Accountability and

Reliability

To the Editor:

The citizens of Newtown have spoken — not once but twice and probably will for the third time if the referendum passes with enough petitioned signatures. There is a strong resentment present in this town toward the integrity of the proposed budget. It is not the higher gas prices or rising electrical costs but a feeling that our leaders are not being honest about their intentions in what they will be doing with our tax dollars. There are line items that need to be explained in detail.

After spending untold thousands of dollars on architectural fees and other costs in order to plan for the overcrowding issue at the high school and the repairs needed at Hawley School and the middle school, no answers have come forward at this time. Are they waiting for the budget to pass before they give us the news regarding their plans?

Recently the superintendent was quoted saying, “The fourth grade orchestra was eliminated due to budget cuts.” There have been no budget cuts. The budget dollars have risen to at least six–seven percent over the past years. This is just one example of how this administration prioritizes the children in its budget planning.

At the same time that the fourth grade strings were cut, the popular and very successful Discovery program was cut and reorganized to a lesser level to accommodate the current administration’s budget plan. This was to the dissatisfaction of numerous Newtown parents. The program has not been as popular or as successful since. Is this improvement?

While these programs were being cut from our system, Dr Pitkoff hired two noncertified employees who had been colleagues of his in a former school system.

Noncertified salaries. This item has increased from $7,132,131 to a proposed $7,847,680. A bump up of over $715,000! Outrageous! How about spending this money on our children first! Give us detail!

Travel mileage and accommodations/memberships. The new proposal is for $254,264; an increase of $66,446. Do we have this much new administration and staff that this increase is necessary? I thought that we might have to cut staff? Instead of this increase why haven’t you proposed hiring a new teacher?

There have been questions raised from some parents about the children and how they will suffer if this budget does not pass. We all love our children, however the monies need to be spent on them and not the frills that the administration seems to keep under wraps.

Has the public been informed in detail about the results of the NEASC report done this fall at the high school? According to only one article published by The Bee the committee had several (over 50) recommendations based on obvious deficiencies in our school. Are we no longer a “Blue Ribbon School”? Doesn’t appear that way.

The superintendent would tell us that this is a bare bones budget! We are talking increases of $781,994. Bare bones? It is time for the Board of Education to sharpen their pencils and be straightforward. No schemes or plots, just the facts. Our schools are suffering in so many ways that we are not being informed of. We need some answers; explain yourselves, be honest!

Leonard Perrini

18 Split Rock Road, Newtown    May 16, 2006