Board of Finance - Minutes - 03/23/2026

FIFTEEN ROBE ee PHONE: 860-442-0553
WATBRFORSPCT 06885-2886 wwwwaterfordet.org
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Board déFinariee Monday, March 23, 2026
Budget Hearing Minutes Town Hall Auditorium 7:00 pm
Present: Chairman Glenn Patterson, Bill Sheehan, Michael Rocchetti (7:04pm), Ann Peabody, Joe Fitippetti,
Robert Tuneski, Jerry Fischer
Elected:
t Selectman Robert Brule; Deb Roselli Kelly, Chair Board of Education; Sue Driscoll, RTM.
Moderator; Danielle Steward-Gelinas, RTM Minority Leader, District 1; Marcia Benvenuti, Board
of Education Member; Laurie Wolfley, Board of Education Member
Staff: ‘Thomas Giard, Superintendent of Schools; Joseph Mancini, Director of Finance/Operations Board
of Education; Mark Geer, !T Board of Education; Heather Gaieski, Director of Special Services;
Rebecca Hall, Admin Assistant Finance Office/BOF Recording Secretary
1, _ Establishment of a quorum and call to order:
A quorum was established and the Budget Meeting of the Board of Finance was called to order at
‘on March 23, 2026.
2 Public Comment:
a. Helen Kwasniewski, Quaker Hill ~ Letter submitted by email (attached to these minutes)
b. Laurie Wolftey, BOE, 15 Anita Drive - Letter read at meeting (attached to these minutes)
An opening statement regarding the budget process was made by Glenn Patterson, Chairman.
Standing Motion: was made by Joseph Filippetti and seconded by Bill Sheehan to consider the budget
requests without individual motions for each series and department to expedite the meeting.
No vote taken; the standing motion was found not applicable to Board of Education budget considerations,
Motion by Bill Sheehan and seconded by Joseph Filippetti to consider the Board of Education budget.
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed
3, Board of Education Budget:
Motion by Bill Sheehan and seconded by Joseph Filippetti to reduce the Board of Education budget by
$129,000.
Vote: 7-0-0
Motion: Passed


Board of Finance Budget Minutes March 23, 2026
Page 2
Motion by Michael! Rocchetti and seconded by Robert Tuneski to reduce the Board of Education budget
by $330,000 from the (new) subtotal based on $129,000 reduction.
Vote: 4-3-0 NNO: Sheehan, Fischer Peabody Motion: Passed
Motion by Bill Sheehan and seconded by Robert Tuneski to move forward the FY26/27 Board of
Education revised budget request in the amount of $62,540,629,
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed
Adjournment:
Motion by Bill Sheehan and seconded by Robert Tuneski to adjourn the Budget Meeting of the Board of
Finance at 9:35pm.
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed
Respectively Submitted,
if Sheeh&f, Clerk ‘ Rebecca L. Hall, Secretary
Attachments: Public Comment Letter, Helen Kwasniewski
Public Comment Letter, Laurie Wolfley


BOF Hearing Budget
March 23, 2026
Helen Kwasniewski
BOE:
With enrollment down WHY is this budget request over 5% as well as
not downsizing staff like teachers and administrators.
We cannot keep funding increases that teachers that get stipend/slush
fund.
Also we all know that the BOE budget is extremely high due to past
boards keep approve there request. You members need to have a
backbone and vote NO either and send this budget back or cut there
request.
Remember you need to the right thing for ALL residents which includes
the senior citizen population and not for the department.
Thank you for your time.


Every year, the Board of Finance is seemingly dissatisfied with the goals
the Board of Ed sets for itself and asks for more specific and measurable
goals.
I'd like to point out that there is no one specific set of goals that the Board
of Ed can meet for every student, because each student's needs are
different.
I think this question originally stemmed from an employee of Electric
Boat, a company that uses goals and objectives to evaluate successful
job performance. When | worked at EB, | would be asked to set for
myself—and ultimately meet—a set of goals and objectives. We all had to
do that, and | think it was a reasonable practice: A submarine, after all, is
a compilation of very specific components that are built to precise,
minute specifications. Ultimately, the resulting submarine is expected to
be pretty much exactly like the others in its class. As we worked to design
and build its components, exactness was essential. When you have a
clear sense of the exact product, it's easy to set goals and objectives
designed to get you to that product, and then to measure your success
against those goals and objectives.
Unlike a submarine, however, all students are different, and when you
take into consideration the dramatic differences in their individual
components—their home life, their varying learning needs, their DNA, for
heaven's sake—you must come to acknowledge that no two kiddos are
alike, and so the goals educators set for students not only differ, but they
also change—sometimes dramatically—throughout a student's tenure in
our schools.
EB sets very detailed goals and objectives for its employees because it
makes sense to do so. It does not make sense, however, for the Board of
Ed to take a similar approach to its teaching and learning. There are
simply too many variables at play.
Laure f
hoolfle oped
1S Anita.


