Branford’s Board of Education (BOE) is recommending a 2024-2025 annual budget of $65,865,845 representing a 4.7% annual increase. The BOE passed the recommended bottom line by unanimous vote at its regular full board meeting on Feb. 22. The budget recommendation will be transmitted to the Town of Branford for the Town’s 2024-2025 budget review process.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Christopher Tranberg, who had originally proposed a 4.88% annual budget increase, thanked the board for its feedback during budget workshops. He explained the rationale resulting in modifications in the revised budget.

“I did take the feedback that was discussed and the modifications are resulting in a 4.7% [annual increase], which is not dramatically lower than the 4.88, and I understand that; but there are some significant enough changes based on your feedback, especially along the lines of the student wellness and mental health supports,” Tranberg said.

Tranberg said the first big piece involved continuing needed support for the Effective School Solutions (ESS) program that is supporting students at the middle school and the high school.

“I was working, trying to come up with what I felt like a very creative collaborative plan to provide some of that support for the ESSER cliff, but the plan was not coming to fruition, which is really determining the need for us to maintain that program for the middle school especially because it is very robust at the middle school,” said Tranberg.

He said the program supports about 30 students and, given this late notice, there isn’t time to plan appropriately for an alternative option.

“So the ESS program for the middle school is back in,” said Tranberg. “To accommodate the needs at the high school, what I did have in the budget for the middle school has moved to the high school. So the new Social Worker for the middle school is now at the high school to support that transition there.”

Tranberg also defended the need for the placement of an additional school psychologist.

“Given the increase in needs that we have, and the evaluations, we’re at a place right now where we’re starting to need to borrow a bit from some of our school psychologists at the elementary level in order to support the secondary, and that’s not sustainable, and it’s also not helpful to our elementary schools. So we think that this will provide that necessary support,” he said.

Despite adding in another program and an another position, Tranberg said he was able to reduce the budget percent increase due to four factors resulting in some savings. These involved some calculations based on some resignations and retirements; an unanticipated change in a student tuition; a change in insurance assumptions due to Branford Public Schools (BPS) staffing levels; and a reduction to supplies based on BOE workshop feedback and proposals.

The BOE budget is set to be reviewed by Branford’s Board of Finance (BOF) on March 21, followed by Branford’s Representative Town Meeting (RTM) Education Committee review on April 1.

Also during the BOE full board meeting on Feb. 22, the BOE reviewed call to avoid proposing a charge for use of school facilities by Branford-based community sports groups. An amended motion, based on board feedback and public input from two meetings of the board’s policy committee, was reviewed.

The language includes waiving fees for Branford youth organizations run by volunteers with a roster of 90% or more Branford students, for activities that are held within regular hours of operation. However, such youth programs will have an associated cost if used outside of operating hours, to cover overtime for custodians and security. One of the questions raised during board discussion was how the costs outside of operating hours would impact a program such as the Branford Youth Football schedule. By a vote of 5 in favor and 3 opposed, the BOE advanced the amended proposed policy to a second reading.

During earlier public comments at the Feb. 22 meeting, Branford Girls Softball president David Falcigno thanked the BOE for its review of the matter.

“For us organizations that operate on a shoestring budget, it’s very important that we have the use of the school’s buildings and fields. And hopefully, if the proposed Walsh fields go through, which I’m trying to get a lot of support for, that benefits everybody,” said Falcigno.

Tranberg noted upcoming public meetings regarding the Walsh Intermediate School fields include a joint meeting of the RTM Administrative Services and RTM Ways and Means committees on Tuesday, Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. at the Branford Community House (46 Church Street); and a public hearing during the full RTM meeting on Thursday, Feb. 29 at 7 p.m. at Branford Fire Headquarters (45 North Main Street).

The superintendent’s 2024-2025 budget presentation and BOE budget question and response documents can be viewed under the “More” drop down menu at the BPS website. BOE meeting videos are live streamed and also archived for viewing at the website (branford.k12.ct.us).