Middletown — The Middletown School District financial report on Tuesday showed a modest operating surplus for May and significant encumbrances reserved for specific projects, while facilities staff outlined several major summer projects and ongoing building needs.

Natalie Forbes, executive director of finance, told the board the May financial statement showed a surplus “of just over $200,000,” an improvement from the prior month. She emphasized the encumbrance column, which the business office shows at about $3.8 million — funds that schools and departments have set aside for contracts and purchase orders that will be carried through the fiscal year end.

Forbes said some deficit balances remain in special education transportation, out‑of‑district tuition and contracted professional services (for example, temporary social workers and psychologists used to fill vacancies). The board approved transfers totaling $54,872 for this month and a separate transfer package described during the meeting to support the Kegwin School handrail renovation project, where the district will use general funds as a local match (33.93% of the project cost) after a Common Council resolution.

Facilities director Marco Gaylord described planned summer work: Snow School roof replacement, Farm Hill solar installation and multiple high‑school repairs including pool refurbishment, handrail and diving‑board refinishing. Gaylord also reported emergency repairs completed this spring after a long pipe burst at Farm Hill and said crews were preparing for a busy summer schedule.

Board members praised facilities and finance staff for coordinating transitions tied to the Kegwin project, including moving McDonough students into Kegwin temporarily. Gaylord and Forbes said they had coordinated with the city and the business office to manage logistics and budgets.

Superintendent Vasquez Matos added a late update: the Common Council passed a city budget that includes a $2.3 million reduction to the Board of Education allocation. He said the district would need to evaluate the implications and return to the board with options.

No emergency action was taken beyond the routine approvals of monthly transfers; staff said they will provide updated budget scenarios after reviewing the council reduction.