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Groton School District committee meeting, Sep 22, 2026

1 h 58 min · 0 public speakers

This board doesn’t post agenda times. Click a board member to jump to where they first speak; we list only members whose voice our check named. Video length 1 h 58 min.

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What happened

What happened at this meeting

Groton finance committee reviews $3,023,431.71 in budget transfers headed to full board 19:55

  • A district finance staff member reported a preliminary, unaudited surplus of $408,107.15 and said budget transfers totaling $3,023,431.71 should go to the board on Monday for approval. 3:53
  • The committee discussed whether budget-season meetings should be held as committee of the whole meetings or special meetings, and Jennifer White said the topic would return to the agenda, possibly retitled as recess versus adjournment. 32:17
  • A facilities staff member said the district needs to replace a van for its plumber and a pickup truck with a plow, and a staff member gave prices of $111,000 for the truck and about $58,000 for the van. 49:52
  • Staff also discussed rebidding a school roof project after receiving no quotes, and a staff member suggested a January 15th bid date. 1:41:51

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Item by item (11)
  1. Call to order and minutes 2:28
    • The Finance and Facilities Committee special meeting was called to order, and the presiding speaker said a quorum was present. 2:28
    • The presiding speaker said the minutes under review would stand as documented with no changes. 2:28
  2. Year-to-date financials and grants 3:53
    • A finance staff member reported an unaudited surplus of $408,107.15 and said entries with the town were still being made. 3:53
    • A staff member said the original substitute budget was $900,000 and spending was over $2 million, and said substitute costs include coverage for teacher and paraprofessional absences and leaves. 7:52
    • A staff member said three small ARPA grants could be spent through September 30th. 15:58
  3. Budget transfers 18:43
    • A finance staff member said the true-up and small transfers totaled $3,023,431.71 and would be brought to the board on Monday for approval. 19:55
    • A participant asked for a one-page summary by major account, and the staff member said a cover page could be added. 21:43
    • One board member said they were okay with the transfers. ~24:09
  4. Major contracts for renewal 24:19
    • A finance staff member listed garbage removal at $80,000 a year, East River Energy at $200K a year and Mystic Landscaping at $185,000 a year. 24:19
    • The staff member said copiers are on a rotating replacement schedule and the district has never gone out to bid for copiers. 25:17
    • The staff member said three quotes could be sought to check pricing against the market instead of going out to bid. 31:36
  5. Budget meeting format 32:00
    • Jennifer White said a fellow board member asked whether committee of the whole meetings would be more appropriate than special meetings for the budget process, with votes taken as each topic is discussed. 32:17
    • A finance staff member said budget work should start earlier and that salaries should be done by December. 37:11
    • Jennifer White said the item would go back on the agenda and might be retitled recess versus adjournment. 43:13
  6. Vehicle assets and replacement needs 47:12
    • A finance staff member said the district has 3 vehicles that are not roadworthy. 47:40
    • A facilities staff member said the district needs a van for the plumber and a pickup truck with a plow to open schools after snow. 49:52
    • A staff member gave prices of $111,000 for the truck and about $58,000 for the van through the state contract. 58:07
  7. Food services grants 1:02:17
    • A food services staff member described a $4,500 grant used for produce bags and a petting zoo event for Connecticut Grown for Connecticut Kids Week. 1:03:03
    • The staff member said a $100,000 Kendall Foundation grant paid for a freezer, hand sinks, raised beds and staffing costs. 1:04:51
    • The staff member said a new $100,000 USDA grant will fund cooking programs for students and families and equipment. 1:08:05
  8. Free and reduced lunch applications 1:21:37
    • A food services staff member said about 120 applications remained to be processed before the October 1st deadline. 1:22:09
    • A staff member said 68 families at one school had not completed an online or paper application, and paper applications would be sent home in students' backpacks. 1:24:41
    • A participant suggested adding a QR code to the paper form, and the staff member said it would be added to the note. 1:26:53
  9. Facilities updates and EV chargers 1:35:53
    • A facilities staff member said the robotics program had moved in and electrical and air conditioning work remained for the shop space. 1:36:08
    • The staff member said EV charging stations cost between $1,200 and $2,600 to repair each time and are off until repaired. 1:38:42
  10. School roof rebid 1:41:51
    • A facilities staff member said the roof project must be rebid after no quotes were received. 1:41:51
    • A participant said the funds expire on June 27th, and the staff member suggested a January 15th bid date. 1:42:10
    • A staff member said the architect must provide a new estimate and the town council must approve or extend the money. 1:47:02
  11. Item 1:49:42
    • A speaker said the October agenda would include budget administration needs, lessons learned and the roofing update. 1:50:26
    • Jay Weitlauf said there were open questions from the Milliman Actuarial Report and asked for information on fuel and electricity contracts. 1:52:31

Written by software from the meeting's transcript and checked sentence by sentence against it.

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Video: posted by the district as “9-22-26 Groton Board of Education Finance/Facilities Committee Meeting”