Maintaining The Quality

Of Our School System

To the Editor:

I would like to take the opportunity to respond to Kevin Fitzgerald’s letter last week, which raised the argument that $1.5 million of the requested increase by the Board of Education was unnecessary. It is apparent to me from reading his letter that he is sincerely committed to providing the children of Newtown with a quality education. Although I know his intentions are honorable, I must dispute his facts.

Following the outline of his letter, the costs that “we cannot do anything about” are much higher than he suggests. Annualization of the Reed School expenses, increase in fuel, property/liability insurance, health insurance, and workman’s compensation all add up to $1.879 million, not $1.525 million. Salary increases for the budgeted year (all previously determined by contract approvals) total $1.655 million not $1.5 million. The miscellaneous items that he considers “worthwhile” are not $275,000 but $468,000. This includes the cost of out-of-district special education costs, which we are mandated to pay.

Finally, the Board of Education is not requesting 22 new teachers but 10.9 new teachers to cover the influx of 171 expected new students next year. And yes, if these positions are eliminated, there will be an increase in class size of over 23 percent at Head O’ Meadow School; 16 percent at Sandy Hook School; 14 percent at Reed Intermediate School, and class sizes exceeding district guidelines at the middle school and high school.

In summary, the justifiable increases add up to $4.633 million not $3.3 million. These increases are necessary if we are to maintain the high quality of the education our children receive in Newtown schools.

And, yes, the best schools do focus on quality personnel, the hallmark of the teaching staff in our schools. We currently have approximately 275–300 teachers out of a total of about 400 for the district who have five or more years of experience. How long do you think these teachers will stay in Newtown if we begin to dismantle the high quality school system that we currently enjoy. I suggest, not long. If we cut the budget as he proposed, we would be taking the first steps toward the destruction of Newtown’s quality school system –– something the people of Newtown have worked hard to build.

Sincerely,

William Sheluck, Jr

36 Greenleaf Farms Road, Newtown                        March 12, 2003