WETHERSFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS

2025-26 BUDGET PRESENTATION

SUPERINTENDENT PROPOSAL

​

FEBRUARY 1^ST, 2025

2025-26 BUDGET SUMMARY

• Total Superintendent Proposal of $68,488,399

​

• Increase of 5.47% ($3,550,596)

​

• Salaries and Benefits comprise 82.04% ($56,190,399) of total request, almost identical to the 82.06% in 2024-25

​

• Non-salary accounts comprise 17.96% ($12,298,000) of total request, almost identical to the 17.94% in 2024-25

2025-26 NEEDS INCLUDED

• EL Supervisor ($150,182)
• 125% increase in EL Learners over last decade
• PreK Expansion ($150,000)
• Two WFT positions based on increased enrollment/needs
• WHS Social Worker ($69,293)
• Grant funded position, federal award expiring
• WHS ACAP Stipends ($40,000)
• Students remain in the community, cost avoidance of contracted tuition
• Elementary Security ($187,500)
• Five new positions, one per elementary school

2025-26 NEEDS INCLUDED

• Three Math Interventionists ($333,840)
• Partial restore positions eliminated with loss of federal funding
• SDMS In School Suspension ($38,095)
• Manage conflicts and behavior issues
• One new Social Worker position ($75,000)
• Support continued mental health crisis and behavioral issues
• One new Special Education teacher position ($75,000)
• Manage increasing caseloads across the district

​

2025-26 BUDGET FACTORS - SALARIES

• Salaries are increasing 6.29% ($2,650,757); 74.66% of total budget increase

​

• Teacher salaries are increasing 5.56% ($1,668,529) based on contractual obligations with current staffing levels and inclusion of the following: WHS After School Credit Program stipends; WHS SW position as grant funding expires; expansion of PreK program with two new positions; restoring three math interventionist positions; adding one new Social Worker; adding one new SPED teacher. Excluded, YOY Teacher increase would be 3.09% ($925,396)

​

• Paraeducator salaries are increasing 8.44% ($247,699) due to budgetary introduction of SDMS ISS position ($38,095); reconciliation of additional hours and wages for recess aides ($37,500), based on historical actuals exceeding the annual budget; to align classroom Paraeducators hours and rates to new contractual terms. Reviewing 23-24 actual expenditures ($2,895,640) and compounding 3.25% for two consecutive years provides reasonable assurance for the increased budget (excluding the additions).

​

​

2025-26 BUDGET FACTORS - BENEFITS

• Benefits are increasing 2.24% ($249,449); 7.02% of total budget increase

​

• Defined Benefit, OPEB and Medicare Part B obligations have not been adjusted from 2024-25 budgetary amounts as WPS is awaiting confirmation from the Town Finance Department for accurate figures.

​

• Health Insurance is increasing 2.23% ($154,162) based on a 6% premium increase for current employees with elected coverage and the projected cost share. There is the potential for a reduction to the premium percentage in subsequent months, based on claim trending; however, there is the possibility of an increase, if the aggregate employee/employer contributions are not sufficient to cover projected claims in the next fiscal year.

​

​

​

​

2025-26 BUDGET FACTORS – OTHER

• Pupil Services is increasing 12.82% ($50,000) due to contracted specialists providing services to students throughout all schools. This increase will reflect the needs of the district and align with prior year actuals and current year projections

​

• Aggregate Transportation costs are increasing an approximate 3%, which is defined by contractual terms, along with a slightly greater increase for outplacement routes, based on projected student enrollment and school placement

​

• Licenses and Subscriptions are increasing 8.86% ($74,300) due to marginal vendor cost increases to dozens of existing subscriptions throughout the district and the inclusion of Agile Mind curriculum software ($35,000). Exclusion of this new item presents a YOY increase of only 4.68% to cover the inflationary projections

​

​

​

​

2025-26 BUDGET FACTORS – OTHER

• Aggregate Tuition (Magnet, Outplacement, VoAg) is increasing $225,000 due to projected enrollment, including an increase in the number of students receiving specialized services and the related service hours

​

• Instructional Supplies are increasing 12.69% ($54,600) to adequately fund building, department and program supply deficiencies and to account for general inflationary increase in the cost of goods. Total Instructional Supplies throughout the district account for only .71% of the proposed operating budget

​

• Instructional Equipment is increasing 1,328.57% ($46,500) due to the inclusion of replacement musical instruments throughout the district, as many items have reached the end of their useful life ($25,000) along with the budgetary introduction of audiological equipment purchases for certain students ($20,000). The latter has been an unbudgeted expenditure variance for the past two consecutive fiscal years and will now be accurately reflected for the 2025-26 fiscal year.

​

​

​

HISTORICAL BUDGET INCREASES

ECS ENTITLEMENTS - TOWN

2025-26 DISTRICT COMPARISON

DRG D

• Berlin 7.40%
• Branford 6.81%
• East Hampton 7.30%
• East Lyme 6.99%
• Milford 4.87%
• North Haven 6.99%
• Southington 6.60%

OTHERS

• Avon (B) 4.51%
• Cheshire (B) 7.09%
• Coventry (E) 5.27%
• Hebron (C) 5.75%
• Meriden (H) 6.70%
• Plainville (F) 4.75%
• Westbrook (E) 4.61%

​