To the Editor:

During the October 22 Candidate Forum, I asked how we are doing compared with similar Connecticut communities from a fiscal perspective focused on student learning. I called out the following 2017 data provided by the non-partisan, nonprofit Connecticut School Finance Project. Of 19 similar districts (mid-sized schools between 2000 and 7000 k-12 students, in towns with similar demographics), we spent noticeably less per pupil on three key learning-oriented categories noted by the organization. Newtown spent roughly 68 percent on such per pupil expenses while the other districts spent between 71 percent and 77 percent. This difference of three percent (to put us even with the next lowest ranking district) may seem small, but it comes out to over $2 million per year, given our budget at the time.

Since the forum, I’ve tried to find something to account for why we seem to pay comparatively more for the other categories. There appears to be no correlation with enrollment; similar schools had both smaller and larger enrollments. Changes in enrollments (since 2010) do not seem to matter, as five other schools also lost over 20 percent of their student population. Our transportation costs are likely higher, but does that account for such a difference?

What value are we getting for that money? Could we instead use some of it to enhance student learning while also lowering taxes for those who struggle to stay in our community without compromising how well our schools are run? To answer this question, our school board needs to more closely examine what money is spent for student learning, what money is spent outside of the classroom, and why. If elected, I will leverage my research talents to help the board ensure that our students get the best possible education that we, as a community, can afford.

Deborra Zukowski

4 Cornfield Ridge Road, Newtown October 28, 2019