More Than A Series

Of Line Items

To the Editor:

As a school board member, it is self-evident that I would be an advocate for our budget, but it appears that advocacy alone is not sufficient to pass a budget. I am discouraged by our referendum defeat, but I won’t dwell on the negative. If I could talk individually to every voter, here is what I would say: I have learned that a school system is a microcosm of the world — an ever-changing landscape of twists and turns, punctuated by challenges too numerous to count. It is a thousand small complexities on a daily basis, all of which are priorities in their own right. It is not a perfect machine; it is, by its very nature, a place in flux, sometimes disorderly and loud, other times perfectly synchronized and soulfully quiet. A school system defies categorization because it is those very categories which define it.

But our system of government requires that we quantify ourselves with line items and so we must plug on. While the process seems reductive, it does illustrate the precarious nature of budgeting in general. Consider this: for every one-cent increase in oil prices, our school district suffers a $3,000 impact. Since this budget was proposed, oil has risen 25 cents per gallon. No one knows where oil prices will go and few are speculating.

Likewise, our projections for special education are simply that — projections. Unforeseen demands can arise, often requiring immediate resources at considerable cost. And while enrollment figures do provide some measure of reliability, there is a residual effect here as well: for years this school district has deferred maintenance projects in an effort to address surging enrollment. It is an understandable judgment when confronting the choice between teachers and building projects, but it is decidedly unwise. Deferring projects depreciates our facilities and costs more in the long run.

We know we are more than a series of line items. Still, we must make difficult choices. We know that education is a cherished investment. But we must also confront an economic reality. We know that teachers who light the fire of learning in our children cannot be quantified with dollar signs. Yet we cannot get on with our mission if we cannot pass our budget.

Please vote on May 9 at the middle school! Support this budget because it is fair and responsible. Support it because you care about our town, our children and their future. Support it most of all because you believe it will deliver something bigger than all of us.

Lisa Schwartz Vice Chairperson

Newtown Board of Education

7 Merlins Lane, Newtown May 3, 2006