As the annual town meeting approaches on April 29, followed by a town-wide referendum vote slated for May 7, Easton residents are preparing to discuss and vote on proposed budgets for the 2024-2025 fiscal year.
The annual budgets include the 2024-2025 proposals for both the Easton Board of Education, which oversees Samuel Staples Elementary School and Helen Keller Middle School, and the Region 9 Board of Education, which oversees Joel Barlow High School. Collectively, these budgets outline strategic investments and allocations to enhance facilities, staffing and overall teaching and learning for Easton students attending public schools.
The budget proposal process has included significant community involvement through public meetings and discussion forums, and through letters and emails from residents sent to members of the respective boards.
Jason McKinnon, school superintendent, and Susan Scrofani, ER9 director of finance, operations and technology, issued a joint statement about the school budgets:
“The 2024-25 operating budgets are the result of joint efforts between the Boards of Education and Central Office Administrators. These budgets reflect our community’s values and strategic objectives.
“The Easton Board of Education’s budget is tailored to meet the changing educational needs of our students and to provide our teachers and staff with the resources they need to excel. This budget prioritizes investments in our teaching staff and paraeducators, key components that contribute to a supportive educational environment.
“The Region 9 budget is designed to enhance both teaching quality and our educational offerings. It supports the expansion of advanced placement courses, specialized STEM programs, and vibrant arts and athletics departments, ensuring our students receive a comprehensive and competitive education.
“Our school districts are a cornerstone of the Easton community, enhancing the lives and well-being of our children by providing exceptional academic instruction, fostering creativity, and encouraging lifelong learning. We are grateful for the community’s support and look forward to discussing our carefully considered budget proposals at the upcoming referendum. For more detailed information on how these budgets support our students, please visit our budget websites.”
Readers can access detailed information about the respective budgets on the Easton Budget Website and the Region 9 Budget Website.
Samuel Staples and Helen Keller
The Easton Board of Education has proposed a 4.94% increase in its budget for the 2024-2025 academic year, aiming to respond to rising student enrollment and to further integrate technology and special education enhancements. The proposed budget, totaling $19,518,807, reflects the district’s ongoing efforts to adapt to both growing demands and evolving educational standards.
The budget increase of $918,857 over the previous year is part of a broader strategy to strengthen Easton’s educational offerings, particularly in areas such as computer science, engineering, and advanced placement courses.
Key proposals include the introduction of over 500 computer science lessons by grade 7, expanding access to Algebra I in 8th grade, and broader participation in extracurricular activities. Significant budget allocations include $500,000 for the increase in the Easton teachers’ contract, reflecting a 7% increase; $360,247 to fund non-certified staff, an increase of 15.3%, and significant funds directed toward special education and transportation needs.
The budget also addresses specific needs within special education, proposing an increase in spending by 9.2% to support enhanced services, including the addition of new staff positions and the expansion of instructional and technological resources. This aligns with the district’s strategic plan, which emphasizes inclusive education and equitable access to learning opportunities.
At a Special Town Meeting held on March 25, Easton residents already approved a special appropriation of $600,000 from the town’s unassigned fund balance to cover the budget shortfall for the current fiscal year due in large part to increased needs for special education and associated staffing challenges.
Significant investments are slated for infrastructure improvements, including the expansion of facilities to support the enhanced STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) curriculum and updates to the physical and technological infrastructure of schools. The budget also includes funds for the maintenance and expansion of school buildings to ensure they remain safe and conducive to current educational needs.
Grant funding plays a crucial role in the proposed budget, with Title I through IV and IDEA Part B grants supporting multilingual learner assistance, professional development, and specialized instructional materials. The budget includes funding for professional learning for instructional leaders and materials to support academic interventions in math, reading, and writing.
Joel Barlow High School
The budget proposal from the Region 9 Board for Joel Barlow High School totals $25,407,041, up 2.4% from the previous year with a $595,674 increase. The budget reflects a strategic reduction in staff by three full-time equivalents in subjects like math, social studies and Latin, reallocating those resources towards other priority areas.
The impact of the Region 9 budget changes will differ between Easton and Redding, reflecting their respective shares of the total budget apportionment based on total student enrollment from each town. Easton’s contribution is set to increase by 1.23%, while Redding will see a more significant 3.74% increase.
The proposal highlights an $85,000 initiative to transform a classroom into a high-tech manufacturing space, featuring advanced computer numerical control (CNC) machines and 3D printers, enhancing the hands-on learning environment. Another $75,000 is earmarked for the initial planning and design of a STEM Academy, envisioned to commence construction in summer 2025. This initiative aligns with a long-term strategic plan to solidify Barlow’s position as a leader in science and technology education.
The budget also addresses staff restructuring to improve learning outcomes, including the reduction of non-certified staff positions and adjustments in special education to better meet student needs.
“Once again, our low budget increase is something all taxpayers can support,” said Todd Johnston, Region 9 Board of Education chair. “The budget includes reductions to match our declining enrollment and is aligned with our three-year strategic plan, which includes funds to modernize our STEM curriculum and facilities.”
The budget presentations from the Easton Board of Education and Region 9 Board of Education can be downloaded from the Town of Easton website using the following links:
- Current Easton Board of Education Proposed Budget: https://www.eastonct.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif3071/f/pages/board_of_education_proposed_budget_2024-2025.pdf
- Current Region 9 Board of Education Proposed Budget: https://www.eastonct.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif3071/f/pages/region_9_board_of_education_budget_2024-2025.pdf.
