[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6393570,"mediaKeyId","2106739-115ee0b7da024538f98b5225d64ce7c8","parentId",2106739,"title","Weston outlines curriculum rollouts, small intervention cuts and CIL schedule changes amid budget squeeze","audioSeconds",4483,"startMs",2329000,"endMs",6812000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2106739-115ee0b7da024538f98b5225d64ce7c8&start=2329&end=6812","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2106739-115ee0b7da024538f98b5225d64ce7c8/thumbnail_2329000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6393570/Connecticut/Weston-outlines-curriculum-rollouts-small-intervention-cuts-and-CIL-schedule-changes-amid-budget-squeeze","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6393570-a2642f40a2245c187e33b9117441a80d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770960503&Signature=HnzhQ-PNKnfeijpMIWDPRhRadXs8-EkouWCg2yjZZCb~ijvt7Z5LmsiYifcBXoaG5uONUApgAHmmUlNhOBEDJUDX~5Qy-xLFuK-55RIDWvGe0vazpp8~9i9pHZCDW5ziQK2-SY-9sJG5~aRrJl2sqg~bOOukJ1QIR1Ik4q-GSZTZCqyuOUJyWPVRfA1AhRXNIr4kUS9NRYIzqgAHGeMZyCFDfqpiIWy3Hl3oiww~NVFZS1g5sp3NYoFJ2KIumwdJeVcq0ReBu7d7kidMtuLaTJdcWAp6CFjTyjOKjRyHhfiZWN-0RdmusSq8N4gYZk783iTfvwNAd-vbld1g4B4yFQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Weston School District","date","2025-01-07T00:00:00Z","article","Principals and curriculum staff told the board that most of the year‑over‑year increases in school budgets come from consumable materials required by recently adopted curricula and from one‑time implementation costs that are managed at the district level in the first year.

At Hurlbut, Principal Laura Katis said the bulk of her school’s increase is for consumables — workbooks, reading journals and other paper‑and‑pencil materials used by students — and that nonconsumable materials had largely been addressed during earlier implementation years. “The cost is for the consumable, the paper and pencil activities that the students do,” Laura said.

Principals at the intermediate and middle school said similar pressures exist: consumables for reading and math workbooks, art and science supplies for hands‑on labs, occasional equipment replacements and modest PBIS costs funded in part by PTO contributions. Patty, the intermediate principal, described annual consumable replacement and classroom library augmentation as the primary drivers at her school.

Intervention staffing: Several principals described a small net reduction in intervention FTE driven by current benchmark data and scheduling efficiencies. “Based on the student needs… we believe we are able to support the students with that minor reduction,” Laura said about a decrease in math intervention at Hurlbut. Staff explained that a 0.2 change can mean removing the equivalent of one day per week from an interventionist’s schedule, and that schedules would be optimized by school to preserve student impact.

CILs and a modest staffing model change: District leadership proposed converting some Curriculum & Instruction Leader positions from 1.0 to 0.8 FTE and using the remaining 0.2 to have those leaders teach a class at the secondary level or run small groups at the elementary level. Dr. Henkel and Riley (Curriculum & Instruction leadership) said the change aims to maintain instructional coaching while generating modest personnel savings. Riley said she had mapped how many teachers each CIL supports and would work with principals to prioritize time where necessary.

Special education costs: Patrice, a special‑education staff member, told the board the district is projecting a modest increase in students requiring services and that out‑of‑district day or residential placements remain the wild card. “These placements are incredibly costly, and the cost increase at a rate that is inconsistent with more general budget increases,” she said.

Mandates and upcoming curriculum needs: Curriculum staff reminded the board the state expects districts to implement K–12 computer science and had updated health and PE standards in 2024; staff said they must balance mandated rollouts with teacher workload and fiscal constraints.

Next steps: staff will provide charts showing multi‑year section projections, clarity on which curricular costs recur as consumables, and an itemized account of staff counts and when federal ESSER/ARP funds (one‑time pandemic relief) have expired or been budgeted out.

