Each year the development of the school budget offers our community an opportunity to reflect on something important: what we value most for the children of Granby.
A school budget is more than a collection of numbers on a page. It represents our collective priorities as a town, our commitment to strong academics, safe and welcoming learning environments, dedicated teachers and opportunities that prepare our students for the future.
The budget process begins with our district’s mission and goals. Granby’s “Vision of a Graduate” emphasizes developing resourceful learners, effective communicators and positive contributors to the community. Each budget decision supports programs, staffing and services that help students achieve those outcomes.
Our schools continue to demonstrate the strength of that vision. Over the past year, at Kelly Lane Primary School, enhanced literacy instruction and increased collaboration among teachers helped 90 percent of kindergarten students perform at or above benchmark in spring reading assessments. At Granby Memorial Middle School, sixth-grade math proficiency reached its highest level since 2019, and students are increasingly taking ownership of their learning through new, student-led conferences. Granby Memorial High School ranked #17 among Connecticut high schools on the U.S. News Best High Schools list, and 93 percent of Advanced Placement test takers earned scores of 3 or higher—the highest percentage in GMHS history.
These accomplishments reflect the dedication of our students, educators and families. They also highlight why careful investments in schools matter.
The 2027 proposed budget is $40,916,434, a 3.8 percent increase over the 2026 budget. It is one of the lowest BOE increases in five years and among the lowest increase percentages across neighboring school districts. Arriving at this budget required balancing educational priorities with fiscal realities. The largest drivers include contractual staffing costs and the increasing needs of students, particularly in special education services. Schools must also maintain essential operations such as technology systems, transportation and building maintenance—services that allow classrooms to function effectively every day.
An important focus for the BOE is expanding in-district special education programming. Initiatives such as the BEAR Transition Academy and other specialized programs allow students to receive services within their home district whenever possible. These programs not only support students and families but can also generate tuition revenue when neighboring districts enroll students, helping offset overall costs to Granby taxpayers. This year, our BEAR program saved taxpayers more than $700,000.
Maintaining safe, functional school facilities is another important investment. Our small facilities team manages everything from daily custodial services to building maintenance and event support, while also completing smaller construction and renovation projects in-house. This approach has already produced a cost savings of over $140,000 on projects such as renovations to the Wells Road courtyard gazebo, upgrades to locker rooms at the high school and the creation of new space for specialized student programs.
The modest budget put forward this year is reflective of our shared belief that strong schools strengthen the entire community. The board of education remains committed to transparency, thoughtful planning and responsible stewardship of taxpayer resources.
We encourage residents to stay engaged, attend budget discussions, and learn more about how these decisions support the students and families of Granby. For a detailed look at the proposed 2027–28 proposed budget, go to granby.k12.ct.us/article/2745486