Back Sliding On Education

To the Editor:

First, I’d like to thank the Board of Education, the superintendent, and the district staff for collaborating on ways to limit the damage to core education if this budget passes with the $1 million reduction to the BOE-requested budget intact. While the news is not good, at least parents have the information they need.

Based on the meetings I have attended and the options that the BOE is considering, if this budget passes there is no way that the district can maintain the level of services provided today. Reductions in transportation options, consolidation of routes, scaling back on school supplies, increasing headcount in certain classes, eliminating unapproved bus aides, tapping the accumulated pay-to-participate funds and revisiting the number of teachers in the elementary schools. These are all options on the table should no more money be restored to the education request before the budget passes.

We’ve been down this road before and we’ve seen what happens. If school parents thought last year’s reductions were ugly, wait until September.

The Legislative Council overreached. Now it needs to get this budget passed by reducing their proposed cut from $1 million to half that amount. I will not support a budget that sends education backwards for another consecutive year.

Kevin Fitzgerald

 24 Old Farm Hill Road, Newtown                               June 20, 2012