Dr. Semmel's January Newsletter

PLEASE READ THE BUDGET INFORMATION! Have a question? Email me at msemmel@trumbullps.org

I need you to attend the Board of Finance Meeting on Tuesday, March 3, at 7:00 p.m., in the Town Hall Meeting Room. It is crucial that you all get involved in the budget process this year. Over the past 4 years, our cumulative increase for the BOE has been 11.44%. Over the same time, inflation was approximately 22%. While this 11.44% increase does amount to over $13 MM over the past four years, Trumbull schools ranked in the bottom third of 37 comparative districts(see link below for data). As a team, we have worked incredibly hard to manage these budgets, but we are at a crossroads, a tipping point. If we only receive a 4% increase for 2026-2027, then we will be looking to make approximately $3.4 Million Dollars in reductions to the budget I presented. That will absolutely impact staffing and programs in a significant way.

During the beginning of my budget presentation to the BOE on January 6, I provided my argument for why this is a critical year. Below are links to:

Budget Presentation – January 6 – Video here (Start time 11:28)

Budget Presentation – January 6 – PowerPoint Presentation here

Cumulative 4 year Increases for Area Districts & DRG B Schools here

Budget Presentation – January 8 – Video here (Start time 7:48)

Budget Presentation – January 8 – PowerPoint Presentation here

Budget Book Executive Summary – see the document here

The Board of Finance (BOF) Budget Presentation will be held on March 3, 2026 and then the Town Council (TC) will then meet in April to make recommendations and, ultimately, approve a budget.

Your attendance at these meetings will send a strong message to the BOF and TC that you expect at least the same level of education in 2026-2027 that your child has been receiving in the past.

Once the TC approves a final budget in April, the BOE and I will have no choice but to provide a balanced budget.

In July of 2025, the BOE unanimously adopted the District Goals for the 2025-2026 School year. These goals are developed in collaboration with our school principals, central office team, and teacher leaders from across the district. We aim to be intentional as we strive to fulfill the Mission and Vision of the Trumbull Public Schools.

As we have done over the past five years, we are providing everyone with a Mid-year Update, here,

on these goals. I hope you will take some time to review the goals and what we have accomplished at this point in the year. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me directly and I will do my best to respond.

A final update on the goals will be shared in the May or June Newsletter.

We began registering students for the Class of 2038 on Wednesday, January 7, 2026. If you are looking to register your child for the 2026-2027 school year, please click here for all the information you need.

As you begin the new year, stop by Next Chapter Books and find new favorites for the whole family!

Store Hours: Monday from 10 to 12, Tuesday through Friday from 10 to 5, and Saturday from 9 to 3, located at 2 Daniels Farm Road.

See the latest NCB video here!

I visited the Next Chapter Books' set up in the Trumbull High School Media Center on Dec. 17, joined by Trumbull High School Principal, Todd Manuel, and ELITE Program Manager, Richard Fisco. The students enjoyed serving the THS students and staff, evident in the smiles on their faces. This 2-day event raised $2,800 in revenue for NCB!

For the month of January, our Vision of the Graduate (VOG) focus turns to two essential skills that work hand-in-hand to prepare students for lifelong success: Communication and Collaboration.

• Communication is the ability to understand others and to be understood. It focuses on the exchange of information, ideas, and feelings for many different reasons.
• Collaboration refers to the qualities and competencies used to collectively make progress toward a shared goal. It is about the "teamwork" aspect.

Supporting Your Child at Home

Parents maintain a vital role in developing these skills through modeling and reflection. Here are a few ways to practice in January:

To Build Communication Skills:

• Practice Active Listening: When your child is speaking, repeat back what you heard to ensure you "understand others" before responding.
• Encourage "Being Understood": If your child is frustrated, ask them to explain their "reason or purpose" for a specific request, helping them practice articulating their thoughts clearly.
• Discuss Perspectives: When reading a book or watching a movie, ask your child to identify how different characters might be feeling, which helps them "understand others" from a different point of view.

To Build Collaboration Skills:

• Create Family Goals: Involve your child in a common task, such as planning a meal or cleaning a room. Emphasize that you are working collectively to reach that goal.
• Role-Play Conflict Resolution: If a disagreement arises between siblings, encourage them to speak "calmly" to decide how to "divide the work" or the play space, focusing on making progress together rather than winning an argument.
• Generate Group Ideas: When planning a weekend activity, ask your child to "generate ideas for how to approach" the plan, ensuring everyone’s voice is included in the final outcome.

Click on the pictures below for further resources that may help families support our TPS Vision of the Graduate development in your child.

Is your student receiving free or reduced lunch? If so, are you aware that you can also receive a reduction on Pay to Participate fees for sports and K-5 Band/Strings? You will need to fill out "Addendum A" in order to receive those additional reductions. This allows the information you provided on your Free and Reduced Price School Meals Application to be shared with other programs for which your child(ren) may qualify for. Please download the form - Addendum A and sign for those additional benefits if you are interested in receiving them. This is a state required form, and by signing for the benefits, you are certifying that you are the parent/guardian of the child(ren) for whom the application is being made. If you are looking for Pay to Participate benefits, please check off the "Superintendent of Schools" box. Please submit your completed "Addendum A" form to the Food Services Department at lstolba@trumbullps.org. Note: Sending in this form will not change whether your children get free or reduced price meals.

Please find the link for the Community Survey: Open Recreation Activities HERE.