Cheshire Board of Education and its state legislative delegation.

 This meeting, held on January 22nd at 6:30 PM, served as a legislative breakfast/dialogue between the Cheshire Board of Education and its state legislative delegation. 

The primary focus was the intersection of state policy and local school district costs.## Financial Concerns & ECS Funding Superintendent Dr. Solan presented a historical overview of the Educational Cost Sharing (ECS) grant.

Revenue Stagnation: In 1987-88, state revenue covered 33% of the Cheshire school budget ($7 million). Today, despite a budget of approximately $101 million, that same revenue source covers less than 10%.

Cost Drivers: The district is struggling with "skyrocketing" costs in medical benefits and special education outplacements.

Efficiency: Dr. Solan noted that Cheshire ranks roughly 120th out of 165 Connecticut school systems in per-pupil spending, arguing the district is already lean and needs more state support.

## Special Education & Mandate Relief 

There was significant discussion regarding the "broken" system of special education funding.

Excess Cost Reimbursement: Members noted that state and federal (IDEA) funding has never reached the promised levels.

Outplacement Costs: Concerns were raised that private providers often increase rates significantly (sometimes by $40,000 in a year) without warning, essentially absorbing any small increases in state grants.

Unfunded Mandates: Senator Rob Sampson highlighted that there are roughly 1,400 unfunded mandates on Connecticut towns. The Board requested relief from "egregious or useless" mandates, such as the requirement for annual repeat viewings of certain safety videos for veteran staff.

## The "Elevation of the Profession" The Board discussed the growing difficulty in recruiting and retaining teachers.

Teacher "Poaching": Smaller or urban districts (like Waterbury) are losing staff to more affluent districts, creating a cycle that hurts students with the most socioeconomic needs.

Economic Barriers: High costs of living in Connecticut make it difficult to attract young educators who can no longer afford to live in the state on a starting salary

.## School Meal Debt & Guidelines Dr. Solan highlighted a growing issue with the National School Lunch Program.

Debt Accrual: Last year, the district ended with $28,000 in unpaid meal debt; they are already $10,000 in the hole for the current year.

Qualification Gap: A family of four must earn less than $41,795 to qualify for free meals, which the Board argued is not a "living wage" in a high-cost town like Cheshire.

## Political Discourse The meeting ended with a pointed exchange regarding political responsibility: 

The Republican Perspective: Senator Sampson and others argued that because the majority party has controlled the state budget for decades, the current funding formulas are their responsibility. They emphasized a need to focus on affordability (taxes/electric rates) rather than just "feeding the beast" with more spending. 

The Board/Majority Perspective: Board members emphasized that education should be non-partisan and urged for a "united front" to lobby the federal delegation for better funding of programs like Perkins (career/technical education).

### Summary Table of Key Issues

Issue Current Status in Cheshire Proposed/Requested Action ECS Funding Flat for 35 years; now <10% of budget. Increase state share to reflect modern costs. Special Ed Costs rising faster than reimbursements. Fix "outplacement" rate spikes; fund IDEA. Teacher Hire Hiring experienced staff from other towns. Elevate profession; address cost of living. School Meals$10k debt mid-year; low eligibility bar. Adjust income guidelines for inflation/CT life.