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Schools

Board of Education Seeing Red, But State Grant Will Bring It Back In Black

School board discusses finances at Monday's meeting.

The Vernon Board of Education learned on Monday night that its budget is showing up in the red, but money from the state’s Special Education Excess Cost Grant will bring the district back to black numbers.

The board met at Rockville High School.

Stanley Karasinski, the school system’s Director of business and finance, provided a financial report to the board that showed the district is $762,706 over its budget. He reported to the board that there are still items being encumbered. The fiscal year ends June 30 for the district.

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But Superintendent of Schools Mary Conway explained to the board that monies have been received from the state special education excess cost reimbursement at 77.82 percent, and those funds will put $975,306 back into the district.

An adjustment from the prior year totals $30,773, so the district should receive $944,533, Conway said. The remaining surplus will be $181,827.

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Board of Education Treasurer George Apel explained that the district is over budget because of pupil contracted van and lift-bus transportation ($215,802), tuition costs for services purchased through other programs ($478,903), and tuition for non-public school placements ($334,380) for special education students.

“These add up to over one million dollars” Apel pointed out. “I don’t think I want to divide that by nine and write the check.” 

When the district prepares its budget, it does so based on “what the net is going to be,” Apel said. He also defended the school system’s fiscal practices.  

“There is a lot of talk that we are spending money like drunken sailors,” Apel said. “I can assure you we are not.”

Conway suggested that the board make a request from the Town Council to sign the excess cost grant monies of $944,533 over to the district so it can cover its expenses.  She explained that the district would itemize where the money would go so the council knows specifically where the budget shortfalls are.

Apel made the motion for the request to be made to the council and Vicky Rispoli seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

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