After Superintendent of Schools Dr Lorrie Rodrigue presented her proposed 2019-20 budget, multiple school principals spoke to the Board of Education at its meeting on January 15 about proposed school budgets.

As presented, the superintendent’s proposed 2019-20 budget of $78,108,940 is a 2.7 percent increase from the current year’s budget. The Board of Education will continue to review the spending proposal before voting on its budget, which will then go before the Board of Finance and Legislative Council for review. A story on Dr Rodrigue's presentation is available here.

Principals from Hawley Elementary School, Sandy Hook Elementary School, Middle Gate Elementary School, Head O’ Meadow Elementary School, Reed Intermediate School, and Newtown Middle School spoke to the board at the meeting regarding their school budgets. Newtown High School’s budget is slated to go before the school board at its following meeting, scheduled for January 17, after this edition of The Newtown Bee went to press.

According to the Superintendent’s Requested Operational Plan, Hawley is anticipated to have 315 students for 2019-20. This year, the school has 310 students. The school’s proposed budget is $2,312,351, an 8.91 percent increase over the current budget.

Principal Christopher Moretti said professional development will be further supported at his school next year.

“We wanted professional development because we really spent the last two years coaching each other, supporting each other, [and] helping each other,” said Mr Moretti. He added later, “We are also increasing some of the paraeducator hours to support our students throughout the day.”

The requested operational plan says Sandy Hook School is projected to have 369 students next year, and the school currently has 364 students. The school’s proposed budget is $2,453,006, a 3.98 percent increase from the current budget.

One “addition” in the proposed Sandy Hook budget, according to Principal Dr Kathy Gombos, is more math and reading paraeducator hours to allow more classroom supports. She also stressed how valuable the elementary school guidance counselors are for the schools.

“On behalf of the elementary principals, we are absolutely 100 percent in favor of the director of teaching and learning. We think it is a really important position, and we are really excited for that piece,” said Dr Gombos regarding a newly proposed district-level position in the 2019-20 superintendent’s budget.

Middle Gate is projected to have 341 students in 2019-20, and it has 361 students this year, according to the requested operational plan. The school’s proposed budget is $2,476,792, a 4.74 percent increase from the current budget.

Middle Gate Principal Christopher Geissler highlighted some aspects of the budget for the board, like the school’s social/emotional learning program.

“We are very appreciative for the board’s support for maintaining the counseling position and also allowing us to pilot a behavioral program as well. The behavioral interventionist position has done wonders for our school,” said Mr Geissler. He added that a similar position was added at Hawley, and he hopes it will continue to grow in the district.

Head O’ Meadow is anticipated to have 311 students next year, and it has 283 students this year, according to the requested operational plan. The school’s proposed budget is $2,266,230, a 3.77 percent increase from the current budget.

Summarizing his school’s budget, Principal Tim Napolitano said there were few operational changes proposed for Head O’ Meadow, and the school continues to make progress “in all areas.”

School board Vice Chair Rebekah Harriman-Stites later expressed concern regarding a class size “jump” between second and third grade of 15 students to 23 students in a class, and Mr Napolitano said extra support will be provided if needed. According to discussion at the meeting, class sizes are more accurately known before the start of the school year.

Reed’s anticipated enrollment is 588 next year, and it has 624 this year. It’s proposed budget is $4,018,295, a .59 percent increase from the current budget.

Principal Anne Uberti said efforts at Reed include developing a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) curriculum and science units.

After years of decreasing enrollment, Ms Uberti said a “hefty” cut was made to the school supplies budget. She also offered her support of creating the position for a director of teaching and learning. She noted a request for increasing a position for a psychologist in the building.

NMS’s projected enrollment is 680 students for 2019-20, one fewer student from the current year. The school’s proposed budget is $4,821,756, a 1.53 percent increase from the current year.

“Like all of our schools, we want to put forth a budget that is fiscally responsible but also maintains those social/emotional and academic [programs] we offer at the middle school,” said Principal Tom Einhorn, while sharing an overview of programs offered at the school, including a Project Lead the Way (PLTW) robotics class.

Mr Einhorn also said the school is looking at “return on investment activities” that support student achievement.