Ending: District leaders said the proposed changes are intended to balance fiscal restraint with curricular and student‑support priorities and that details will come in supplemental documents before any final budget vote.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Weston School District Board of Education Special Meeting (Budget Workshop) 2025-01-07","oneSentenceSummary","Principals and curriculum leaders described consumable costs tied to recent curriculum adoptions, modest reductions to intervention staffing based on current student needs, and a plan to convert some Curriculum & Instruction Leader (CIL) time to a 0.8 FTE with a 0.2 teaching component to preserve teacher support while reducing costs.","taxTitle","Weston School District, School Districts, Connecticut","taxId",48766,"location","Connecticut","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6393575,"Weston board debates $400,000 Chromebook and smart-display purchases as district tech plan collides with budget concerns",1869,755000,2624000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2106739-115ee0b7da024538f98b5225d64ce7c8&start=755&end=2624","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2106739-115ee0b7da024538f98b5225d64ce7c8/thumbnail_755000.jpg","/articles/6393575/Connecticut/Weston-board-debates-400000-Chromebook-and-smart-display-purchases-as-district-tech-plan-collides-with-budget-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6393575-052f7a264cf63e817bacf20d0f3d497f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770960503&Signature=KNFOjPj3tbSCGQbsaB85A3SScL5aWsAET70j54eHU~GmFZRmC5pzKgg75L9l3Ljjmd3YbPnIvaNp2hQYuemyN9am5IykccSyMTXk0r23pNafp6yweCHzH0URD-i3GJ13dAwtp001-HPplTLzpSyYXAOI01BwJUvSGScNBkkVBItVGBcwGRA80lXfif-00ES5oBcFptpj9mxnYxeNH6Ad6N4A7DDDZ-w9VgKKSDOFT6J3vey0zRmBnZZFvdEH62f-tJAEgnJJSWIWigA05jnBegyKqz7O4sOIMYbCz5kSwCVTkb9LzlA8mHlZDwHYT3ybaPxfJ1vsuhrSe56S6KMKbA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District leaders proposed replacing end‑of‑life Chromebooks and upgrading interactive displays as part of the FY budget, estimating a $400,000 capital request that would be financed through a four‑year lease. Technology and instructional staff said the devices purchased during the pandemic are failing and replacement parts are increasingly unavailable.

“Right now, the Chromebooks are not in the best shape…we're kind of running out of bubblegum and duct tape to keep them together,” said a technology/administrative staff member. The staff member explained the district uses a capital lease (lease‑to‑own) so the $400,000 request is spread across multiple years; “the actual impact of the budget is closer to a little bit over $100,000,” she said.

Board members pressed whether the purchases deliver clear educational benefits. “Show me the educational outcomes that tech helps our kids learn better,” said a board member who questioned universal device provisioning and whether district purchases displace staffing. That member and others suggested technology purchases are a visible but potentially lower‑priority place to trim costs if necessary.

Principals and curriculum staff pushed back that technology is used selectively and for specific instructional purposes. Megan, the high school principal, said teachers use technology for creation and problem solving and that online textbooks can provide resources not available in print; Tina (curriculum staff) described a mixed model where some classes would keep a small number of physical texts in the classroom while providing online access for all students.

Other details staff provided: Chromebooks purchased at the start of the pandemic are at end of useful life; staff laptops are scheduled for replacement in FY27; smart displays targeted for the high school to replace aging projectors; and software purchases are aligned with curriculum but are reviewed annually for redundancy.

