School Board Gives Full Support For Proposed Budget

By Eliza Hallabeck

Public participation speakers Kinga Walsh, Robin Fitzgerald, and Charles Hepp got responses to their questions to the Board of Education during its meeting on Tuesday, June 1. Each wanted to know why the board had unanimously said it is advocating for support of the 2010-2011 budget as it moves to the third town referendum on June 8.

“Public participation works, ladies and gentlemen,” school board Chair Lillian Bittman said after explaining why she was continuing to advocate for a Yes vote on the upcoming referendum.

Ms Bittman, who advocated for a Yes vote on each of the last two referendums for the 2010-2011 budget, said she was grateful the Legislative Council added $200,000 back into the school district’s budget.

The June 8 referendum vote will ask residents to endorse or reject a proposed 2010-2011 spending package of $104,284,615 between the hours of 6 am and 8 pm at Newtown Middle School on Queen Street.

The latest budget proposal reflects a $200,000 restoration of funds to the school district’s requested increase for the next fiscal year. Following the second round budget referendum failure May 8 by 97 votes, the Legislative Council decided to restore the that amount to the district’s $67 million request. The motion to restore the school funds will shift $100,000 from the town-side budget’s contingency fund. The additional amount will come from slightly increased taxation, nudging the tax increase that failed in the second referendum slightly higher. The latest proposal increases proposed taxation in the coming year from 2.4 to 2.5 percent, if it is approved in the third round of voting June 8.

“I think Newtown needs to get behind this budget,” said Ms Bittman.

BOE members Christopher Lagana, Debbie Leidlein, and Kathy Fetchick, who each had previously said they would be voting Yes in at least one of the past referendums, said they would not be advocating for a No vote on the budget.

“I advocated a Yes vote last time,” said Ms Fetchick. “I thought our budget was doable. I still believe if we had to have made the $2.5 million cut we still would have been able to do it without the teacher cuts.”

Ms Leidlein also said she still feels further savings can be found in order to protect staff positions named as possible cuts to meet the first reduction of $2.5 million to the school district’s previously proposed budget.

The 2010- 2011 school district’s proposed $69,415,876 budget was approved by the board on February 9, reflecting a 4.8 percent increase over last year’s spending package. On March 8, the Board of Finance reduced the school board’s requested 2010-2011 increase by $2.5 million, leaving the school district with a $679,806 increase for the coming fiscal year. The restoration of $200,000 leaves the school district with an $879,806 increase.

Members David Nanavaty and William Hart, who had both supported a No vote to the past two referendums, said they are now advocating for the budget to pass. Member Richard Gaines was not in attendance at the Tuesday meeting.

“I think the Legislative Council, by adding $200,000 back into the education budget in the manner they did, showed support for education, and that is what we needed to see from the Legislative Council,” said Mr Nanavaty. “I appreciate their action, and I think voters now have to pass this budget and move on.”

During the meeting, the board unanimously approved textbook purchases for the grade 11 United States history course, grade 12 advanced placement psychology course and for fifth grade social studies. The board also unanimously approved Lindberg & Ripple of Windsor as the town and school district’s combined health insurance consultant agency, and entering into a teacher education and mentoring program for new teachers in the district.

Approval of the 2010-2011 contract with the district’s food service provider, Chartwells, was tabled until the next meeting after board members requested further financial details on the program.

Chartwells representatives and school district Interim Director of Finance Diane Raymo said the company has been taking losses for each of its previous years in the district, and covered those losses. Food Service Director for Chartwells in Newtown Dan Shields requested an increase in lunch prices for next year that will be discussed further at the school’s board scheduled meeting on June 15.