Board of Education (BOE) Chair Katie Stein announced that Madison has received a $646,000 grant from the state to cover COVID-related expenses, something she called “a very welcome surprise,” while also cautioning that there are too many unknowns ahead for the schools to guess at whether this will entirely or significantly offset new expenses.

The Board of Selectmen (BOS) had been prepared to approve a $515,000 special appropriation requested by the BOE just to cover costs for preparation, such as retrofitting the school facilities and purchasing equipment like desk shields and web cameras, according to Stein.

But that request was tabled following the awarding of the grant, though Stein warned that the BOE could very likely need another appropriation as Madison dives into an unprecedented school year.

“The short answer...is that there are still a fair amount of unknowns. We haven’t started school,” Stein said. “There are still some recommendations every day, the discussion changes and the recommendations change at the state level in terms of what we need to open.”

The BOE also plans to return close to $550,000 to the town from last year pending a final audit, partly because of savings realized when the schools shuttered in March, according to Stein.

Selectman Bruce Wilson suggested that Stein and the BOE update the BOS approximately every three months on what kind of extra expenses they might be encountering during the school year and discuss the potential for special appropriation needs, which Stein called “reasonable.”

First Selectman Peggy Lyons said that staying in close communication, with Stein, herself, and Board of Finance Chair Jean Fitzgerald being focal points, would be vital going forward.