A Crucial Vote For Newtown

To the Editor,

Tuesday, April 25, is a crucial day for all Newtown residents, as we will be voting on the town’s 2000-2001 budget. As vice-chairman of the Newtown Board of Education, I want to take this opportunity to summarize some important aspects of the Board of Education’s budget.

First, let me begin by saying that the Board of Education realizes the significance of our requested 14.4 percent increase. During the past several years, numerous reductions and compromises within the school system have been necessary due to reductions in our requested budgets. Unfortunately this has been occurring during a time of significant growth in the school district’s enrollment. The current budget increase is a necessary adjustment to resolve some of our most longstanding and pressing needs.

The monies we request are required to provide adequate funding for the employees’ self-funded insurance plan and to provide space, staff, and supplies to support the student population increases. It also provides modest funds for continuing our state-recognized technology plan, funds to address our most critical school repairs, and money to correct fire code and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) issues that have been delayed for several years.

I would also like to remind voters that the request presented to the town reflects a $1.075 million reduction already imposed by the Board of Education. This reduction included the elimination of ten teaching positions, three coaching positions, two educational assistant positions, support staff for special education, transportation and technology. In addition, requests for funding school repairs and numerous other equipment requests were eliminated. In recognition of competing needs confronting our town the Board of Education felt it was in the best interest of the overall town budget to reduce the superintendent’s original budget request by this significant amount.

The April 25th budget referendum vote is critical for our town. So I ask you to please come out and vote “Yes” in favor of the proposed budget.

Vincent Saviano

Vice-Chairman, Board of Education

5 Yearling Lane, Sandy Hook                                      April 17, 2000