The School Bd

On The Budget

To the Editor:

The Board of Education is writing this letter to reiterate what we believe is critical information for every taxpayer in Newtown to understand prior to the budget vote on Tuesday, May 6.

In early March, the Board of Finance voted to decrease the Board of Education’s proposed budget request by $400,000. In April, the Legislative Council deliberated at length and concurred with this decrease. The budget was then forwarded to voters; on April 22, it was rejected. Immediately following this rejection, the Legislative Council reconvened and voted to further reduce our funding by an additional $775,000. The resulting decreases total $1,175,000. As a result, our request now represents a $3.7 million increase (eight percent overall). In order to clarify how that funding is dispersed, costs can be categorized as follows:

*$1.7 million for contracted salaries/negotiated raises

*$1.1 million for annualization of the Reed Intermediate School

*$600,000 for new staffing/benefits due to enrollment growth

*$500,000 for basic medical benefits increase for existing staff

*$300,000 for special education tuition placements

It should be noted that the above amount reflects totals which have yet to be adjusted by the board, in light of reduced funding. Since fixed costs comprise nearly all of the requested increase, it is self-evident that a reduction of $1,175,000 will decidedly impact our current school program. Assuming a budget is accepted by the voters on May 6, the Board of Education will hold comprehensive deliberations on what, specifically, will be affected and to what extent. Discussions will include programmatic changes such as: significant increases in high school pay-for-play activities; curtailment or elimination of extracurricular/athletic programs; adjustments to the busing schedule; diminished gifted programs; and closing of the high school pool, among many other considerations.

We cannot predict how Newtown will vote in this upcoming referendum, however, we are certain of one thing: if the current proposal is rejected, and subsequent dollars are lost, discussions about how to reapportion funds will include all-encompassing measures that will significantly alter existing programs. Please vote Yes to preserve all that we hold dear, as a community and as a school system.

Sincerely,

Newtown Board of Education

Elaine McClure

Vincent Saviano

Margaret Hull

S. Earl Gordon

Lisa Schwartz

Andrew Buzzi

4 Fairfield Circle South, Newtown                                April 30, 2003