Machine-extracted text of a publicly
posted document, provided for reference and search. The original document at
the link above is authoritative.
Colchester Public Schools
127 Norwich Avenue, Suite 202
Colchester, CT 06415
Daniel P. Sullivan, III Jessica L. Kuckel
Phone (860) 537-7208 Phone (860) 537-7268
Superintendent of Schools Assistant Superintendent
dsullivan@colchesterct.org jkuckel@colchesterct.org
February 10, 2026
Dear Members of the Colchester Community,
At last night’s Board of Education meeting, public discussion began regarding the proposed
education budget for the 2026–2027 fiscal year. My goal from the outset is to lead this
conversation with clarity, transparency, and a deep respect for our role as stewards of your tax
dollars. The proposed education budget increase is uncharacteristically high and while we are
still awaiting a few final figures, is projected to be north of 10%. In actual dollars, that is an
increase of over $5,000,000 from last year. I believe it is important to acknowledge that reality
upfront and clearly explain the factors driving this proposal.
This challenge is not driven by new programs, expanded staffing, or discretionary initiatives.
Instead, it is the result of the years-long practice of underfunding our health insurance fund to
combat rising education costs, combined with unprecedented volatility in health care costs. As a
self-insured district, we are susceptible to the same rising medical costs and premium hikes felt
by employers and households nationwide.
Over the past 18 months, an unusually high volume of medical claims, coupled with sharp
increases in stop-loss coverage, has materially impacted our health insurance reserve. In
practical terms, this budget is designed to do two things:
1. Meet our immediate legal and ethical obligations to provide contracted health benefits.
2. Restore our reserve to a sustainable level to prevent even more severe fiscal instability
in future years.
In preparing the upcoming budget proposal, District leadership has been scrutinizing every line
item to ensure efficiency without compromising our core mission: ensuring every student is
Connected, Accepted, and Ready to Learn. I’m confident the Board of Education will do the
same prior to adopting a 2026-2027 budget to bring to the Board of Finance for review. We are
actively exploring long-term structural solutions to manage these costs and reduce future
volatility.
While we must protect the privacy of individual health information, we remain committed to a
transparent dialogue regarding our overall fiscal strategy.
I invite you to join us as we work through these difficult decisions. Your voice is a vital part of
this process:
● Budget Presentation: February 18, 6:00 p.m. (Black Box Theater, WJJMS)
● Budget Workshops: February 23 & 26, 6:00 p.m. (Black Box Theater, WJJMS)
Thank you for your partnership and your continued investment in the success of Colchester’s
students.
Sincerely,
Daniel P. Sullivan III
Superintendent of Schools