Superintendent of Schools Dr Lorrie Rodrigue presented a proposed 2019-20 budget of $78,108,940 or a 2.7 percent increase from the current year’s budget, at the Board of Education’s January 15 meeting.

The superintendent’s spending proposal, Dr Rodrigue said, was designed through the lens of “sustained programming, new academic pathways, enhanced student supports, and social/emotional learning.”

“This proposal is more than numbers or statistics or percentages. But it is more sincerely, I think, about how we continue to improve, including those internal staffing needs, the structuring, and resources we are requesting that will ensure our students continue to get what they need to be successful,” said Dr Rodrigue.

The Board of Education will review the proposal before approving the 2019-20 budget for further review by the Board of Finance and Legislative Council. The school board is scheduled to vote on its budget at a February 5 meeting. The 2018-19 school budget was approved by voters last April for $76,054,231.

Local administrators submitted an initial budget request of $79,665,361 or a 4.75 percent increase from the current budget, to the superintendent. That request was reduced by $1,556,421 for the superintendent’s proposal. According to the presentation, salaries and benefits are 78.3 percent of the total budget.

The proposed budget will support the district’s Strategic Plan, mission, and Board of Education priorities, according to the presentation. Pertaining to the Strategic Plan, Dr Rodrigue noted the inclusion of “STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math] and, of course, professional development in that area, the expansion of world language at the fourth grade, and additional experiences that we are developing for our students to help prepare them for the future.”

Social/emotional learning is also a theme in the budget, according to Dr Rodrigue, who added that fostering positive behaviors, improved attitudes, and responsible decision-making skills are integral to learning.

Major impacts on the budget’s development listed by Dr Rodrigue include enrollment, state aid uncertainty, mandated graduation requirements, special education support services, curriculum, contractual obligations, and facilities and maintenance.

The majority of the district’s revenue comes from taxes — roughly $71,424,846, as shared at the meeting. Other financial supports include the Educational Cost Sharing grant, other grants, local tuition, and more. Dr Rodrigue said the district does not anticipate changes to the Education Cost Sharing grant. For the Excess Cost Grant, which supports special education services, Dr Rodrigue said the district is budgeting for a $1,507,875 grant reimbursement, based on this year’s eligible student needs.

The superintendent also spoke about the district’s continuing efforts to reduce its carbon footprint in collaboration with the town and the resulting benefits.

“In professional services, collaborative efforts with our special education department and parents have resulted in students having appropriate access to services by utilizing our own staff and not necessarily being outplaced,” said Dr Rodrigue.

Enrollment And Class Size

Regarding enrollment and class size, Dr Rodrigue shared projections and efforts being made to meet the needs of student groups and decreasing class size where appropriate.

“We have 17 additional students expected at the elementary level for next year,” said Dr Rodrigue while sharing projections, “but 100 fewer students at other levels across the district... We expect a total of 83 fewer students overall [from kindergarten to twelfth grade.]”

Dr Rodrigue also shared graphs in her presentation that show a correlation of decreasing enrollment and decreasing staff levels. Additional staff is still needed for next year, she said, stressing the decisions were made around programming and sustaining existing programs. Certified staff increases include a kindergarten teacher at Hawley Elementary School, a first grade teacher at Hawley, a reading interventionist at Middle Gate Elementary School, a track coach at Newtown High School, and a part-time district-wide Spanish teacher. Non-certified staffing requests include part-time paraeducators for math or reading at Hawley, Sandy Hook Elementary School, and Head O’ Meadow Elementary School. With staffing reductions included, the net total staffing increase for both certified and non-certified staff is $7,108 more than the current budget.

The district is also requesting a new position: a director of teaching and learning, which will offer support at the district-level, according to Dr Rodrigue. The position would support growing mandates, facilitate improvement, and help asses data. The position would begin about halfway through the year and would cost about $76,450 for the second half of the year. Later, multiple district principals expressed support for adding the position, including Reed Intermediate School Principal Anne Uberti who expressed the position would help foster educational cohesion between the district’s schools.

Of the proposed 2.7 percent increase, Dr Rodrigue said, “We feel this is a reasonable investment for all of our students, and it includes both the sustaining of core programming while both adding new and enhanced opportunities and supports to meet all of our learners’ needs.”

Board of Education members asked some questions following the presentation before school principals spoke about their proposed school budgets. Board member Debbie Leidlein asked how district assessment data was used to figure a number of plans for next year. Board member Dan Delia asked a range of questions, and he requested achievement scores compared to Newtown’s state determined District Reference Group (DRG) be provided alongside its spending comparison offered in the presentation.

The school board will continue to inspect the budget until it votes to support its proposed 2019-20 budget. The superintendent’s proposed spending plan is available here.

A story on the board's review of school budgets at its January 15 meeting is available here.