Next steps: the board scheduled a separate, detailed technology meeting to review the 6‑year technology plan, lease terms and evidence on instructional use before any final approval.","Board members and principals debated replacing aging student Chromebooks and smart displays, including a district explanation that a $400,000 purchase is leased over four years so the annual budget impact is roughly $100,000. Some board members questioned educational outcomes tied to classroom tech.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6393580,"Weston budget workshop: 4.75% proposed increase driven largely by rising health insurance costs",7036,125000,7161000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2106739-115ee0b7da024538f98b5225d64ce7c8&start=125&end=7161","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2106739-115ee0b7da024538f98b5225d64ce7c8/thumbnail_125000.jpg","/articles/6393580/Connecticut/Weston-budget-workshop-475-proposed-increase-driven-largely-by-rising-health-insurance-costs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6393580-ed144aa998f9c363da9413f163487704/orig.mp4?Expires=1770960503&Signature=fAhqip42sR8CX1-SGitWG-xty1mnS2nl4qTAQnqal0PCyEk5MX2JTglECmnbSgO6ELCs4b01YqaK5eQt-0iTG7BtkhvIxfSuhAuAa4RsAVdCJUs1c18-Th9tthrC0lQld4RsVZ6X7vrGUwVzdBt9hEh1kNtFOkwBJabjXZZZjrIf3z5CsjH49OAXt9cYv~NPHgu0hz9GdNsMQAOEp1M~2shvsUO8xnS~Sc2p0~vuMkxrElHVUtHg~u6NeOhLK9Ua~wwm3pXmGIByoY0m2ID95LIc8IModKNLuwwojMI7ZXzGDjeW6y5EyEoLQ~yeuynYpcDx61sD79NEtO9Rx0cRRw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a Weston School District budget workshop, board members and staff reviewed a proposed 4.75% increase in the district’s operating budget and identified rising health insurance claims as the primary driver of the increase.

District staff said the insurance carrier is paying materially more in claims and that the district is conservatively projecting a roughly 25% increase in costs tied to claims experience. “Our claims experience is significantly higher. I think we’re trending in excess of about between 25 [and] 35% of what our premiums have been,” said Phil, a district finance staff member. Phil said the district expects an initial premium increase notice from Cigna in January that will guide next steps and that returning to the state partnership plan would not necessarily be cheaper long term.

The discussion centered on how persistent those increases may be and how they intersect with contractual salary obligations. One board member noted the scale of the benefit cost: “This increase, let’s say, of approximately 1.9 million in the benefit section,” and asked whether that level of increase is likely to recur in fiscal years 2027–28. Phil said premium movement depends on claims cycles; the state plan’s current guidance indicated a double‑digit rise for districts that return.

Why it matters: board members said the combination of fixed costs for salaries and rapidly rising insurance premiums leaves few places to make meaningful cuts without reducing personnel. “If we’re going to start talking about reducing the number of employees… we have to look at it with a blank piece of paper,” said Steve, a board member. Several members said they wanted to minimize impacts on classroom services and extracurricular programs.

Board members asked for follow-up analyses showing the fiscal impact of changing class‑size guidelines and the effect of removing or reducing targeted nonpersonnel line items. Staff committed to delivering documents that break out class sections and staffing over a multi‑year horizon and to provide comparisons of certified and noncertified staffing counts for prior years.

Union bargaining and timing: Finance staff reminded the board that health benefits are a central element in upcoming union negotiations and that contract language can trigger reopeners if premium costs rise significantly. Phil said bargaining will affect any changes to carrier or plan design.

Other budget drivers: staff also flagged modest increases in utilities and noted that recent RFPs for cleaning, transportation and food service were the major upcoming contract items; most other services are handled in‑house. Staff said they are monitoring special education placements and out‑of‑district tuition, which can produce large, unpredictable cost swings tied to individual student needs.

Next steps: staff said they will return with detailed documents on class section projections, staffing trends, and clarified line items (consumables, equipment, utilities) to help the board weigh reductions vs. service impacts. The workshop ended with a voice vote to adjourn.

Ending: The board scheduled further, more detailed budget meetings (including dedicated technology and facilities sessions) as staff prepare the requested analyses for board review and bargaining preparations.","At a school board budget workshop, officials said a proposed 4.75% increase in the Weston School District budget is driven mainly by higher health insurance claims and contractual salary commitments, prompting discussion about staffing, curriculum costs and bargaining with unions.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Weston outlines curriculum rollouts, small intervention cuts and CIL schedule changes amid budget squeeze

Weston board debates $400,000 Chromebook and smart-display purchases as district tech plan collides with budget concerns

Weston budget workshop: 4.75% proposed increase driven largely by rising health insurance costs