School Budget Vigilance

To the Editor:

Once again, it’s budget time. I know that I must be vigilant about participating in this frustrating process otherwise our children will not win. Every year since I moved to this town, I have witnessed the school budget being micromanaged and our property taxes funding the majority of the education bill (now 91 percent).

With rising health care premiums and fuel costs, this year’s budget increase is imminent. We will have to fight once again to pass the budget referendum with minimal cuts. I was hoping that the Board of Education would have had an easier time supporting Dr Pitkoff’s proposed budget this year since the budget passed last year by a margin of 1,000 votes. The board continues to be cautious as evidenced by the lengthy and laborious budget adoption session. I left the meeting at 1 am and the decision had not yet been made. The Board of Education members were laboring over every line item of the fiscally responsible budget presented by Dr Pitkoff.

 Newtown’s education budget is far from irresponsible. In fact, Newtown is still on the bottom of the list for spending per pupil (139 out of 166 school districts) even though we are ranked 42nd for wealth. We can actually do more than what is in the budget to strive for excellence in our schools. Unfortunately, parent and teacher groups are unable to get funding for programs that would raise the level of excellence in our schools. Rather, we spend time fighting not to lose what we already have.

I did some research on education funding, and I found out some interesting information. There are initiatives nationally to increase state funding of education. The budget officers of 26 states at the National Conference of State Legislators report that funding of K–12 education would be one of the top three priorities in the upcoming sessions. There is a group in Connecticut (Connecticut Coalition for Justice in Education Funding) that includes 22 municipalities and 16 nonprofit groups pressing the legislators to increase state aid to the public schools. There are numerous states with school finance lawsuits as well. Legislators of some states face court orders to revamp their school funding policies.

I am certain that this information will not impact the current budget process; however, it is an avenue we should pursue vigorously to improve Newtown’s future financial status. While we (parents, educators, and town leaders) pursue this initiative, I am hoping that the leaders of Newtown continue to develop a strategic plan to increase the commercial revenue and carefully approve real estate development to offset the annual property tax increases. There would be more support to pass the referendum.

Meanwhile, I would like to encourage everyone to continue to support the budget process. It made a difference last year. It takes so much effort to prevent the loss of services that may impact our children. I think we all found out two years ago what can happen if we ignore the budget process.

Po Murray

38 Charter Ridge Drive, Sandy Hook                   February 16, 2005