Date: Fri 14-Feb-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: DOTTIE

Quick Words:

school-budget-Reed

Full Text:

School Board Adopts A Budget

BY DOROTHY EVANS

Newtown school board members voted unanimously February 11 to adopt the

Superintendent's 1997-98 budget proposal with no changes to the bottom line.

The figure will remain at $29,946,880, a 5.9 percent increase over the current

budget figure.

"When you consider the attendant additional costs of our building projects,

including staffing, lighting, heating and cleaning of the 109,000 square feet

contained in those projects, I hope people will realize it's really closer to

a four percent increase," Dr Reed said.

"We haven't asked for a large budget, and I hope there won't be perfunctory

cuts," he added.

The budget document must be submitted to the Legislative Council by February

21.

"Unless I'm wrong, we'll have another chance to look at this budget," Chairman

Herb Rosenthal said, noting there would be ample time to review and debate

before the final June 30, 1997, deadline, when the next fiscal year begins.

Public hearings will take place March 25 and 29. A budget referendum is

scheduled for April 22.

"No one should get the idea that any item in this budget is sacrosanct. Money

is approved, but modifications will occur," Mr Rosenthal said.

Before the vote was taken, board members were already discussing one place

where funds might eventually be "repositioned" into an account Superintendent

John Reed said warrants attention, namely, the Building Improvement budget for

maintenance of the aging Hawley School building, which dates back to 1927.

"It's interesting that [after the completion of the addition] we'll have our

newest and oldest school classrooms in the same building," Dr Reed said.

After a new and reduced estimate came in on the sewering hook-up, and

considering adjustments that may be made in the electricity account due to a

credit program offered by the state, there may be $8,000 to spare, which could

be moved over to address problems in the old section of the Hawley school.

"We need to replaster walls, that's a beginning. Also, moisture has begun to

leak into the old classrooms, perhaps through the roof or through a faulty

drainage system in the auditorium," Dr Reed said, and "the outside bricks may

need to be repointed."

There are already plans in the budget to install new windows in the old

section of the school.

Board members also supported the idea of eventually adding to the Newtown High

School-to-Career staff, although Dr Reed was hoping a $30,000 grant from the

state might allow that to happen outside of the operating budget.

Member Susan Hills was disappointed more residents did not turn out to comment

upon the budget, either pro or con.

"Is this an endorsement?" Mrs Hills wondered. Or apathy.

"I hope they'll be supportive when it comes to referendum," she said.