Date: Fri 20-Mar-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

council-budget-education

Full Text:

Move To Reconsider School Budget Cuts Fails

BY STEVE BIGHAM

Ed Lucas gave it his best shot Tuesday night in his attempt to have some Board

of Education funds restored to the 1998-99 budget. He was almost successful.

The rookie Legislative Council member felt his board had gone too far last

week when it cut $800,000 from the school board's original $32.7 request. At

Tuesday's meeting in the Newtown High School cafeteria, he suggested that the

council at least reconsider putting some money back. However, members' votes

were split down the middle, 6-6, killing the issue.

Those voting to reconsider the Board of Education proposal were: Joe Borst,

Tim Holian, Mr Lucas, Will Rodgers, Lisa Schwartz and Brian White.

Those voting against reconsideration were: Peggy Baiad, Karen Blawie, John

Kortze, Melissa Pilchard, Pierre Rochman and Donald Studley.

"The fact that we lost the vote doesn't bother me as much as the fact that the

issued was not even allowed to be discussed," Mr Lucas said later.

As council members cast their votes, a audible sigh echoed across the Newtown

High School cafeteria, populated mostly by school budget supporters, after

Peggy Baiad voted against Mr Lucas' request. Mrs Baiad, another first-year

council member, was considered by school supporters to be the swing vote, the

one council member who appeared to be on the fence.

"I was open," Mrs Baiad said Wednesday. "It was a very difficult decision. It

would have been easy to vote the other way in front of all those people, but I

had to do what I felt was right for the entire town. They're still getting a

7.4 percent increase."

Later in the evening, the council voted, 7-5, to approve the town's overall

budget of $58,753,278, which, if it stands, will show a tax rate increase of

about 1.1 mills.

Dozens of school supporters were on hand for Tuesday's meeting, hoping to sway

the council. Mrs Baiad said she received several phone calls from school

supporters Tuesday. She also ran into several other residents who were

concerned about the enormous size of the school system's request.

"You have to look at the whole picture," she said.

Mrs Baiad was the only non-member of the council's finance committee to vote

against reconsideration of the Board of Education budget.

As council members point out, the impact to the Board of Education would not

be $800,000. Last week's well-publicized vote actually called for a $500,000

cut and a lease of $411,000 worth of technology equipment (for $100,000),

netting another $300,000 in savings.

Of course, the idea to lease is only a suggestion by the council, which has no

line-item authority over school spending. The Board of Education will have the

final say on how it will handle the cuts, but the school board appears to be

leaning toward leasing. (See related story.)

The council's vote came after several members of the public urged the council

to reconsider its cuts.

NHS Principal Bill Manfredonia said the loss in funds would force him to cut

out some advisers and after-school activities. He added that a lack of

technology in the school is unfortunate, even if for only a year.

"We don't have the technology to fill the new building," he said. "Could we

wait a year? Yes, but how do you tell a student that we can't provide

technology this year -- 25 percent of that student's high school career."

NHS is also seeking to erect visitors' bleachers on the football field.

Visiting fans will likely be forced to stand this fall.

Mary Burnham of Walnut Tree Hill Road suggested the council make it easy on

itself by simply passing the school budget on to the voters -- untouched.

Another resident complained that the library's request ballooned by 62

percent, yet was cut just $20,000.

"The school budget was up 10.1 percent and you cut $800,000. Is that fair?"

she asked.

David Nanavaty of Currituck Road said leasing computers will only cost the

town more money in the long run.