For School Bd. Review—

Superintendent Presents

$62 Million Budget

By Susan Coney

Newtown Superintendent of Schools Evan Pitkoff presented his proposed budget to the Board of Education at is meeting on Tuesday, January 31 — a spending package for 2006-2007 that tops $62 million.

The $62,016,578 school budget proposal represents an 8.92 percent, or $5,007,808, increase over the 2005-2006 school year budget.

In his report to members of the board, Dr Pitkoff said, “We recognize that most people are concerned with taxes and the condition of the economy. That is why $1,712,638 of what was requested by our teachers and administrators to improve our system is not included in this proposed budget. Given the magnitude of our growth needs and fixed costs, we have prepared this budget using conservative estimates. We strive to meet the needs of our students, while being sensitive to the concerns of the taxpayers.”

Dr Pitkoff said that his requested budget of an 8.92 percent increase was the second lowest superintendent proposed budget in the past nine years. “I believe it is a responsible budget,” he said.

The superintendent noted that Newtown continues to be a very desirable town in which to live and raise a family, given the longstanding reputation that the schools have for educational excellence. He emphasized the tremendous growth over the past decade and the complications that accompany such growth, explaining that the student population was 3,985 in the 1995-96 school year and is currently 5,647. Dr Pitkoff said that while increased enrollment sometimes yields economies of scale, it also requires an increase in resources such as teaching staff, support staff, books, supplies, and transportation in order to operate properly.

The latest state projections indicate that Newtown should expect an additional 98 students in 2006-2007, including 44 more at the high school, which is already over capacity. Dr Pitkoff reported, “Whereas we have a fiscal reputation for providing a quality education in a cost-effective manner, the recent accreditation visit to our high school by the New England Association of School’s and Colleges [NEASC] has yielded a report somewhat critical of the level of the resources provided to our high school.”

He continued saying, “[NEASC] have strongly recommended that we need to provide the space, faculty, and support positions and technology to more appropriately accommodate the needs of our growing student population. This proposed budget begins to address some of those recommendations.”

The majority of the budget increases fell in the expected areas of certified salaries, noncertified salaries, employee benefits, building and site improvements, energy costs, and transportation services. Salary increases accounted for slightly more than $2.6 million, employee benefits increased by $552,248, building and site improvements increased by $428,850, energy costs are projected to increase by $423,526, and transportation services increased by $391,195.

Staffing needs for certified and noncertified employees call for an increase in teaching positions at the high school, an additional assistant principal at the high school level, additional secretarial positions at the high school, a request for a part-time personnel director at the district office, two full-time teachers at Reed School, an additional technology curriculum specialist, additional positions in the early intervention staff, a part-time nurse floater, a few additional educational assistants, and a full-time custodial supervisor position to be added at a cost of $60,000. These additions reflect the majority of the staffing increases proposed.

The increase in building and site improvements, sometimes referred to as capital improvements, are essential to ensure proper maintenance and longevity of major building systems. Dr Pitkoff emphasized, “There is a need to protect the investments we have in our buildings.”

Transportation increases are due in part to the need for an addition of three full buses at an added cost of $196,000 as well as the possibility of having to spend up to $19,000 to transport up to 20 students to the new magnet school in Danbury. (Some of that cost may be covered by a grant.)

Other substantial increases were found in rental costs of $174,303, which reflects the cost to rent office space for the Board of Education offices and the cost to lease two portables for the high school to add four additional classrooms and bathroom facilities to help alleviate, on a short-term level, the overcrowded conditions there.

During his presentation the superintendent emphasized the school district’s responsibility to submit a budget that will provide a quality education for all children and still cooperate with the community to hold down expenditures.

He closed the presentation with a quote from children’s advocate Marian Wright Edelman, who said, “Education is for improving the lives of others and for leaving your community and world better than you found it.”

After Dr Pitkoff’s presentation board members quizzed the superintendent. Board of Education member Thomas Gissen repeatedly expressed his concerns about the increasing class sizes at the high school, the large number of students with numerous study halls, and the difficulty with which many students have in getting courses they would like to take. He also emphasized concerns about the lack of technology available at the high school.

“I don’t want to downgrade the quality of the education at the high school,” Mr Gissen said, “but there are not enough computer labs there.” He said that he found research to substantiate that Newtown High School has fewer computers per student than schools in Bethel, Danbury, Bridgeport, and Hartford.

Board member Paul Mangiafico requested that the superintendent prioritize which additional staff, outlined in the proposed budget, he felt was the most important before the next meeting.

Board of Education member Lisa Schwartz indicated that she was glad to see the recommendation of a part-time personnel director for the district office. “I would like to see a full-time personnel director. That kind of support in central office would help lesson the burden of handling contracts and other things,” she said.

However, Ms Schwartz questioned the need for the addition of a lead custodian, at a cost of $60,000, to oversee all the custodians throughout the district. “Doesn’t each building have a head custodian? Isn’t that what he does?” she questioned.

Dominick Posca, Buildings and Grounds Supervisor responded saying, “We are looking for an administrative position who could do evaluations.”

Board members were provided with a bound copy of the proposed budget to assess and review prior to the budget adoption meeting, which is scheduled to take place on Thursday, February 9, at 7:30 pm, in the media center at Reed Intermediate School. At that time, if the budget is approved, it will be sent to the Board of Finance for review.