School Board Braces For ‘Devastating’ Cuts

By Tanjua Damon

Newtown’s education community is bracing itself for the cuts to its proposed $50.7 million budget, which reflects a 10.59 percent increase over the current school budget.

The main topic of conversation at this week’s Board of Education meeting was the “devastating” effect on local education should the expected reductions come to fruition.

The Board of Finance members told the district earlier in the week that they could recommend cuts to the district budget in order to help overburdened taxpayers. Various scenarios were discussed at the Monday night meeting, but no definitive numbers were set. The Legislative Council has yet to commence its school budget review.

“It was unbelievable last night,” school board chairman Elaine McClure said during the Board of Education meeting Tuesday night. She expressed apprehension about her next scheduled meeting with the finance board the following night. “They want more blood than we think we can give them. All that we have worked for is going to a climax tomorrow night.”

Board members pointed out that if $1 million were cut from the school budget, the tax savings would be less the $100 per year for properties assessed at $275,000 or less. They questioned whether that small savings is worth the damage such a reduction would do to the school system.

“Really it isn’t fair to dismantle a school system for such a minimal tax savings,” Director of Business Ronald Bienkowski said. “The problem is revaluation. It’s not the budget. That’s what’s going to cause double digit figures for folks. To balance on the budget is frankly irresponsible.”

Superintendent of Schools Evan Pitkoff explained to the board that if there is a reduction in the district’s budget, probably cuts would include the fourth grade orchestra, which could reduce teaching positions because it would leave fewer students needing instruction; bus transportation requiring middle school students to ride buses with high school students; two teachers at Reed Intermediate School increasing class sizes in both fifth and sixth grade; the autistic program would be moved to Sandy Hook School instead of Middle Gate School where an additional resource teacher will be cut; more reductions in the technology budget; and less money for maintenance projects.

“The town of Newtown needs to understand what they are signing up for,” board Vice Chairman Vincent Saviano said. “I think the people need to hear what this could mean. It means nothing is sacred –– teachers, extracurricular activities all for a $100 savings. The schools have made our property values skyrocket. We should be celebrating, but we’re being punished for it.”

Ms McClure said that class sizes would not be compromised in order to meet the suggested reductions the Board of Finance talked about on Monday.

“I’m quite adamant class sizes is not where we’re going to give in,” Ms McClure said.

Smaller class sizes are part of what gives Newtown the opportunity to succeed, according to Dr Pitkoff. Allowing for individual attention and students at risk of failing an opportunity to excel.

“Budget cuts of the magnitude I’m hearing in the rumor mill devastate the school system in the long term and help taxes for the short teem,” Dr Pitkoff said.

School board members assured the public that they understand the economic times, but the board also wants the public to understand that with proposed cuts, there will be a negative impact on the children and the education in town.

“We’re not ignorant of the times. The taxpayers in Newtown are good people,” Ms McClure said. “If they understand the grave savings … I don’t believe they wouldn’t support the budget.”

“We’re starting to talk about areas that raise people’s interest quickly. These are possible places,” said board member Earl Gordon. “They do illustrate the situation we are in. They demonstrate how tight things are. Knowing that we do realize there is going to be significant consequences, it leaves us to wonder what kinds of stewards we are going to be.”

Members of the board stated their confusion and frustration with the initial representation of revaluation. Mr Saviano said he was having a difficult time with “the lack of communication.” He was referring to initial statements by town officials that revaluation would cause a third of people’s taxes to go down, a third to rise, and a third to stay the same. But now it looks like 80 percent of the town will see an increase on their taxes whether the budget goes up or not.

Parent Amy Cameron encouraged the board to put forth what kinds of reductions would be considered so parents and taxpayers will see who ultimately will be punished –– the children.

“I think parents and taxpayers need to know what that means. If people in the town hear that, they are going to have to say enough is enough,” Ms Cameron said. “Why do the children of this town have to continue paying that price? Aren’t the parents of the town supposed to look after their educational needs? These huge cuts are not saving them any money.”

Mr Saviano fears that people truly do not understand what a $1 million in cuts can mean to the district.

“One million dollars will be a dramatic change. It means nothing is untouchable,” Mr Saviano said. “There are very few categories that can be cut. The things that we can will cut our kids and this town big, big, big. It won’t take one year to dig out of this if we do it. It will take years. All that we have done will be thrown away if a million-dollar cut happens.”