ROCKY HILL - A last minute health insurance cost savings has brought the Board of Education budget request down to a 2.9 percent increase-reduced from the 3.9 percent that was transmitted to the Town Council in March.

       That was a surprise Superintendent of Schools Mark Zito saved for the end of his presentation last Thursday night.

       â€�"We think that is a sufficient number to run the schools effectively,” Zito said. â€�"We’re getting good results with our students. Great test scores, and we’re doing all these things at a much lower cost.”

       The savings-after the Board had anticipated a 6 to 10 percent health insurance inflation-reduces the Board’s $40.8 million proposal by $405,000.

       â€�"That’s terrific news-a great surprise,” said Councilor John Emmanuel.

       Councilor Tony La Rosa echoed this sentiment.

       â€�"I’ve been up here for 14 years, and it took that long to get those last two slides I love it,” La Rosa said. â€�"I give you a lot of credit. A department that returns money at the end of a budget, is a department I’m willing to give money to next year.”

       Also part of the reduction is $430,000 in surplus being given back to the town in June. Zito broke the number down, recommending that some of it go to covering Rocky Hill High School renovation project purchases, as well as last year’s late Education Cost Sharing (ECS) reduction.

       The town is anticipating overages on the project, due to a potential loss in state reimbursement from contractors missing filing deadlines. So Zito suggested directing $111,000 of it toward furniture, fixtures, technology, and equipment.

       About $124,000 can cover this year’s late ECS reduction, with $195,000 left over for the Council’s discretion, Zito said.

       A couple of the Board’s major budget line items are the hiring of two elementary level teachers, as well as the purchase of portable trailer classrooms for Myrtle Stevens Elementary and Griswold Middle School.

       Both are driven by growing enrollment-a trend Zito expects to continue in coming years.

       â€�"That is a challenge in Rocky Hill,” he said. â€�"We’re one of very few districts in the state where we continue to see a climb in student enrollment.”

       The district has seen an influx of 202 students over the past three years, according to Zito.

       â€�"Very significant growth for a district of our size,” he said. â€�"A hundred percent is concentrated at the elementary level. There is no end in sight in terms of the projections.”

       NESDEC projects a 206 increase over the next two years, with most landing at the elementary level, Zito said.