Where The Figures Came From    

To the Editor,

  In a letter to the editor last week, I was asked “Mr Iassogna, where and whom did you get your figures from, stating the last ten years the increase in students was 30 percent and the next five years will be 25 percent?” Well, here are the facts.

  In 1995, the Newtown Board of Education and the school administration commissioned a study to assist them in orderly planning for the rapid growth and change occurring in Newtown and to better understand the school educational capacities. Focus (Bothwell) Consulting Associates of Carmel, New York, performed the study. Bothwell has provided annual updates to the survey in November 1996, 1997, 1998, and 1999. The 1999 enrollment growth rates matched the projections provided by the State of Connecticut (Peter M. Prowda, PhD, November 9, 1999). Both of these reports focus on the current enrollment outlook based on new birth figures and housing market activity.

  I personally read the original report and every update. As my interest in the proposed 5/6 School grew, I developed a summary and constructed several graphs. In anticipation of one of the Legislative Council meetings, I mailed a copy to each member of the council. I received several phone calls from council members to discuss the reports. I’d like to share an excerpt of this summary here.

Sizeable increase in new home construction – There were between 190 and 209 residential permits issued each year from 1994-1998. Due to the sales of new and existing homes, an average of 10 students/month was added to the schools’ rolls.

Student enrollment increased by 32 percent from 1989 to 1999. Newtown Student enrollment reached its low point of 3,418 in 1989-90. Enrollment has grown to about 4,700 in 1999.

Student enrollment is predicted to increase by 23 percent to 29 percent by 2004-05. In the 1999 study, enrollment is predicted to grow to between 5,783-6,012 by 2004-05.

 I have mailed a copy of the report, complete with graphs, to the writer from last week. Hopefully it will be received and read in time for the budget referendum vote. The facts speak for themselves. No embellishment is necessary. If you read the facts and believe in investing in the education of our children, you will vote yes, a resounding yes. If you choose to ignore the facts, that is your choice. But, you will also be placing the financial problems of this town on the shoulders of the children.

Sincerely,

Michael J. Iassogna

42 Brookwood Drive, Newtown                                   April 19, 2000