3/19/2026
WATERFORD PUBLIC SCHOOL
FY 27 Board of Education Approved Budget

3/19/2026
7 RFORD IN THE NEW
1
USA Waterford High revamps its culinary program
Se NS DAY CEREMONY ‘AT CLARK LANE MIDDLE SCHOOL
National Merit Scholarship
The Bay Electric Boat partnership gives Waterford students
real-world experience in advanced manufacturing
Excellence in Every School. In:
RETURN ON
AENT (ROD
Excellence i Every School. Uns} very Child.

3/19/2026
ALL K-12 PUBLIC SCHOO
STRICT:
‘Average PPE
Waterford

ROI
’ WATERFORD EXCELS...
* Well Above the State-Ay in Performance
_ DISTRICT REFERENCE
GROUPS (DRG) VARIABLE
+ Occupation
Excellence i Every School. Inspit
3/19/2026

_ DISTRICT GROUP D
26 DISTRICTS (2023)
lin + Newington
hel
t Haddam
infield
Hamden
edyard
lansf
* Milford
+ New Milford
Excellence i
~ DRG D TOWNS
Average PPE
Waterford
Average Index Seore
Excellence in Every School, Uspit Every Child,
3/19/2026

3/19/2026
PER
REDUCED LUNCH
OW US 6 ABOVE US

®@ PG vicsinss —@ cimeasaty
The town's overall Niche grade was listed as "A-" and it also
received an rade for its public schools and being
good for fumilies
Excellence in chool. Inspi Zvery Child.
3/19/2026

3/19/2026
2361 —— 234g—— 2366 — 2358,
— 2270
— 2254)
18:19, 2019-20. 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23. 2023-24
Excellence i Every School. Inspiring E
- TEN-YEAR TREND BY RACE/ETHNICITY « °
Excellence in Ever

3/19/2026
- MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS (ML)
130 — 388135.
LANGUAGES IN OUR SCHOOLS
2025-2026
Excellence in Every School.

3/19/2026
Excellence in Every School. Inspirin
10

2o\e:19) 2018120. 2oad-al 20aiv22\" 200223. zoaa28. 202425 202820)
Excellence y School. Inspirin; ild.
3/19/2026
1

WPS SCHOOL-BASED.
HEALTH CLINICS
1151 visits through 2/28/26
2025-2026 Year to Date Totals
Clark Lane Behavioral
Clark Lane Medical
Waterford Behavioral
Waterford Medical
to do th
Excellence in Every School. Inspii
3/19/2026
12

Excellence in
sry School. Inspiring Every Child.
Clobal Partners Grant
Tong Island Sound Gra
3/19/2026
Fund for Teachers
Pampered Chef
EeRate Progen
‘Mohegan Challenge Grast
gene O'Neil Theater
and for Teachers
‘UCONNMUS Navy Sex Perc
Tile W $26,156
State Bing! Grant
erin [saa
sory TOTE,
s1696r
31.200
ean Music Borcheeat
13

3/19/2026
FY21* ~ $82,500 é
FY.22* $72,500 *
FY 23 ~ $160,000
FY $175,000
FY25 $214,000
FY 26 $215,000:
= VEX
a7
ACCOMPLISHES
+ Respond to Current Conditions and Emer
+ Mecting emersing student /family neo
+ Emerging PY needs
Provide a High-Quality Education
+ Clear Articulated 6-12 Career Pathway
+ Adilress our Sinttegic Pur and Board Goal
Maintain Current Programs snd Offerin
Athleties and «Curricular
Maintitin Reasonable Chass Size
Provide Quality Professional Development
ain our Curricula Renewal Cyele
our Preventive Ma nee Pi
Excellence in Every School. Inspiring Every Child.
14

