Civil Municipal - August 2024

Ansonia Public Schools have strategically navigated this terrain. Dr. DiBacco sheds light on the financial mechanisms and investments that underpin the district’s operations and growth. “In Connecticut, our budget is a blend of local tax, state, and grant money,” he explains. Currently operating with a nearly $38 million budget, the district benefits from a mix of these revenue sources. Despite economic challenges, Ansonia Public Schools have remained financially stable throughout Dr. DiBacco’s tenure, thanks to robust support from the local government and strategic financial decisions. One key factor in this stability is the district’s approach to health insurance. “We went to a selffunded consortium for our health insurance,” Dr. DiBacco reveals. Partnering with Brown and Brown and utilizing the state’s regional education service centers (RESCs), Ansonia joined a selective group of districts with low claim rates to form a self-funded group.This move has proven advantageous, allowing the district to maintain a health reserve account and save money. The district’s financial prudence extends to its insurance strategies. “Insurance is a crapshoot,” Dr. DiBacco admits. However, Ansonia has successfully navigated this uncertainty by implementing safeguards such as aggregate and individual stoploss measures. These precautions have protected the district from significant financial hits, ensuring continued progress and stability. BREAKING BARRIERS FOR EDUCATIONAL EQUITY Ansonia Public Schools is committed to providing students with real-world experience and breaking down barriers to higher education.This commitment is rooted in Dr. DiBacco’s background and vision for the district’s future. “I’m first generation in this country,” he begins. “My parents were immigrants who sent three kids to Architecture Interior Design Landscape Architecture Master Planning Pre-construction Services Programming & Planning Structural Engineering Creativity in Design to Enrich Lives CA CO CT FL GA IA MA PA RI 860 657.8077 www.slamcoll.com Henry J. Winters Elementary School Pawtucket, RI Ox Ridge Elementary School Darien, CT 328 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 08

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