The Granby Board of Education is currently focused on adopting the 2026–2027 school year budget. Because our schools represent approximately 70 percent of the town’s overall budget, we recognize that every financial decision directly impacts our taxpayers. That responsibility guides our work.
This year’s budget reflects a careful balance: maintaining strong educational programming while responding to declining enrollment, rising special education needs, and continued economic pressures.
The high-quality faculty and staff are our most important asset. Salaries and benefits account for approximately 73 percent of the BOE budget. In response to declining enrollment, the district has streamlined staffing through attrition, reorganization and strategic reassignment of positions. In FY26, six full-time teacher positions were eliminated and again in the proposed FY27 budget we have identified a reduction of two and a half full-time positions.
While total student enrollment has decreased slightly, the number of students requiring special education services continues to rise. This is a trend seen across Connecticut and nationwide. These growing and increasingly complex needs require thoughtful planning and responsible investment to position the district to best serve students while keeping costs down.
Special education is the second largest area of expenditure in our budget. By law, we must meet the needs of every identified student. When those needs cannot be met in-district, we are required to place students in specialized out-of-district programs. Each outplacement costs the district an average of $110,000 per student annually, not including transportation.
Recognizing both the financial and educational impact of outplacements, Granby Public Schools has taken a proactive and innovative approach to develop in-district programs that better serve students while controlling long-term costs. The BEAR Program is one such example. BEAR provides job and life skills education for students ages 18-22. The program has already demonstrated success by improving outcomes for students while reducing costly placements. Just one year of BEAR saves approximately $500,000 compared to outplacement costs for the students the program serves.
Building on that success, the district recently piloted the Granby Alternative Program (GAP). GAP provides a structured, supportive learning environment for students who benefit from non-traditional settings due to school expulsion, behavioral or mental health needs. In addition to serving Granby students, the program has the potential to accept out-of-district students on a tuition basis, generating revenue that directly offsets special education costs.
These programs represent smart, forward-thinking investments. Educating students within our district is significantly less expensive than outplacement and allows children to remain connected to their home community. While growing these programs requires careful planning and some upfront investment, they position Granby for long-term financial sustainability.
After extensive review, the BOE is proposing a modest 3.8 percent increase for FY27. This proposal reflects rising special education costs and contractual commitments while continuing to invest in innovative in-district solutions that reduce future financial pressure.
We understand the economic realities facing our community. We serve not only as board members, but also as taxpayers and parents. Our goal is clear: to ensure that Granby remains a district known for academic excellence, fiscal responsibility and proactive leadership.
We encourage residents to review the detailed budget materials on our district website (granby.k12.ct.us) and participate in upcoming discussions. Together, we can continue building a school system that serves students well while respecting the investment of our entire community.