Teachers’ Union Responds

To Proposed School Budget

With the 2010-2011 school budget moving forward in its process, the Newtown teachers union, the Newtown Federation of Teachers, President Ron Chivinski recently released a statement in response to the budget as it stands now.

The 2010–2011 school district’s $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.

“During negotiations,” Mr Chivinski said by email this week, “the [Newtown Federation of Teachers] Negotiating Committee felt strongly that due to the current economic conditions, we should work with the town in the best interests of our students. In ratifying this contract, the NFT membership was proactive in accepting a freeze of both wages and step movement for next year. Our contract, which begins with the 2010-2011 school year, was endorsed by the Legislative Council this past fall, and teachers were commended by Legislative Council members for their work in this area (please see Legislative Council minutes dated November 4, 2009).

“It is difficult to be looking at deep staff reductions with two years of concessions already in place. For the 2009-2010 school year, teachers were furloughed for five days. As stated above, in the 2010-2011 school year, teachers’ salaries and step movements will be frozen.

“Newtown has always been a community that values its education system, and now more than ever, the Legislative Council needs to prioritize this core belief,” Mr Chivinski concluded.