[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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],{"_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",6646978,"mediaKeyId","2525928-f71c90bc88dce8a65240a197765dccb5","parentId",2525928,"title","Bristol Board of Education approves school calendars, healthy‑food certification and several curriculum updates","audioSeconds",187,"startMs",3226000,"endMs",3413000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2525928-f71c90bc88dce8a65240a197765dccb5&start=3226&end=3413","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2525928-f71c90bc88dce8a65240a197765dccb5/thumbnail_3226000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6646978/Connecticut/Bristol-Board-of-Education-approves-school-calendars-healthyfood-certification-and-several-curriculum-updates","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6646978-2c390a8a1d45666ebcbd2e53b8ddd62a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771189443&Signature=IB-wZ9zqVR9yxdkpH04W4pgL~QG23QcpgqsUxh0RlHElUWnoQyDMxSLWR3TJnof5FG5xeSJIR-R6qY55C8FgA1kmOjEhJPbRthouNNsRjTmbxPR4HWI3WlRps-WvYvzx6ITkk7fZfbcTyKts8qlsTu~VfL9zUEH~5-sFaOYaFFQDXgVYW8bcfQRrPhdy94MfcZFIVL4Kj8il1NlA6xbXZAPDGObYRR-3szwYAtMUvg8WWvq0-DCpZfNvIB7XbXEZ3SySaxA4ZKH1Qobd8OdQEbsSJTGpDgUnLkh20loiEy-5oK1IFhaBpgQgS4OFiR6Ozkopq9ClDrFAjJFzw9QK5g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Bristol School District","date","2025-03-07T18:22:29.44Z","article","At its March 5 meeting the Bristol Board of Education approved several routine and policy items, including the district’s healthy‑food certification for the 2025–26 school year, exceptions for certain food-and-beverage sales at after-school events, preliminary school calendars for 2025–26 and 2026–27 and a group of curriculum revisions.

Votes at a glance
- Healthy‑food certification (Connecticut General Statute 10‑215f): approved by voice vote. The certification affirms that food sold to students will comply with the Connecticut Nutrition Standards for 07/01/2025–06/30/2026, except where statutorily or board‑defined exemptions apply.
- Food-and‑beverage exemptions for after‑school and weekend events: approved by voice vote. The board allowed sales of items that do not meet the Connecticut Nutrition Standards if sales occur in connection with events that take place after the regular school day (or on weekends), at the event location, and not from vending machines or school stores.
- Preliminary calendars for school years 2025–26 and 2026–27: approved with Veterans Day included; board members discussed additional committee review before any final changes.
- Curriculum approvals: the board approved revised Introduction to Journalism (elective), the K–5 social studies revision and a revised precalculus academic curriculum. All three passed on voice votes.
- Consent agenda and minutes: the board approved the consent agenda (items 7.1a–7.1b) and multiple sets of meeting minutes by voice vote.

What the board discussed beyond votes
Student representatives and school reports: Student representatives Abigail Wasta (Bristol Central High School) and Payton Schrom (Bristol Eastern High School) delivered school reports highlighting college acceptances, world-language exchanges, athletic seasons and student activities. Board members thanked both students and commended district schools for Read Across America activities and community partnerships.

Precalculus textbook first reading: Teachers recommended the Blitzer Precalculus (7th edition, Pearson, 2022) as the highest‑rated option after committee review; the board received first‑reading materials and cost estimates for 100 student copies and multi‑year online access (estimated annual cost for the initial purchase with six years of online access: $26,716.86 including shipping). No adoption vote was taken — the item will return for final approval.

Energy-efficiency lighting project: Facilities staff presented an informational packet from a vendor describing a districtwide LED lighting upgrade financed through an Eversource program. Staff said the estimated payback is roughly 4–5 years under the vendor’s model; financing options discussed included 0% interest and energy-bill-based repayment structures. The item was informational; no contract or vote occurred. Board members were advised an RFP process would follow if the board elects to move forward.

Special-education enrollment and related operational notes: Board member Amy Martino presented special-education enrollment figures: as of Feb. 1 the district had 1,818 students identified for special education (22.55% of the total enrollment cited). The report listed roughly 101 students in private out-of-district placements and 87 in public out-of-district placements (including magnet placements); district staff also reported higher-than-expected new special-education registrations in January.

Procedural notes: Several routine items, including minutes and the consent agenda, were approved by voice vote during the meeting. Public comment for the meeting was closed with no submitted statements read.

