School Board Tries To Decipher Charter Vote Implications

By Tanjua Damon

The Newtown Board of Education this week tried to gauge the impact of voter approval of two charter changes on its budgeting timeline.

Members of the board did not endorse the charter revision proposals because they would complicate the hiring of teachers, completing summer projects, and planning for the 5/6 school. Specifically, the board took issue with the timeline that was proposed in the Charter Revision, which would delay the vote on the budget until the end of May, or if not approved the first time, to the middle of June.

Superintendent of Schools John R. Reed spoke with First Selectman Herb Rosenthal during the day Wednesday and was told that the attorneys would have to interpret how the charter changes would affect the town and school budgeting process.

Board of Education Chairman Elaine McClure said the voters sent a clear message.

“They did reject three out of the five questions. All they did, as I understand it, is create a Board of Finance for six members. Everything else in my understanding was in Question One [which was rejected],” Mrs McClure said. “It may not be what we were hoping for but it’s the will of the people. It will be interesting to see how it all turns out. I hope the attorneys look at the questions as they are worded.”

Question Two does not specifically state that the timeline of the budget process will be changed. It does state that it will change the budget process “by requiring the Selectman’s budget [Town operating budget] and Board of Education budget be submitted to the Board of Finance, which would be empowered to make any changes deemed to be appropriate and pass the revised budget to the Legislative Council for approval.”

“I would hope that given between February 22 and the early part of April that these two bodies will be able to get their work done,” Mrs McClure said.