Norwalk Superintendent, Board Of Education Release Statements On City's Budget Recommendation

NORWALK, CT — The Norwalk Board of Education and Superintendent of Schools Alexandra Estrella both released statements this week in response to the city's recommended FY 2026–2027 operating budget.

Both statements were released following Mayor Barbara Smyth's presentation of the city's recommended operating budget Monday night.

According to Estrella's statement, she and board members learned Monday the city's recommended budget includes a 4 percent increase for the Norwalk Board of Education.

"While we appreciate the city's acknowledgment of the needs of our schools, the proposed increase falls short of the 6.5 percent requested by the Board of Education," Estrella's statement reads.

The Board of Education similarly said members were encouraged by the city's recommended budget, as well as its recognition of the needs of students, educators and staff, but noted the 4 percent increase still falls approximately $6.07 million short of the budget board members tentatively approved back in December.

"At this funding level, the district would not be able to fully maintain current programs and staffing," the board's statement reads. "The board remains committed to continued, productive conversations with the city to bring together the funding necessary to preserve the services and supports our students, families and educators rely on."

Estrella also emphasized that she and board members remained "committed to working constructively with the city to balance the needs of our students with our shared responsibility to be careful and responsible stewards of taxpayer and family resources."

In a video posted to the city's Facebook page over the weekend, Smyth provided an update "to keep residents informed about where [the city is] at in the budget cycle, what decisions are being made and why and keep [residents] engaged."

Smyth noted that while this year's budget marks her first for the city as mayor following her election in November, it is not her first budget cycle, having previously served as Norwalk's Common Council president.

Smyth highlighted some of her priorities as mayor, which included keeping residents safe through funding for Norwalk's fire and police departments, to continue delivering important city services such as snow removal and garbage collection and continue funding the city's schools.

She also emphasized that the city's initial budget proposal would be "a living, breathing document that will change many times over the next couple of months."

Smyth's video message to residents regarding the budget process can be viewed in full here.

The proposed operating budget was first presented to the city's Board of Estimate and Taxation on Monday and is set to next be presented to the City Council on Tuesday.

Patch has included the full statements provided by Estrella and the Board of Education below:

A Message from Dr. Alexandra Estrella, Superintendent of Norwalk Public Schools

"Tonight, we learned that the City of Norwalk’s recommended FY 2026–27 Operating Budget, presented by the City’s Chief Financial Officer, includes a 4.0 percent increase for the Norwalk Board of Education. While we appreciate the City’s acknowledgment of the needs of our schools, the proposed increase falls short of the 6.5 percent requested by the Board of Education.

"The City’s recommended budget is approximately $6.07 million less than the Board of Education’s tentatively approved budget, requiring the Board to reduce its request by that amount.

"Throughout the budget development process, conversations between the district and our partners at the City have been open, respectful, and collaborative. We appreciate the time, care, and thoughtful engagement that have gone into these discussions, which have included a candid and constructive exchange of perspectives grounded in good faith and a shared commitment to Norwalk’s children.

"We are hopeful that this positive dialogue will continue as the process moves forward, so that together we can arrive at a budget that provides the resources our schools, classrooms, and staff need to best support our scholars and sustain their success.

"The Board’s tentatively approved FY 2026–27 budget was developed with great care and purpose as a maintenance budget designed to preserve the essential services and staffing needed to keep our district operating at current levels. Rising health insurance costs represent one of the most significant pressures on the budget, and any requested increases are otherwise limited to meeting contractual obligations, salary commitments, and the rising costs of utilities and critical services such as special education and multilingual learner support.

"This budget reflects the reality that sustaining the positive momentum of our scholars depends on stable, predictable funding.

"We remain committed to working constructively with the City to balance the needs of our students with our shared responsibility to be careful and responsible stewards of taxpayer and family resources."

A Message from the Norwalk Board of Education

"The Norwalk Board of Education is encouraged by the City of Norwalk’s recommended FY 2026–27 Operating Budget, presented at tonight’s Board of Estimate and Taxation meeting, and by the City’s recognition of the needs of our students, educators, and staff.

"The recommendation includes a 4 percent increase for the Board of Education, which is approximately $6.07 million less than the budget the Board tentatively approved in December. At this funding level, the district would not be able to fully maintain current programs and staffing. The Board remains committed to continued, productive conversations with the City to bring together the funding necessary to preserve the services and supports our students, families, and educators rely on.

"Throughout the budget development process, the Board has engaged in constructive, good-faith discussions with our partners on the City Council and in the Mayor’s Office. We value the collaborative spirit that has defined these conversations and share a common goal of arriving at a responsible budget that both sustains essential school services and reflects our collective obligation to taxpayers and the Norwalk community.

"The FY 2026–27 budget tentatively approved by the Board was developed with great care and purpose as a maintenance budget. It preserves the essential services and staffing required to keep our district operating at current levels. Rising health insurance costs alone represent a significant and unavoidable driver of the Board’s budget request. Any additional requested increases are limited to addressing contractual obligations, salary commitments, and increased expenses associated with utilities and critical services, including special education and multilingual learner support.

"As has been shared throughout the budget process, sustaining the positive momentum of our scholars depends on stable and predictable funding. This year’s budget season presents particularly complex challenges, including uncertainty around key federal grants that support literacy, special education, and other essential services, as well as continued pressure on the local budget. These conditions create understandable concern around programs and staffing and make it more difficult for educators and staff to focus fully on teaching and learning.

"At the same time, the needs within our schools continue to grow. The district is responding to increased identification of students requiring special education services, the expansion of Pre-K programming, the addition of the next grade level at South Norwalk Elementary School, and the continued commitment to providing free meals for all students.

"A budget that maintains essential staff and resources is critical to sustaining the progress our students and educators demonstrate every day and to ensuring that our schools remain focused on what matters most: student learning and success."