The following is a reply from RSD 17 Board of Education Chairperson Heath Pach to a Letter to the Editor from Robert Tobey of Killingworth, “Asking for Answers from the RSD 17 Board of Education,” which was published on the HK-Now.com website on June 14, 2026. The views stated here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the editors of this newspaper. We welcome supporting or opposing views on any published item. Received June 18, 2026.
Mr. Tobey, Thank you so much for reaching out and allowing us to offer answers to the questions that you have and I am sure others have as well. Thank you also for offering to spread the word with your friends and neighbors as we work to pass a budget.
- Mill Rate:
Although not one of your original questions, I would like to share the updated mill rate information to clarify what you included in your letter. Although Killingworth’s mill rate has increased, it has not risen by 10%, and it is not solely due to the school budget.
- The Killingworth mill rate has gone up 2.25 mills to 28.47.
- The Haddam mill rate decreased by 9.37 mills, from 34.35 to 24.98, for this year.
- Although the education budget is a significant portion of the overall town budget, other factors also affect these mill rate adjustments. The board of finance in each community could give you more information about what went into their decision. But I have attached here the public minutes of the Killingworth Board of Finance meeting and the press release shared by the Haddam Board of Finance
2. Ten-Year Headcount Comparison: To understand historical staffing trends, please provide a detailed chart comparing employee headcounts by department from the 2016/2017 school year to the current proposed budget. Please break this down by individual school and position type, including, among many others, certified teachers, support staff, maintenance, monitors, athletics, and administration (including secretaries and executive roles). I am not interested in salaries, just headcount.
In all honesty, this information is challenging for us to compile for you in exactly the way that you are asking but we have been working on creating a uniform system for this moving forward. Since June of 2015, we have had four superintendents and two interim superintendents. We have had three special education directors and six finance directors. There have been different ways of reporting this information. At times, this information was reported as actual employees and this does not account for positions that may have been unfilled. At other times, this information was reported as FTEs (full time equivalencies), which is actually the more accurate way to report this information. These are the actual positions that have been planned for and budgeted for for a school year, whether they are filled at that moment or not. Information can be gathered and reported from the EdSight website but this information is a snapshot based on one day in the fall and again varies from year to year based on what was reported, what positions they included in certain categories and it does not include if there are vacancies. For example, bus drivers and aides have been added in under “Other staff providing non-instructional services/support.” Additionally, the EdSight website does not indicate when the State has required additional information than the previous year.
FY 26 Staffing Plan w/Projections
3. Medical Benefit Cost Increases:
-
- What factors caused this significant discrepancy?
In July 2023, the district joined a regional, self-insured insurance cooperative (ECHMC). In recent years, total claims have exceeded member premiums, reducing reserves. The anticipated rate increase for the upcoming fiscal year is approximately 15%, and the projected increase over the current year’s estimated expense is approximately $1,060,000. Proposed staffing reductions reduce this impact by approximately $125,000.
- Why such a significant difference from the town?
The school district and the two towns do not have the same insurance plans.
- Please outline the bidding, negotiation, and renewal process for the district’s insurance provider.
While the ECHMC is actively working on mitigating factors for moving forward (possibly changing structure), the District is also considering future options.
- Transportation Costs: Could you provide a breakdown of the specific factors behind this surge, such as fuel adjustments, new routes, capital purchases, or labor contract changes?
The district’s contract with Student Transportation of America (STA) expires on June 30, 2026. An RFP was issued in November of 2025, seeking bid proposals from qualified bus transportation companies for student transportation services for the students of Region 17 (Haddam/Killingworth) Public Schools. After an extensive bidding process and evaluation of alternatives, STA remained the lowest bidder and was awarded the new contract. The daily rate per in-town bus increased approximately 45%. This rate also applies to the Middletown technical and agricultural science routes. The increase for current routes totals approximately $1,235,575.
In May 2025, STA drivers unionized and reached a new collective bargaining agreement (with STA) that includes significant wage and minimum hour increases. This increase affected bids received from STA and other vendors. In addition, STA stated the increase was due to an increase in fuel, maintenance and cost of living etc.
The district continues to explore routing efficiencies to reduce the number of vehicles where feasible. Out-of-district special education transportation remains contracted separately, with increases consistent with other service contracts. On April 30, 2026, RSD 17 posted an RFP seeking qualified firms to conduct an efficiency study of its existing regular education bus routes. The scope of work included: the contractor conducting a comprehensive efficiency study of the current regular education bus routes, evaluating existing routes, identifying inefficiencies, and providing recommendations for improvement. The RFP outlined that the study should encompass all aspects of the transportation system used for regular education students within the district.
Through processes to identify efficiencies the District has already reduced the Type 1 bus by 2. We have also reduced one van.
- Assistant Superintendent Role: Please clarify the specific operational duties and responsibilities assigned to the Assistant Superintendent position. How does this role prevent duplication of duties within the central office administration, and what is the strategic necessity for maintaining this position?
