Stonington -- Superintendent of Schools Van Riley told a school board subcommittee Monday that he expects the school system will return at least $350,000 in savings from the current budget to the town’s general fund.

Riley also told members of the Finance and Facilities subcommittee during a virtual meeting that he expects that number to grow in the coming weeks as more savings are found.

Town and school officials are trying to find places to save money in both the current budget that ends June 30 and the proposed 2020-21 budget to offset the expected decrease in tax revenue come July 1 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition, the school board has said it will cut its proposed 2020-21 budget so it shows no increase over the current budget.

Riley said the school system is only purchasing items needed to get schools ready for the fall, is delaying spending on any projects and is not buying items with the end of year surplus.

“We’re doing as much as we can to return as much as possible to the town,” he said.

The school system will also examine its leases to possibly postpone payments for a few months, will investigate whether it can refinance its school construction bonds and is negotiating with its school bus provider on savings because buses are not running.

The school system has not furloughed or laid off any employees and has no intention to do so.

Riley explained to the committee what school employees, other than teachers involved in virtual learning with their students, are doing with schools closed.

He said food service workers have been producing thousands of meals each week for residents who have been economically impacted by the virus while custodians and maintenance workers are not only cleaning the schools but Town Hall, the police station, volunteer firehouses and locations such as the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center and the Stonington Community Center.

Secretaries have been working from home processing payroll and purchase orders and registering students. Paraprofessionals have undergone training and are now assisting teachers and administrators.

“You can be very proud of what are folks are doing,” he told the committee, adding later that, “everyone is doing their job and more as we get used to this new way of operating. Our staff has really stepped up.”