Vernon Education Budget For 2026-27 Proposed At $62.16 Million

VERNON, CT — Vernon Superintendent of Schools Joseph Macary Monday presented a proposed education system budget of $62.16 million for the 2026-27 fiscal year.

The bottom line is $62,160,271, a number that represents an increase of 2.88 percent, or $1,740,701.

Macary termed the budget a "balanced" one that "invests in students" and presents an "academic return on investment."

No teacher layoffs are planned, though there is some positional give-and-take based on retirements, enrollment and "needs," he said.

Major determining factors include "inflation to salaries and wages," state funding sources and an increased cost for supplies, he said.

"I think this is a very good balance between town resources and what we need for education," Macary said. "Anything under 3 percent in this day and age is good. This is a competitive budget."

Salaries are increasing by $427,392 to $36,890,910. Benefits are proposed at $10,114,819, an increase of $385,206. Capital outlay is proposed at $1,108,869, an increase of $53,752. The professional and technical services line item is proposed at $4,029,896, an increase of $2,100,502.

The seemingly large tech increase is offset by the "other purchased services" line item of $6,073,416, a decrease of $1,350,595. Macary said it is mostly an accounting move.

Retirements include:

• Science, special education and physical education and health teachers at Rockville High School
• Music and art teachers and a counselor at Vernon Center Middle School
• A Grade 4 teacher at Center Rod School
• A Grade 1 teacher at Skinner Road School

Faculty and staff shuffling includes:

• RHS: Adding a career counselor
• VCMS: Eliminating a TLC teacher
• Center Road School: Adding one classroom teacher
• Lake Street School: No staffing changes
• Maple Street School: Eliminating one classroom teacher
• Northeast School: No staff changes
• Skinner Road: Adding one classroom teacher

Interscholastic athletic programs designated for new informs include RHS track and field; girls and boys basketball, girls tennis, baseball. softball and girls volleyball; and VCMS cross country and track.

Three new assistant coaches are proposed for RHS.

More funding is proposed for the The band at VCMS and music instruction at the school.

The Grade 5 Boston trip is being continued and a new Washington DC trip is being proposed for eighth-graders. The Bermuda trip at VCMS is staying, but it is funded mostly by student contributions and a scholarship.