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COICHESTER
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Su perintendenfs Prcposed Budget Prcsentqfion
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Wednesdoy, Februory 18, 2026 N!
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6:00 pM
Williom J. Johnston Middle School Block Box Theotre
MINUTES
BOARD MEI,IBERS PRESENT : Choir Slefonie Trucey{olosh, Vice.Choir Christopher Rivers,
Secretory Cody McNeely, Cori Duigou, Gussie Gilberti, Michelle Millington ond Noncy Nelson
ADMINISTRATfON PRESENT: Superintendent Doniel P. Sullivon, IU, Assisfont Superintendent
Jessico L. Kuckel, Director of Pupil Services Eve Hurley, Assisnqnt Dircctor of Pupil Services Rebecco
Tedesco, Bocon Acodemy (BA) Principol Amy Begu6, BA Assistont Principol Jennifer Mortin, BA
Assistont Principol Michoel Mol, Williom J Johnston Middle School (WJJMS) Principol Meghon
Amodo, WJJMS Assisfont Principol Bonnie McAneny, Jock Joclder Intermediote School (JJIS)
Principol Stocy Ewings, IIS Associate Principol Melisso Cyr, Colchesler Elemenlory School (CES)
Principol Judy O'Meoro, CES Assistont Principol Kelly Bohre
OTHERS PRESENT : Diiector of Finonce ond Operotions Rochel Linlkih, Inslructionol Technology
Coordinqfor Borborc Johrison, Executive Assistont to the Superintendent Ah/sso Butovo ond Director
of Educotionol Operotions Andrew Borillori, USI Insuronce Broker Chris Monroe
1.
1.1. Coll to
S.Trocey{olosh colled the meeting to order ot 6:01 PM
1.2 Roll Coll
S.Trocey{olosh conducted rcll coll of the Boord.
1.5 Pledge of Allegionce
L PRI Drscussro tOl.l ITEMS
2.L Budget Presentotion: Superintendenl's Proposed 2026.2027 Budget
Superintendent Sullivon ond Assistont Superintendent Kuckel presented the proposed 2026-2027
budget, outlining the districl's finonciol priorifies, currenl chollenges, ond key drivers of cosf
increoses. The presentqtion ernphosized ihe districfs continued commitment lo moinfoining strong
ocodemic progromming ond student supports while ncvigoting significont budget pressures.
Superintendent Sullivqn reviewed the mojor cost foctors influencing the proposed budgel, including
controc-tuol solory obligotions, employee benefits, speciol educotion services, tronsportotion, ond
generol operoting e,xpenses.
A porfion of the presentotion focused on the districl's heohh insuronce progrcm ond the stotus of the
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heolth reserve fund. Superintendent Sullivon slur€d fhot fhe district remoins self-insured ond
continues to use Anthem os its heotth insuronce prcvider. Recent cloims oeerience hos contribu?ed
to o decline in the heotth neserye bqlonce, ond the dislrict is octively working bword rebuilding lhe
fund to o heotlhy level.
The Superintendent reviewed trends in lhe reserve l-.vels, why the neserve is so loq ond lhe steps
being token to imptove intemol plocesses so tfiot this does not hoppen ogoin. Tlre Boonfs Insumnce
Broker Chris Monroe fiom USI olso gove o presenlotion on the heotlh reserve, polentiol next steps
ond l*rings to consider.
The Boord rcceived the proposed budgel overview ond disclssed next steps in the budget
developmenl pnocess, including upcoming budget workshops, opportunhies for public input, ond lhe
timeline for continued delibenrtion ond odoption.
Molion by M.Millington
Motion to recess
S€con* G.Gilberti
Roll Colt All in fqvor
Vote: Motion corried
S.Trocey{obsh colled for o recess ot 7:51 PM.
S.Trocey{olosh colled for o retum from rccess ot 8:01 PM.
