As another city budget year winds down, it seems there is much
mis-information circulating here in Norwalk. I write this letter to
clarify facts as they pertain to the Board of Education budget request.
Last year, the Board of Education budget was approved with an increase
of just over 2%, the lowest increase in the state. Everyone was
thrilled. But, this carried with it a problem for this year, one that
was made clear by the Superintendent to the Board of Education, Board
of Estimate and Taxation and the Common Council. The warning: next
year’s budget would be artificially high due to the use of one-time
funds to keep last year’s budget artificially low. Now it’s next
year.
Fact 1. It will cost over 5.5% to maintain programs that currently
exist. That is the same budget, the same programs that were approved by all City boards last year.
Fact 2. The Board of Education budget, as it now stands, is a 6.2%
increase. This includes some modest improvements, mainly designed to
keep students out of study halls and put them into classes in Brien
McMahon and Norwalk High Schools. Interested students have already
signed up, literally hundreds of them, for the added classes. The
classes may have to be cancelled.
Fact 3. The budget as it now stands, with a smaller increase, will
mean over 3 million dollars of reductions. Reductions suggested by the
Superintendent the include requested improvements, athletics,
academically talented positions, literacy specialist positions, and
many, many more.
Fact 4. The initial budget request for the Board of Education was a
7.7% increase. This was based on information available in the fall.
Current updated information and refined estimates have reduced the
increase to 6.2%. The City has been kept informed of this information
as it became available.
This is my 16th year on the Board of Education. Each budget year
presents challenges, but this year is different. The increase seems
high, but keep in mind last year’s was artificially low. What is
important is the product we provide for our students, and how we choose to invest in them.
Over the last 6 years our school system has made great progress.
Curriculum has been rewritten for every subject area. Millions of
dollars has been invested in new and renovated facilities and
textbooks. New teacher and administrator evaluation plans now hold
people accountable. And a district improvement plan that is being used
as a model for the state has been approved.
But the approved budget, as it stands, can’t even support what we
now have in place and results in a step backward. It just doesn’t make
sense. Especially in light of the cost, an added $2 a week, maybe even
less.
The Common Council can allow more funding to the Board of Education at their April 10 meeting. Let your Council representative know your
thoughts, at the meeting, or before. Do it for our students, all 11,000
of them.
Thomas J. Vetter
