Norwich — The Board of Education struggled with budget realities and the unknown impact of the COVID-19 virus during its the first internet-based virtual meeting on Monday night.

When it was over, the board voted unanimously to approve a proposed 2020-21 budget that calls for a $4.5 million or 5.5% increase. 

Superintendent Kristen Stringfellow’s original $88 million budget plan had called for retaining current programs along with adding three reading teachers and several other positions and programs. It required a 9.11% increase over the current $81 million budget.

After an hour of discussion Monday, the board approved member Mark Kulos’ recommendation for an $85.5 million budget.

Board members called it a “good compromise” and hope City Manager John Salomone and the City Council will recognize that the school budget needs support to end an ongoing battle with year-end budget deficits. Stringfellow has calculated that with a 5.5% increase in 2020-21 and 4% in the succeeding budget would end the need for dipping into the city’s surplus fund in three years.

Before the COVID0-19 crisis, the current year’s budget was projected to end with a $1.1 million deficit. School Business Administrator Athena Nagel told the board Monday that it is too soon to tell whether the prolonged closure would end up saving money by reducing staffing and consumption of materials and resources, or would end up costing more with increased costs for distance learning and the potential increase in costs for supplies.

“(A) 5.5% (increase) is a reasonable amount that the Board of Education can propose to the council,” board Vice Chairman Kevin Saythany said. “I’m trying to see it from their point of view. It’s sort of in the middle. We’re not asking for the complete 9.11 percent, and we’re not asking for less that would jeopardize the quality of education. I think this is a good call. We’ll have to see what the city manager does with it.”

If the budget process is not delayed by the COVID-19 virus disruption of in-person public meetings, Salomone is scheduled to present his proposed budget to the City Council on Monday, April 6.

Board members were concerned that the overall increase in tuition and special education costs for Norwich Free Academy is up by $1.5 million, a 6.6% increase. Board member Aaron “Al” Daniels originally had wanted to match the Norwich budget increase with the NFA total, so the school system’s kindergarten through eighth-grade program would not suffer the entirety of any city-ordered budget cut.

Nagel said at a 5.5% budget increase, the K-8 program would receive an increase of $2.9 million.

“I think we can make that work,” Daniels said. He pointed out that at the start of this school year, the budget deficit was projected at well over $2 million, and school administrators managed to cut it in half.

“I think this is the fairest of the proposals,” board member Christine Distasio said. She said she was confident the board could find savings in Stringfellow’s proposed budget total.

Board member Patricia Staley agreed the budget approved Monday is a “reasonable compromise,” but said the board must be prepared for cuts from the city.

“I can support it as long as we agree this is step one,” Staley said. “If the city comes back with a cut, then we need to be prepared to make some cuts, because we cannot continue to rely on deficit funding.”

c.bessette@theday.com