The Assistant Superintendent serves a vital role in ensuring continued improvement across both schools and central office operations. This role significantly reduces district liabilities and manages the highly regulated Human Resources function, an increasingly complex field with new legislative requirements each year. The district’s nearly 400 employees rely on this office for certifications, benefits, leave management, and staffing support amid a challenging labor market. In addition, the Assistant Superintendent provides critical oversight of Human Resources, Policy, Curriculum, and daily district functions. They lead the policy work and related implementation, which requires expertise, timely oversight, and strong communication. Additionally, the Assistant Superintendent, as an experienced educator, brings the expertise and flexibility to step into various roles as needed, providing essential stability and leadership to a small district. This role helps enable the Superintendent to focus on policy, legislation, community engagement, and board relations. The Assistant Superintendent is essential to the district’s effective operation. The list below is not an exhaustive list but rather an indication of the extent of responsibilities throughout the running of a complex regional school district. Super and Assistant Super Comparison
- District Audit Availability: Has the audit been finalized and filed with the state? If the filing is delayed, what is the cause of the delay, and will the district incur any state-mandated late fees?
The Region 17 audit has been delayed due to the turnover in District staff and the effort to meet the expectations of a new auditor appointed in the final month of the year ending June 2025. The audit firm, CLA, is one of the most respected in the Connecticut education/municipal accounting field. The current Interim Director of Finance (and Operations) began work the last week of July 2025. This was the sixth person in this position since January 2020. Accounting department support staff also suffered related stress, leading to an added loss of institutional knowledge. A planned temporary outsourcing of support staff has stretched into year 3. The District has some external expertise working alongside current staff to meet audit requirements. There will be no financial penalty for the audit delay.
- Black Mold Problem: A member of the District implied online that there is a black mold problem at Burr Elementary School, which she said is visible during a walk-through of the school. This, if true, could lead to significant health problems for the students and staff there. What is being done to remediate this supposed problem? I saw nothing in the budget to address this.
There is no known black mold at Burr Elementary. If a community member has seen something concerning, please have them reach out to the Superintendent’s Office at 860-345-4534.
- Contingency Plans:
- What are the plans if the budget is not passed by the start of school?
After July 1, the District would provide the education services necessary to meet student needs during the extended school year (ESY) period beginning July 1. Contractual obligations will be met as per the agreements in effect. Year round employees and those covering ESY would be employed and paid. New hires would be limited to those needed for the start of the next school year. The first payroll for teachers is August 27, 2026. The District would only make purchases critically necessary for a safe and orderly school start in late August.
Additionally, the board is required to call a district meeting no sooner than one week and no later than four weeks after the rejection to consider the same or an amended budget. The board must follow this process until the budget is approved. It is important to note that each referendum costs taxpayers. It is our understanding that each referendum costs each town approximately $5,000-$7,000.
- Isn’t there a reserve available that could be used until the budget is passed?
The Reserve for Educational Expenditures fund is established, funded, and used under Public Act No. 24-45, subsection 8, codified in the State Statutes as 10-51d(2). The Statute is effective for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024. The Statute allows Regional School Districts to create a Reserve Fund for Educational Expenditures (replacing the previous fund reserve for capital nonrecurring expenditures). RSD17’s use of this fund is in accordance with State Statutes, and educational expenditures include operating and capital purposes.
Our board policy stipulates that, “A portion of the fund shall be designated as a ‘contingency fund’ for unanticipated and emergency expenditures. The policy will be to maintain 1.00% of the net operating budget designated for this purpose. The balance of the fund will be used for capital purposes (vs operating) as defined in the policy.”
While this reserve fund could be used for some operational expenses in the short term until the budget is passed, it is important to note the two main reasons this “reserve” was not simply applied to the gross operating budget to bring that number down.
- The first reason is that this would be an artificial reduction in the gross operating budget. The cost we put forth is the cost that is necessary to run the district. If we took money from the reserves to reduce it, these costs will not disappear and next year the cost will look like an even bigger jump. In essence, this is just “kicking the can down the road.”
- The second reason is that our schools need work. The reserve fund is not surplus money sitting idle – it is a critical tool that allows the district to responsibly maintain its facilities, plan for the future, and respond when the unexpected occurs. The District invested in a facilities assessment that was completed in November 2021. Tecton Architects identified a budgetary need of over $37.6 million of immediate and “next year” fixes, most of which remain unaddressed. Construction cost inflation over the intervening years has run at the rate of 40 to 45%, to over $50 million of needed facility improvements. The Education Reserve fund is diminutive in comparison to the facility needs. However, we can commit to fixing this going forward. The Board is moving forward with a HKHS Building Renovation Project Referendum this fall which will address the most pressing needs with favorable reimbursement rates from the state to lower the cost to the local taxpayer. Additionally, we have made a commitment to fund the reserve fund yearly and the creation of a detailed capital plan for the other needs is currently ongoing.
In summary, while utilizing the reserve fund for short-term operational expenses is legally possible, it is not a sustainable solution. Doing so would prioritize immediate relief at the expense of necessary capital improvements for our aging facilities. It is not in the best interest of the district or the community to artificially reduce the operating budget, as this would only defer costs, creating significant funding gaps in future years and undermining our long-term educational goals.
Thank you again for giving us the opportunity to answer your questions and share the most up to date information. Additionally, we recognize that it is late notice because the process moves quickly, but we are offering a community forum with the Superintendent and several members of the board. There is one Saturday, June 20, 2026 at the Old Town Hall in Haddam from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., and another to be held in the All Purpose room at Killingworth Elementary School on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. If there are people you know who have questions or would like to share thoughts, please encourage them to join us.
Heather E. Pach, RSD17 BOE Chairperson
