budget.

During public comment, the Board of Finance Member Liz Heyer suggested both vehicles be wheelchair equipped to offer more flexibility should one break down.

Expand mental health services

The town uses a program called Effective Schools Solutions (ESS) at the secondary level, which has seen success in keeping students in district. Officials say there are increased student mental health needs and dysregulation at the elementary level. It is expected the program will be close to “budget neutral” through strategic reallocation of existing resources, according to Assistant Superintendent Michael Rizzo. The plan is to put the program in one of the district’s five elementary schools and relocate students who need the program to that school.

The potential cost avoidance by being able to keep treated students in district would be huge, noted Board Member Abby Tolan.

Create Behavior Analysts positions

The district proposes establishing an in-district team by reallocating existing contracted service funds to support three positions, two funded through the general budget and one via grant, while remaining pretty much budget-neutral, according to Chief Financial Officer Elio Longo.

 “This has been on the radar for about two years now,” Rizzo told the board, adding later. “This is the right time for Westport to make the move.”

Athletic uniform replacement cycle

Historically, booster programs have funded athletic uniforms. Scarice said he believes that providing basic uniforms is a fundamental responsibility of the school district. He wants to establish a system to replace uniforms so that all teams are supported equally while reducing year-to-year budget volatility. Some 14 sports require annual replacements, and another 28 sports would be on four-year rotations. The bottom-line annual price tag would be $90,465. The current athletic supply budget, not counting uniforms, is about $117,515, according to Staples Athletic Director VJ Sarullo.

Board Member Stephen Shackelford asked if what the district proposes to spend equal to what the booster clubs provided. Board Vice Chair Dorie Hordon asked about quality. She wants the district to spend money on uniforms students will wear.

Sarullo said the uniforms purchased would be comparable and in keeping with what other districts spend. Flexibility was promised.

“It’s a culture change,” Goldstein said.

Technology

The proposal is to create a districtwide Gemini Pro AI licensing for professional staff, complete an elementary teacher laptop replacement cycle and modernize the Bedford Middle School auditorium. The price tag is about $43,150 for AI, $93,208 for laptop replacement and $90,000 for Bedford.

District Technology Director Natalie Carrignan said the lifecycle of laptops is about five years.  

Health Insurance

Chief Financial Officer Elio Longo met Thursday with the state to receive a projected increase in the State Partnership Plan health insurance program. At present, it is projected that the cost increase is at 15 percent. That is likely to change by April but could increase the overall budget by two percent.

Linda Conner Lambeck

^{_{Linda Conner Lambeck covers education for Westport Journal. She was a reporter for more than four decades at the Connecticut Post and other Hearst publications. She has covered education throughout Fairfield and New Haven counties. She is a proud member of the Education Writers Association.}}