$1.5 Million Of School Budget Increase Is Not Needed

To the Editor:

The $51 million school budget that is under review by the Legislative Council and the Board of Finance represents an increase over last year of $4.77 million or 10.6 percent. With one child in the school system today and another 18 months away, I too have joined the chorus of families who want to see our schools continue to succeed. So understand that I have some skin in the game when I say there is no justification for any increase over $3.3 million or 7.2 percent. At least not this year.

There are some items of cost that we cannot do anything about. Annualizing the Reed Intermediate School, increases in fuel, property liability, health insurance, and worker’s compensation all add up to $1.525 million. With a salary base of nearly $32 million, a 5.4 percent increase, when annualized will cost another $1.5 million. And finally, there are miscellaneous items (supplies, etc) worth another $275,000 that I consider to be worthwhile for this year’s budget. These three categories add up to $3.3 million.

The other $1.5 million that the superintendent is asking for is above and beyond what the system needs to maintain and even improve the quality of education through 2004. Some people have argued that annual pay raises of 5.4 percent are excessive, but I would argue otherwise. The teachers are now going to pay a portion of their health benefits and most of the teachers are underpaid to begin with.

Dr Pitkoff and the Board of Education have been arguing that the entire 10.6 percent is necessary because enrollment is up and 22 new teachers are necessary to keep class sizes low. They also make the case that Newtown’s per pupil expenditure ranks 143rd out of the 169 Connecticut towns. However, the facts are that 170 new students will have little impact to class sizes this year, 22 new teachers are not only not necessary, but will most certainly result in teachers losing jobs in 2004 if the economy does not turn around before the next budget season. And finally, our expenditure ranking is something to be proud of. Kudos to the leadership for delivering a greater level of education excellence without spending as much as 142 other towns did. More money does not equal quality schools and there is more than enough evidence of this.

Where do the best schools focus their attention? Not on more personnel, but on quality personnel. On teachers who are certified, experienced, better supervised, and better paid; on tools for improvement of instruction; on measured performance and on expanding public participation. If you would like to review my findings and opinions using Connecticut’s Strategic School Profile data, visit the website of The Concerned Citizens of Newtown (CCN) at www.ccnewtown.com. While you are there, please visit the online Newtown surveys on the poll page. Your opinion matters.

Kevin Fitzgerald

24 Old Farm Hill Road, Newtown                               March 4, 2003