5. PUBLIC COMMENT
3.1. For Public Comment, pleose see Policy ll2o Public Commenf and Correspondence at
B@d Meetings
{i Michoel Dubrcuil, Woodbine Rood: Mr. Dubreuil stoted thot ot the Februory Jojnl Heohh
Insurqnce Subcommifiee meeting, conc€ms werle roised regording the projected depletion of
the heqlth reserye occount by April or Moy 2026 ond the need for on odditionol $1 million
contribution from the Boord of Educotion in the currenl fiscol yeor. Reference wos mode to
Monroe's recommendotion to restore the reserve over o two- three yeor period, with questions
posed obout whether rephnishment should occur immediotety or be phosed in over time.
He olso included concems obou? post proctices reloted to employee benefils, including
perceptions of limited tronsporency ond insufficient review of benefit controc-ts under the
previous Boord.
Additionolly, Mr. Dubreuil stqted thot he wos heoring rumors of o potentiol spending
freeze, ond inlerest wos expressed in chrifying whelher such o meosure is being considered.
a lGclco Tewkbury Felicio Bobar lone: Ms. Tewksbury o Speciol Educotion teocher ot CES
ond o porent, spoke obout lhe importonce of literory oli o fundomentol civil right ond shored
her commitment to q profession she volues deeply despite the personol ond professionol
chollenges it brings She oeressed her love for lhe cfrildren ond fomilies she seryes ond ststed
thot teochers ore underpoid rclative to their o<perience ond the volue lhey provide,
describing this os o hisforicol injustice.
Ms. Tewksbury noted thot she is focing on onticipoted tlO,(X)O pqf reduction next yeor
if the union vote is opproved, with no reolistic opportunity fo recover thot loss She nrised
concems lhot while teochers ore being osked ?o moke significont socrifices, there would be no
corresponding rcduction in superintendent compensotion or contributions to his 4O5(b).
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She questioned why teochers ore being osked to beor the greotest finonciol burden
while district leodership experiences little to no impoc't, ond stoted thof educotors ore being
osked to socrifice in response to errors they did not creote.
a Amondq lenlg Creslview Drive Ms. LenK o teocher ond porent, stoted her deep concem
obout osking educofors to occept o sohry fr€eze while the overoll budget continues fo
increose by opproximotely 10%, noting thot such o freeze represents o significonf finonciol
setbock for teochers. She olso emphosized thot o solory freeze does not impoct teochers ond
odministrqtors equolly, ond thot the finonciol pressure focing stoff stems from on ernor lhol
could hove been ovoided. Ms. Lenk stoted thot those with the highest solories were in
positions of rcsponsibility when the issue occurred, ond urged the Boord to reconsider the
opprooch.
c Olivio Dukso, Colchesten Ms. Dukso stoted her concerns regording fhe proposed budget,
specificolly noting thol it is heovy ot the top. A mojor point of contention wos lhe heohh
reserve ond lhe perceived foilurc to preserve mointenonce over the yeors. She stoted her
sfrong disopprovol regording the teocher woge freeze. While she opprecioted the
odministrofion toking no increose, the foct thot teochers must toke o deduc-tion wos criticized.
The view wos thof everyone should shore the hit. The teochers should not be the ones beoring
the finonciol burden, suggesting insteod thot the elite should be. Ms. Dukso olso feh the
reserye wos being monoged incorrealy.
E Koren Belding, Choir of lhe Boord of Finqnce: Ms, Belding stoted thot becouse of the
uncertointy ond queslions oround this yeor's budget proposol, she would work on the schedule
if needed to support the Boord's needs.
a Molty Anderson, Norwich Avenue, vio Zoom: Ms. Anderson stoted thot concems regording
discreponcies between the odopted budget ond octuol offer letters. Specificolly, the
Superintendent, Assistont Superintendent HR Coordinotor, ond Execufive Assistont to the
Superinfendent received roises higher thon those odopted. There is skepticism thot stoff will
occept ltre promised solory freezes
4" ADJOURNI,IENT
Motion by N.Nelson
Motion to odjoum.
Second: C.Rivers
Roll Cqlk All in fovor
Vole: Motion corried
S.Trocey-Colosh odjoumed the meefing ot 8:19 PM
Respecff ully submitfed,
OAflM
Alysso Butovo
Executive Assistont to the superintendent
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