05/22/2026
Please find a communication from the Board of Education Communications Committee regarding budget clarifications below.
This is also posted on our website here: https://www.hebron.k12.ct.us/common/pages/GetFile.ashx?key=XAy9AR7y
What will music and band look like at Hebron Public Schools moving forward?
1 full-time teacher at Gilead Hill School
1 full-time teacher and 1 part-time teacher at Hebron Elementary School
Chorus in Grades 4-6
Band in Grades 4-6
Pullout lessons for band in groups averaging 5-6 students
Grade K-6 weekly music class
Music enrichment/stipends are expected to continue for: Hawkapella, Jazz Band, Marching Band, and 6th Grade Musical
What is the impact to the music program?
Chorus will begin in 4th grade
Music teachers will no longer be able to assist with classroom coverage
If the budget fails and more reductions are required, what cuts are under consideration?
Administration would be asked to bring forward potential reductions that have the least impact on students
Eliminate the part-time music position at HES
Eliminate the Challenge/Enrichment program
Eliminate a 6th grade classroom teacher
What would be the impact of these additional cuts?
Music: Many years ago, HES had only one music teacher for music, band, and chorus. This reduction would require a redesign of these programs
Challenge/Enrichment: This will impact ALL students at HES as this position teaches engineering lessons to all students in all of the grades at HES
Grade 6: This will increase class sizes from 18.4 to 23
All of these listed above have been under consideration since January
What does the administration restructure look like?
One principal will oversee both schools and support each assistant principal
One assistant principal at each school will be responsible for daily operations
The Superintendent and Director of Educational Services will be taking on additional responsibilities that directly support students and staff in both buildings
Will the Board revisit any of the reductions made previously?
There is no intention to do so. Many of the reductions considered have been discussed since January. The Board feels that the reductions made on May 14th are responsive to the outcomes of the last referendum and have the least impact on student programming.
Why not make cuts to central office personnel?
We have worked hard to find efficiencies in the central office over the years. Previous audit findings included the need to establish appropriate separation of duties. Changes to central office staffing over the last several years include:
2019-2020: Replaced the Finance Manager position with a certified Business Manager. This change helped identify a payroll tax error that occurred over multiple years and we were able to recover $150,000 for the district and $150,000 for impacted employees. This is an example of the costly errors that can occur without the appropriate personnel.
2020-2021: Added a part-time human resource support position.
2023-2024: Eliminated a part-time office assistant position.
2024-2025: Restructured technology and facilities positions which reduced district personnel costs.
2026-2027: Reduced AP/Payroll support position from full-time to part-time.
2026-2027: Added a temporary (1 year) 10 hour per week position to modernize our student information system for communication and safety improvements.
Has the district explored regionalization?
A committee was formed in 2021 by our current Board Chair to explore regionalized shared services. We remain open to further conversations. It requires strategic planning, State Department of Education approval, and, most importantly, partner district approval. The process would take at minimum 2-3 years.
