Local officials spoke in Hartford on Tuesday, February 21, to share Newtown's perspective on state budget proposals. Both Superintendent of Schools Joseph V. Erardi, Jr, and Board of Education Vice Chair Michelle Embree Ku testified Newtown could face a $6.8 million funding gap if the state's proposed budget is not changed.

The testimony submitted to the Appropriations Committee followed the unveiling of a $40.6 billion two-year budget proposal by Governor Dannel P. Malloy earlier this month and recent announcements about the state's Educational Cost Sharing (ECS) Program. Testimony at the hearing mostly centered around education funding, according to a number of reports, from roughly 200 people. Hearings were scheduled throughout the week on different subjects.

In Dr Erardi's written testimony, he said he hoped his 40 years of experience as an educator - 30 of which were as a school administrator and 18 of which were as a superintendent - would earn him three minutes of the Appropriation Committee's attention.

"At this moment I share my thoughts with you perhaps never having greater concern for Connecticut children ... all children," Dr Erardi's testimony reads. "I fully align and support with the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents position regarding the following: The proposed plan must include both free and reduced lunch or the Husky Plan to appropriately indicate children of poverty; the minimum special education reimbursement percentage that a district must receive has to be at least 30 percent of the actual cost ... significantly different than the 0-55 percent proposed sliding scale for reimbursement; [and] there should be no burden of teacher retirement on any local municipality."

Following the hearing, Dr Erardi said on Wednesday, February 22, that he is proud of Ms Ku and Board of Education Secretary Debbie Leidlein, who both appeared before the Appropriations Committee on Tuesday. The superintendent also said he appreciates Newtown State Representatives Mitch Bolinsky and JP Sredzinski, who both serve on the state's Appropriations Committee.

"Presently, as proposed, the impact on Newtown would be an additional $6.8 million, which simply is a tipping point to disaster," Dr Erardi's testimony reads. "In a community that has modeled rebuild for this nation, to witness the revenue shortfall would simply unravel four years of partnership work on multiple levels. The state of Connecticut, our governor, and this legislature has stood incredibly tall with support and understanding for Newtown. They did so by collaborating, making informed decisions, and acting in the best interest of children. I ask the governor and this appropriations committee to give those voices who need to partner with you the opportunity to solve the deficit problem of practice that has lead us to this crossroad."

While Dr Erardi said he did not read from his written testimony, he spoke about it before the committee. On Wednesday he shared concern - which was also reflected in his testimony - that the state Board of Education and the commissioner of education have been silent on the proposal so far, leaving Connecticut's students with no voice at the state level. The superintendent said he asked the committee to engage knowledgeable people who understand schools to help find a resolution to mitigate the millions needed across the state.

"I am blessed to work with a school board, leadership team, staff, and community who are simply 'all in' and demonstrate their commitment every day to children," Dr Erardi's testimony reads. "I assure you that if this community, which remains deep in needed dollars with mental health concerns and safety, was to absorb a $6.8 million revenue loss, our daily credo would be an impossibility."

Ms Ku and Dr Erardi shared their testimony in separate rooms before the Appropriations Committee. With so many people speaking on subjects, mostly centered on education, Ms Ku said the committee had to divide the meeting in two. Dr Erardi said he has never waited for half-an-hour "just to get in the door" for a hearing before.

Reps See Work To Do

Rep Bolinsky said on Wednesday that it is hard to compare the level of response the Appropriations Committee has received to former years, but said it feels like a normal level. He was happy Ms Ku, Ms Leidlein, and Dr Erardi came to the hearing on Tuesday, and said he has been speaking with local officials about how the state budget could hurt Newtown. Sharing his disappointment with how the state budget was originally drafted, Rep Bolinsky also said he is optimistic the Appropriations Committee will work to address the issues.

"There is quite obviously a whole lot of work to do," said Rep Bolinsky, adding that he anticipates the work on the state budget will last beyond the end of the legislative session.

Rep Sredzinski said on Wednesday that he was present when Dr Erardi spoke on Tuesday, and said Dr Erardi came off as stoic, knowledgeable, and concerned. While Rep Sredzinski said the state's proposed budget is far from perfect, he said the committee will work hard on it. For towns like Newtown and Monroe - which Rep Sredzinski also represents - impacts to education funding can be a burden when over 60 percent of the total budget is made up by education funding.

A Devastating Budget

In Ms Ku's written testimony, she acknowledged the need to re-evaluate educational funding and shared her appreciation for the "added support of $10 million to special education in the state budget."

"But I also want you to know that assigning one-third of the responsibility to fund teacher pensions to districts seems arbitrary and unfair, and, as proposed, the budget would be devastating to our community," Ms Ku wrote.

With a nearly $7 million gap in a $74 million budget, based on the changes to the ECS distribution, special education funding, and the teacher pension fund, Ms Ku said Newtown's elected officials would be left with the options of depleting savings within two years; cutting services; or increasing taxes if the Board of Education learns of the gap before the 2017-18 budget goes to referendum in April. In the last eight years, Ms Ku said Newtown has had an average education budget increase of 1.4 percent.

Increasing taxes, she estimated, to meet the "gap" would be roughly a 9 to 11 percent increase.

"In a town where taxpayers directly vote on the budget in referendum, similar to many towns in Connecticut," Ms Ku wrote, "the state's imposed tax would almost certainly be rejected."

What will happen to education if some districts are devastated by the resulting funding gap and the vast majority of the remaining districts lose support from the state, and how this affect the state's economy over the long term, were among the questions Ms Ku left the committee to consider.

On Wednesday, Ms Ku said she asked the members of the Appropriations Committee to go back and speak to their own superintendents about how they would handle a nine percent cut from their district's budget.

"I think there is a lot of consternation about how everybody is going to manage their budgets, which we are all working on right now," said Ms Ku, who also added her appreciation of Rep Bolinsky asking her follow-up questions at Tuesday's meeting.

Rep Bolinsky said anyone feeling a sense of worry should get involved by reaching out to their state representatives, senators, and other elected officials to add their voice.

"The budget is still a work in progress," said Rep Bolinsky, "but be involved."