School District Asks 3.92% Increase
Weston Today photo
On January 5 the Board of Education heard a request from the school district administration for a $2.4 million operating budget increase in fiscal year 2026-27.
As requested, the operating budget would rise 3.92 percent to $63,496,412. The administration also proposes $2.6 million in capital expenditures.
Two factors account for almost all proposed operating budget growth: a 4.11 percent increase on the salaries line, and net health insurance costs, which rise 13 percent, inflating by more than $1 million.
Superintendent Erica Forti said the district’s proposed staffing level will remain almost flat, with a net addition of only 0.4 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions. The number of certified staff positions decreases by 1.2 FTEs, offsetting most of the 1.6 para educator FTEs the district plans to add.
Other contractual obligations — including cleaning, transportation, other insurance, utilities, and campus police coverage — increase slightly, up 1.5 percent.
Little change is seen in costs for special education, once the most volatile of district expenses.
Enrollment
District enrollment is projected to decrease next school year. If the mid-range forecast presented in October holds up, district enrollment would decline by 52 students. The great majority of the reduction is expected to occur at Weston High School, most of it at the ninth-grade level.
The superintendent puts the actual reduction at 34 students, since the number of preschool children attending will be 18 more than predicted in the forecast.
Ms. Forti added that a State report indicates a significant three-year decrease in the number of Weston students attending non-public or private schools. This, she suggested, may be attributable to “more families choosing Weston Public Schools, reinforcing the value of the district’s academic programming, personalized learning approach, and strong student supports.”
Capital improvements
Capital expenditures in the budget request come to $2.635 million. Items include, in descending order of estimated cost:
WHS turf replacement: $700,000
HES asphalt roof: $700,000
HES South House boiler & piping: $390,000
WHS & WIS duct cleaning: $175,000
Emergency radio upgrade: $120,000
Parking lot paving: $120,000
WMS & WHS furniture purchase: $110,000
Central Office HVAC: $110,000
Building mgmt. controller upgrades: $100,000
District-wide clock replacement: $75,000
Aerial lift purchase: $35,000
Coming up …
The Board of Education began a series of budget workshops today (January 6) where members and the administration meet to examine and discuss the request in detail.
The board has scheduled two forums to hear from the community.
The first public budget forum takes place in person on Wednesday, January 14 at 7:00 pm in the Weston Middle School library. The second is scheduled to be a virtual session on Thursday, January 22, also at 7:00 pm.
The board is scheduled to vote on a final budget request on January 27, or on the 29th if more time is needed. The next stop will be the Board of Selectmen, who plan to review and possibly make recommendations on February 11, about a week after the First Selectwoman presents the Town budget request.