What’s next: The board directed staff to prepare materials and scenario analyses related to the district budget and CLA audit findings ahead of finance committee and Board of Finance meetings. Curriculum and textbook items scheduled for second readings (such as the precalculus textbook adoption) will return on future agendas for a final vote.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","03-05-25 Regular Board of Education Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","At its March 5 meeting the Bristol Board of Education approved several routine and policy items, including the district’s healthy‑food certification for 2025–26, exceptions for certain food-and-beverage sales at after-school events, preliminary school calendars for 2025–26 and 2026–27 and several curriculum revisions.","taxTitle","Bristol School District, School Districts, Connecticut","taxId",38310,"location","Connecticut","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6646981,"Audit: Rising special-education costs and tuition spikes are straining Bristol Public Schools budget",0,5999000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2525928-f71c90bc88dce8a65240a197765dccb5&start=5999&end=5999","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2525928-f71c90bc88dce8a65240a197765dccb5/thumbnail_5999000.jpg","/articles/6646981/Connecticut/Audit-Rising-special-education-costs-and-tuition-spikes-are-straining-Bristol-Public-Schools-budget","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6646981-cb4eb14f5f527d06e8684edf88bf840f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771189443&Signature=A~Dzl7q22r2Dj~5NrbviNWPuzL16rC1lWXEJOGtG013cOG3reezinqZGS9K0LPOOASctPAfxdgeMASpM231fb2rx9VuGF6XQwsyeWp-cYl6zPxDlA~mVnDpDcwAD7NoIpu39O0YajCNilJ2WzyoH11GzZkE1UotLZ-lm~fNV1zO-FeZ-BoWlcgFy8Te7yYdPCjLdxhRnbFmmBIArDviuV-4lzoTV1LrH8tKq6YmgNQrXPgcHIKGxZveMSK2G3Y5oZnmeZYCnFdQraLBSIjQoisZj7UOSXUvHMVWkOY-cMCbBdfBvO4zwzM2s~NHhHXu2blG-A~iTcopYqsz5p3H4qw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA) auditors told the Bristol Board of Education on March 5 that a combination of rising outplacement tuition, growing professional-services costs and lower state reimbursement rates have produced recurring special-education budget shortfalls that are now stressing the district’s fiscal picture.

The board heard a high-level overview of CLA’s financial assessment for Bristol Public Schools covering fiscal years 2022–24 and an explanation of recommendations CLA says would improve budget controls and transparency. CLA analysts told the board that special-education costs have grown far faster than overall budgets in recent years and that tuition and provider rates have risen in the mid-teens percentage range year-over-year.

Why it matters: Special-education spending is a large and growing portion of the district’s outlays. Board members were told that without additional city funding and changes to budgeting and purchasing processes, the Board of Education will likely face decisions that reduce staffing or other services to balance the fiscal year 2026 request.

CLA’s findings presented to the board and district staff highlighted several drivers of budget overages: initial special-education budgets that were too low relative to actual need; outplacement tuition increases reported at roughly 14–16% in recent years; rising professional-services fees for occupational therapy, physical therapy and similar services; and a decline in the district’s effective state reimbursement rate compared with historic levels. CLA said Bristol’s reimbursement rate is closer to about 64% in recent years rather than the 74–79% districts once expected, increasing net local costs.

CLA also identified several discrete one-time and policy-related cost increases. The auditors reported approximately 50 new special-education students in fiscal 2024 who required out-of-district placements, which CLA estimated added about $1.2 million to that year’s costs. The firm said an unfunded state change to extend special-education service eligibility to students up to age 22 (effective July 2023) produced an additional estimated cost to Bristol of approximately $611,000.

District officials and Board Chair Ponce told the board they expect the Board of Finance to consider supplemental funding requests; at a March 4 meeting with city finance leaders the Board of Finance chair indicated a tentative willingness to consider increases that would cover a forecasted $6.6 million increase for special education and an additional $1.2 million in alliance funding, a combined $7.8 million over the previously approved budget, the board was told. Superintendent White and central-office staff said they will prepare scenarios illustrating the impacts of different budget reductions — for example a $5 million versus $6 million reduction — for upcoming finance committee discussion and for the Board of Finance meeting on March 19.

CLA recommendations presented to the board focused on internal controls and operational changes the auditors said could reduce unexpected costs and improve transparency: confirm rate ranges in outplacement contracts or budget for the high end of likely rates; streamline purchasing approvals and consider dollar thresholds; allow district finance staff to close purchase orders rather than relying exclusively on city staff; digitize accounts-payable workflows to reduce paper-intensive manual processes; adopt and configure position-control features in the district financial system to manage positions and hiring against budgeted positions; centralize tuition and special-education cost management within the business office; and increase regular, structured communication between district and city finance teams.

CLA presenters at the meeting included Jeff Cipla and Aaron Perillo; Lindsay (Lindsey) Intreary delivered parts of the special-education and tuition analysis. CliftonLarsonAllen was contracted by the city’s Board of Finance last fall to review Bristol Public Schools’ administrative and financial processes and to analyze budget variances for recent fiscal years.

Board members pressed CLA and district staff on the scope of the audit and on whether the review considered potential redundancies in positions between the city and the district; CLA said the engagement focused on financial processes and controls and did not include a review of overlapping personnel assignments between city and district offices. Board members asked for follow-up and clarification on specific counts and line-item reconciliations.

District next steps recorded at the meeting include the central office preparing two or more budget-reduction scenarios and providing those to board members in advance of committee and full-board deliberations; CLA said it would provide an overview of the audit findings that the board can use as a roadmap to identify both immediate and longer-term steps to address the projected fiscal pressure.

The presentation did not include a formal board vote; CLA’s report and the district’s requested scenarios are to be used in upcoming finance committee discussions and at the March 19 Board of Finance meeting.","CliftonLarsonAllen auditors told the Bristol Board of Education on March 5 that special-education tuition, professional services and lower-than-expected state reimbursements are the primary drivers of recent budget overages; the district and central office will prepare budget-cut scenarios ahead of a March 19 Board of Finance meeting.","actionData","errors"]

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Bristol Board of Education approves school calendars, healthy‑food certification and several curriculum updates

Audit: Rising special-education costs and tuition spikes are straining Bristol Public Schools budget