Superintendent of Schools Joseph V. Erardi, Jr., offered an overview of the proposed 2015-16 budget during an evening Community Forum on Tuesday, March 10.

Others, including Board of Education Chair Keith Alexander, also spoke at the event, and time was set aside for parents to ask questions regarding the proposed budget.

The community forum was hosted by the districts PTAs and the high school’s PTSA.

The superintendent first presented his proposed budget during a school board meeting on January 6, and the Board of Education adopted its planned 2015-16 budget at a meeting on February 5. As of Wednesday, March 4, Dr Erardi explained changes to the district’s self-funded medical account further decreased the budget proposal to $71,915,679, or a 0.8 percent increase over the 2014-15 spending plan. Once the Board of Finance completes its inspection of the budget, it will be passed along to the Legislative Council for review before it goes to referendum on April 28.

The superintendent on Tuesday highlighted significant areas of the budget, like personnel costs, health insurance, and a retirement incentive that was offered this year for teachers.

Dr Erardi also spoke about additions in the budget for the next fiscal year, including a pilot immersion world language program for kindergarten, which drew a number of questions and statements from parents near the end of the one-hour event.

With the budget process underway for the last few months, Dr Erardi said he and the school board have tried to be as open and available as possible, with “more meetings than you can possibly imagine.”

Dr Erardi asked those present to be informed voters and to vote in the referendum on April 28.

“It’s not how to vote; it’s please vote,” said Dr Erardi.

Residents, district parents, and Newtown Education Advisory Group (NEAG) Co-Chairs Kinga Walsh and Karyn Holden prepared and presented a budget fact sheet for the evening.

Ms Holden and Ms Walsh said they want to help make sure parents learn about all of the programs happening in Newtown’s schools.

By attending meetings, sharing updates with the community, explaining changes to the budget, and teaching how to submit an absentee ballot, Ms Walsh said NEAG will work to “get people to the polls” for April 28.

In the long-term, Ms Walsh said NEAG efforts will focus on educating people on how the budget process works and reaching out to the community to learn what people want from the budget.

To accomplish their efforts, Ms Walsh said they are working with Dr Erardi’s office and the district’s PTAs, but they also need volunteers.

To volunteer with the NEAG efforts email Ms Walsh at KingaWalshNEAG@gmail.com, and Ms Holden at KarynHolden2@gmail.com.

The Budget Fact Sheet presented an overview of the proposed spending plan. According to the sheet, the 2015-16 proposed school budget maintains current programs, accounts for enrollment decreases with staffing changes, pilots the kindergarten world language program, enhances technology, offers supports for third grade to eighth grade highly capable learners, adds to the Newtown High School’s athletic department, creates supports for students with special needs, supports the Newtown International Center for Education (NICE), and supports administrative needs at NHS.

A PDF version of the fact sheet shared by Ms Holden and Ms Walsh at the community forum is available here. An updated fact sheet, released by NEAG following the forum, is available here.

School board members also spoke during the forum.

Board Chair Keith Alexander said more information about the proposed school budget is available on the district’s website.

Community members, Mr Alexander said, are also encouraged to contact board members or Dr Erardi with questions. Contact information is also listed on the district’s website.

School board Secretary Kathy Hamilton reminded those present that local referendums offer voters the most say on what happens in their communities.