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North Branford Ed Board Reviewing $33.14M Schools Budget, Up 2.98%

A $33.14 million 2020-21 school year budget proposed by North Branford's schools chief on Jan. 30 will be reviewed during a second Board of Education (BOE) special budget workshop set for for Thurs. Feb. 6,  as the board works to finalize numbers for its annual budget request that will be sent to the Town.

Superintendent of Schools Scott Schoonmaker and Director of Business and Personnel Martha Vaughn provided an overview of the $33,144,863 budget, representing an increase of 2.98% over the current budget, or a total of $959,249, according to minutes of the Jan. 30 presentation.

Curriculum initiatives outlined in the budget include expanding the world language program, expanding student support and advanced placement (AP) classes at the high school level, establishing Project Lead the Way in grades PreK through 5, and expanding math program support workshops, instruction and resources.

The budget's capital request of $658,104  supports preliminary estimates for projects including asbestos abatement at Totoket Valley Elementary School (TVES); an air conditioning cooling tower and compressor, lighting upgrade to LED lighting, and building management system replacement at Jerome Harrison Elementary School (JHS); lighting upgrade to LED lighting, parking lot paving (North Branford Auditorium) and building management system replacement at North Branford Intermediate School (NBIS). Excluding any significant capital projects at North Branford High School (NBHS) due to review underway for a possible school building upgrade/replacement, the 2020-21 capital request calls for a new NBHS building management system replacement, if the building project is not approved.  The district's central office is seeking new financial software and also anticipates being part of a Town project (oil to gas conversion) at the Stanley T. Williams Community Center building.

Discussion among the BOE on Jan. 30 included asking whether the district could collaborate with the town with regard to financial software. The board also responded favorably to Schoonmaker's request to look into the potential of adding a position for a shared behavior specialist.

The BOE's second special budget meeting workshop is set for 6 p.m. Feb. 6 at Stanley T. Williams Community Center, 1332 Middletown Ave. in Northford.