School Bd Presses For

June Vote On 5/6 School

By Tanjua Damon

The Newtown Board of Education urged members of the Legislative Council to support the June 20 vote for the 5/6 school after learning that some members of the council are considering a delay in the town vote on the project.

At the Board of Education meeting Tuesday night, the board unanimously supported a resolution that “urges the Legislative Council to strongly support the schedule which would permit the approval of the 5/6 school project by the town of Newtown in the month of June.”

A presentation was made to the council on April 11 on the planned schedule of construction for the proposed 5/6 school. The $33.2 million project has already been put out to bid to general contractors. The board is asking the council to hold a special meeting on May 9, so that the council can vote on the project and then send it to the voters on June 20.

Members of the school board learned that two subcommittees of the council on Fairfield Hills and finance were scheduled to meet this week on Thursday night on bonding the 5/6 school project and the possible purchase of Fairfield Hills. They hoped to convey their hope for a timely vote on the issue in June to both the subcommittees and to the council as a whole next week.

The school board also sent a signal to the council and the town that it would support the council’s proposed $72.9 town budget by urging voters to approve the budget at the April 24 referendum.

Board members admitted their disappoint with the council’s decision last week to put an additional $65,000 in unanticipated revenue from the state into the contingency fund instead of putting it into the education budget. The school district’s budget was cut by $800,000 during the budget process this year, costing the district eight new teachers.

“I thought we made some strong appeals and it was not even brought up for discussion,” Elaine McClure, school board chairman, said. “It was very disappointing.”

School principals addressed the council at their April 11 meeting, explaining that the loss of the new teachers will increase class sizes in district schools, including the middle school and Sandy Hook School.

“That should have been the place were we held the most sway,” Earl Gordon said. “I was disappointed to see we didn’t make a difference.”

School board members are not denying that this is a difficult budget year for the town with the possible purchase of Fairfield Hills and the proposed 5/6 school.

“I understand the council’s difficult task. I fully support the budget. I don’t think people realize the importance of things,” Vincent Saviano, school board vice chairman, said. “I’m for the budget. That gesture of $65,000 would have gone a long way in saying the Legislative Council supports the Board of Education. We can’t stop fighting for our kids.”

 “There is a very real need that has been articulated time and time again. I was dismayed by the [council’s] unwillingness to listen to that need,” Sheila Stickles said. “Maybe they’ll just look a little bit deeper to see the needs of the Board of Education as we always try to do.”