The Brookfield Schools Budget: What's Being Cut?

BROOKFIELD, CT — The schools received over a half-million fewer dollars than they requested for the 2018-19 fiscal year, so what's being cut?

The school board had previously elected to defer computer lab upgrades, leave vacant a secretarial position, utilize tutors in lieu of hiring another English teacher, and reduce club stipends. A ride-sharing initiative with Nonnewaug High School will save $31,000, and a principal change will cut $12,500.

For the remaining $54,000, the board has announced it will be cutting $10,000 from the travel and conferences budget, and save another $20,000 by delaying the purchase of of social studies textbooks. The schools will also ratchet back instructional supplies by $10,000. Extended duty pay, which is used to pay employees for work outside if the normal school day or year, will be trimmed by $10,000. The accountants found the last $4,000 in Medicare savings from full-time positions that had previously been reduced.

For more on the latest cuts, see The News Times.