This budget season, our Board of Education made difficult decisions in adopting a $42 million spending plan that included eliminating certified and non-certified positions, reducing classroom and related resources, and exhausting our non-lapsing reserve fund.

It’s the harsh reality that grips not only Suffield, but every district in the state – as administrators scramble to do more with less in the face of skyrocketing fiscal pressures that are exacerbated by soaring special education costs.

Now, more than ever, we need our state legislature and governor to work together to fulfill their fiscal and moral obligation to students who receive special education services. Districts across our state, including Suffield, need immediate and lasting special education funding reform.

As lawmakers continue exploring options for such reform, they do so knowing that the financial burdens felt by districts not only impact special education services, but also the ability of districts to maintain essential programs and resources for the entire student population. Districts like Suffield often have no choice but to make cuts to be mindful of the impact of an escalating property tax burden on residents.

In recent years, the state’s surplus has grown to a staggering $4.6 billion, yet state reimbursement for special education has dropped while student needs have sharply increased. Budgeting for special education is challenging due to the formula used for excess cost reimbursement and the unpredictability of students with various needs moving into town after budgets have been adopted.

The state has long promised greater special education reimbursement, but has consistently failed to deliver. Rather than broken promises, districts like Suffield need reliable and predictable solutions.

We urge lawmakers to consider the following options to bring relief to districts across the state.

1) Fully fund the Excess Cost Grant: This grant is designed to reimburse districts for special education expenses above an established threshold, but has not been fully funded since 2009. Recently, reimbursements for districts such as Suffield have been further scaled back.

While a $40 million rescue package brought much needed relief earlier this legislative session, the amount brought Suffield’s excess cost reimbursement rate from 62% to 75%, leaving town taxpayers to close the $407,000 gap.

2) Address high costs of outplacement programs: The cost of out-of-district placements continues to escalate for a number of reasons, including that such programs are increasingly run by private investors.

Districts stand to save substantial amounts of money if they could service high-needs students closer to home. Grants to help offset the high cost of developing and launching local programs and capping expenses for districts that utilize private programs are desperately needed.

3) Address costs associated with mid-year transfers: Costs for students who transfer into districts mid-year can be significant and challenging to absorb into already adopted budgets. Districts need relief from these unexpected and unpredictable expenses.

In Suffield, we are proud to offer opportunities to students of all needs. So are districts across the state. However, we cannot continue to bear the burden of the state’s fiscal shortfalls.

Now is the time for our state legislature and governor to fulfill their obligation to our state’s most vulnerable students. Implementing special education funding reform will be a crucial step in helping districts like Suffield stop painful cuts, enhance academic outcomes, and position each and every student to reach their full potential.

Suffield Board of Education members include Chair Maureen Sattan, Vice Chair Melissa Finnigan, Secretary Debra Dudack, Brian Fry, James Mol, Gianna Rossi, Michael Sepko, Gregory Sparzo and Sam Toskin.