Protect Quality Education

To the Editor:

Just as we protect our children’s health, safety, and welfare, we need to protect the quality and integrity of our children’s education. We need to have our desire for educational excellence heard. No matter how good our teachers are, our schools need proper funding. Our school system already has one of the lowest expenditures per student in the state. With insufficient funding, our school system will be damaged, perhaps irreparably. Our children cannot speak out for themselves or vote in the referendum, so we must do it for them.

So, consider the following budget cuts already incurred: the superintendent reduced requested funds by over $1.7 million; the Board of Education cut $714,000; the Board of Finance cut $400,000.

The total town and education budget will result in a tax increase of 4.8 percent (as the budget currently stands). This is less than last year’s increase, which the taxpayers overwhelmingly endorsed by passing the budget by over 1,000 votes. Of the Board of Education’s requested school budget (a 7.95 percent increase over last year), almost all of it (7.61 percent) is due to uncontrollable/fixed costs that do not directly benefit the children, such as: contractual salary increases, skyrocketing oil and health care costs, and costs related to growth. The $400,000 cut by the Board of Finance brings the education budget increase down to 7.19 percent. One could do the math and recognize that there will be losses in the school system with the $400,000 cut. This could translate into 6-7 teacher positions, or could mean significant reductions and/or elimination of other services and programs.

The Board of Finance acted irresponsibly when they cut $400,000 from the education budget. They apparently did not heed the clear message sent by the taxpayers last year and they did not listen to those who spoke in support of the Board of Education’s budget this year. These cuts were made despite the fact that the Board of Finance stated publicly that the Board of Education had put together a good budget.

Last year there was a large turnout of concerned citizens at the Legislative Council budget meetings. The Legislative Council acted fairly and responsibly and approved the budget without further reductions. They listened to the comments presented to them; asking for the budget to be put to the test of the voters. Taxpayers then came out in record numbers and passed the budget by over a 1,000-vote margin.

This year we must continue to ask for quality education in Newtown.

So, what can we do?

• Come out to the Legislative Council public hearing on March 30 at 7:30 in Reed’s cafetorium. You can come to make a comment or just come to show your support. Just being there makes a statement. Bring others with you. If you have children, you can bring them if you need to.

• Ask the Legislative Council to reinstate the $400,000 cut by the Board of Finance.

• Vote Yes in the referendum on April 26th.

Let’s all come out and unify for the children of Newtown. It may not be convenient to go out that night, but do it for your children. They’ll appreciate it one day.

Michele Hankin

48 Mount Pleasant Road, Newtown                           March 23, 2005