MAIN BUDGET
DRIVERS
POSSIBLE BUDG
ADJUST
3/19/2026
15

3/19/2026
ML ies, Certified
121 —‘Temporary tified
Excellence in Every School. Inspiring Every Child.
112~ Salaries, Support $449,328
119 Salaries, Other ($42,993)
122— Temporary Pay, Support $10,551
132 Overtime, Support $4570
TOTAL $420,456
for all Supp
122.6 132 = Based on trend fa
2.0 Part al on Newt
IP Sys initrator
Excellence in Ev ‘hoot. Ins;
16

212 Health Insurarice $1,028,432
21S/219—Life Insurance @LTD ($8,604)
220 — FICA, Employer's Contribution $46,483
260
290 — Unused Sick Leave i $64,163
291 — Retirement Incentive $9,000
TOTAL $1,131,706
Excellence in Every School, Inspiring Every Child.
- CONTRACTED
ERVICES
321 ~ Instructional Service - Contéacted, $0
322 — Professional Development $4,500
323 — Curriculum Development $5,000
330 — Other Prof/Technical Services $12,765
351 Legal Servieee $ 20800
TOTAL $42,265
nflation sad Usage Tre
al Filweation Nee
aad Upecnnig Ul
Excellence in Every School. Insp Every Child,
3/19/2026
17

TATION
510 Transportation, Pupil $145,427
(621 ~ Transportation Supplies (322,199)
TOTAL $123,228
520 - Fire/Property Insurance $5,346
521 — Liability Insurance $5,409
529 — Other Insurance 30
TOTAL $10,755
+ Rate Drivew
Excellence in Every School, Inspiri
3/19/2026
18

531 Postage
S40 Advertsing ($500)
TOTAL $ 4,970
Excellence in Every School. Insp very Child.
1
> TUITION
($156,707)
$340,009
Excellence in E
3/19/2026
19

~ OTHER PURCHAS
SERVI
cam Sacre
580 ~ Travel and Conferences $10,548
590 — Other Purchased Services $17,557
TOTAL . $19,881
= Contractual Rate Increase on Athletien Travel
+580 = Trend on Us “1 » Attend Workshops
+590 — Trend and R
sry Child.
»_ INSTRUC
+ SUPPLIES
‘4d~ Rentals $1,500
G11 — Instructional Supplies $7,050
$103,640
“TOTAL $112,190
In
Repl
Excellence in Every School. Inspiring Every Child.
3/19/2026
20

- OPERATION & MAINTENAN'
OF BUILDINGS
‘$10.~ Water Service $4,635,
4D Sewer Service (38,011)
430 Maintenance & Repair $85,459
613 Maintenance Supplies c= $9,250
620 Fuel 1 30
621— Bleotriciny $213,573,
622—Navora
623 Propane (33,465)
TOTAL. $209,604
Excellence in Every School. Inspiring Eve
BOOKS/LIBRARY
BOOKS/OTHER SUPPLIES
‘641 = Textbooks $24,500
(642 - Library Books and Periodicals _ (3174)
{690 = Other SuppliewMateriale (37,140)
TOTAL $1686
+ G11 Trend aul Market Priee
Minor Increase to Supy
+ G90— Appros. S10K
Excellence in Every School. Inspiring Every Child.
3/19/2026
21

3/19/2026
730—Equipment ($8,196)
TOTAL ($8,196)
School
jnnp. Pole Vault, Jump
ant Replacemeat
rent in Career Pa
xcellence in Every School. Inspiring Every Child.
(8)
TOTAL (#8)
Excellence iv Every School, Inspiri ery Child,
22

MAIN BUDG
DRIV
Salary &
Compensation
y Child.
WATERI
+ Well Above the State-Average in Perform
bily Above State- Average in Spend in:
3/19/2026
23

3/19/2026
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS
GENERAL DYNAMICS
Electric Boat
| @ Waterford UCONN
CONNECTICUT |WATERFORD
Oars library A
O Seay ei
Bsa IUCFS N
FRUNDRAGKE —Uiectamnnty ry sone on)
a
Effective School,
fetitone LvE UTED. PP oominion
Excellence i I ery Child.
PRIDE IN OUR STUDENT
COMMUNITY
Excellence in Every School. Insp Every Child.
24

Excellence iv £1
3/19/2026
25