Superintendent’s Recommended Budget for FY 2026-27 to the Norwalk Board of Education

A Message from Dr. Alexandra Estrella, Superintendent of Norwalk Public Schools

Superintendent’s Recommended Budget for FY 2026-27 to the Norwalk Board of Education

As we enter this year’s budget development season, our focus is firmly on the academic growth of our students. Our scholars are achieving at higher levels in core subjects, consistently surpassing state performance on multiple measures of academic achievement and showing steady gains in meeting and exceeding grade-level expectations. These outcomes are reinforced by improved attendance and stronger engagement in learning, supported by a decline in behavioral incidents as students benefit from targeted social and emotional support. 

At the heart of this progress is the daily work of our teachers and staff, whose commitment to rigorous, well-planned instruction is helping more students master challenging content and graduate prepared for college, careers and life.

Sustaining this momentum requires stable, predictable resources. Each budget season brings serious challenges. This year, we face uncertainty around critical federal grants that support literacy, special education and other essential services, along with significant pressure on the local budget. These strains understandably create anxiety about programs and positions and make it harder for educators and staff to stay fully focused on what matters most: teaching and supporting the children of Norwalk, who are the future of our community. If we want to honor their hard work and keep our schools moving forward, we must maintain the resources that have fueled our recent success so we can keep our attention firmly on students and their learning.

At the same time, the needs in our schools are growing. We must navigate increasing demands such as the growing identification of students requiring special education services, the expansion of Pre-K programming, the addition of the next grade level at South Norwalk Elementary School, and rising operational costs, along with contractual obligations for salaries and benefits. Ensuring that every student continues to receive free meals throughout the school year also remains a top priority.

With these realities in mind, my team and I present the FY 2026-27 Superintendent’s Recommended General Fund Operating Budget of $263,148,792 an increase of 6.5% from last year’s budget which included the $4.5 million appropriated to the BOE by the city in June 2025.

This proposal represents a thoughtful and responsible balance between sustaining our momentum and meeting the financial needs of a district determined to provide every student with the strongest path to success. After last year’s budget process, we absorbed significant reductions in staff and student supports, which left us operating at levels that the City’s own Efficiency Study had already identified as insufficient. Those cuts mean we are now even further below the resources that study deemed necessary in 2022. For that reason, this recommended budget does not ask to expand programs. It is designed simply to maintain what we currently have and to meet our contractual obligations for salaries, benefits, and essential services, so we do not fall even further behind.

Maintain FY 2025–26 Funding for Reinstated Positions

This recommendation includes the $4.5 million in local funding appropriated last year, which enabled the district to maintain 53.5 positions that had been at risk of elimination. These roles remain essential to providing our scholars with a well-rounded education that nurtures creativity, supports exploration, and sustains strong academic foundations.

Last year’s amended budget brought the FY 2025–26 Board of Education Operating Budget General Fund to $247,194,758. This adjustment resulted in a 5.9 percent year-over-year increase. Additionally the district also received a one-time allocation of $2 million for health insurance costs, this funding was appropriately directly to the Health Insurance Fund. 

People Make Up the Majority of the Budget

A school district cannot operate effectively or efficiently without a dedicated team of professionals who support students academically, emotionally, physically, and socially. Teachers, administrators, paraprofessionals, counselors, social workers, nurses, food service workers, security staff, custodians, and many others all play indispensable roles in ensuring that schools function and students thrive.

For this reason, salaries and benefits will always account for the majority of the operating budget. The FY 2026-27 recommended budget reflects a $15.9 million increase year-over-year, 71% of which is driven by salaries and benefits.

Every year, nearly 85 percent of our budget goes directly into classroom and school-based services that benefit students and support families. Our families have made it clear that reductions to school staff or student-facing positions are unacceptable. Our skilled educators and support staff are non-negotiable, and we will need all of them to meet the growing needs of our student population.

Special Education Identification and Service Costs Increasing

Staffing needs are especially evident in our Special Education population, where the number of students requiring specialized services continues to increase. Even with flat student enrollment overall, the rapid growth of high-needs students in the district, which is outpacing the state rate, increases the demand for staffing, services, and funding. Meeting these needs will require additional staffing, as current levels may no longer be sufficient to support students effectively.

Both in-district and out-of-district programming costs are rising, with limited supplemental funding available at the local level. This makes the current threat to federal grants particularly concerning, as these funds play a vital role in supporting specialized services and ensuring we can maintain a diverse range of programs. Our goal is to keep scholars in our district whenever possible, and providing high-quality specialized programs allows us to do that.

School and Program Expansions

We are excited about the continued growth of South Norwalk Elementary School as we add another grade level next year. The addition of the fourth grade team, along with paraeducators and other essential staff, will help bring this new school closer to full capacity.

We are also planning to expand full-day Pre-K options at Wolfpit Integrated Arts School and South Norwalk Elementary School through the SMART START grant. Early childhood education is one of the most powerful predictors of long-term academic success, and expanding these opportunities allows us to meet scholars’ needs earlier and better prepare them for kindergarten.

Increasing Costs for Services and Additional Financial Responsibilities

Beginning this year, the Norwalk Board of Education will assume responsibility for liability, auto, and property insurance costs that were previously paid by the city. In addition, the district will be increasing contribution rates for employee 401(a) plans for 5% to 6%. This is keeping in line with actions the city took to do the same for city employees on the 401(a) plan. 

Service providers and vendors across many sectors are also increasing their rates, similar to cost escalations seen in special education services. These increases must be reflected in the budget to maintain continuity of operations and essential supports for students.

Keeping School Meals Free for All Students

Norwalk Public Schools continues to participate in the Community Eligibility Provision, which allows us to offer free breakfast and lunch to all students regardless of socioeconomic status. Thanks to a generous donation, we have been able to extend this commitment.

For FY 2026-27, NPS anticipates a food services deficit of approximately $2.3 million. Like many districts in Connecticut, Norwalk’s food program operates at a loss because federal reimbursements do not fully cover the cost of meals, staffing, and rising food prices. The recommended budget includes a $2.3 million transfer from the General Fund to the Food Services Fund. We are also pursuing operational efficiencies and strategies to increase participation to reduce deficits going forward.

Since first offering free meals during the pandemic, we have seen growing participation across all schools, and the benefits are clear. Students who are well-nourished are more focused, more engaged in learning, and guaranteed at least two healthy meals each school day.

Being Fiscally Responsible While Addressing Financial Realities

Norwalk Public Schools enters each budget season mindful of our community and the taxpayers who contribute so much of their hard-earned money to support our school system. We are deeply appreciative of every dollar appropriated by the City of Norwalk and grateful to those who continue to advocate at the state and federal levels for additional funding that benefits our scholars.

We actively pursue federal, state, and private grant opportunities, and we collaborate with local nonprofit organizations, foundations, and businesses to secure in-kind resources such as supplies, mentoring and enrichment programs, and volunteer support. These partnerships are incredibly valuable, but they cannot replace the core operating funds required to maintain high-quality programs and services for our students. Ensuring these essential resources remain in place is what allows us to sustain the progress and momentum our students and staff are demonstrating every day.