Board of Ed Makes Cuts to Budget

Faced with having to make additional cuts following the defeat of the Regional School District 13 budget at referendum earlier this month, the school board voted Wednesday night to reduce the 2011-2012 proposed budget by $228,000.

The new $34,786,974 budget proposal is a 3.45 percent increase over the current year's budget.

On May 3, voters rejected a $35,011,224 budget proposal - a 4.16 percent increase - by a margin of 80 votes. 1147 residents voted against the budget, while 1067 voted in favor of it.

During the meeting, more than a dozen cost-saving measures were considered by the board, many of which were proposed by Superintendent Susan Viccaro and her administrative team.

Some of the proposals, however, did not receive full support and were tabled, including the reduction of a math teacher, by attrition, at Coginchaug High School.

Several members of the board, as well as some administrators, raised concerns about the impact the move might have on math instruction at the school.

"I don't think we understand what the impact will be. I would not vote in favor of it," board member Kerrie Flanagan said.

Viccaro said the move would force the school to reduce the amount of instruction time for students in Algebra I, therefore reducing the amount of credit students currently receive from 1.5 to 1. Viccaro explained that Coginchaug was "the only school in the shoreline that has Algebra I for 1.5 credits."

Another idea discussed, but not included in the cuts, was the elimination of the nurse at Korn School.

"I'm curious to know why nurses aren't back on the table," board member Norm Hicks asked, referring to Viccaro's previous proposal to reduce the district's nursing staff from six to five.

"Like it or not, I think we need to have a conversation," Hicks said.

"I'm very uncomfortable [with eliminating a nurse]. I don't think when the decision was made to eliminate the nurse we had sufficient evidence," board member Elizabeth Gara said, adding that she didn't feel there was a "safeguard in place to protect" children with medical conditions.

Dr. Joseph Ochterski, who, along with all of the board members, voted in favor of reinstating the nurse following a public hearing in April, said he felt the board should revisit the proposal.

"When I voted last time I took a gamble. I hoped that the community would come out and support [the nurses]. I don't think they did. I think we need to reconsider it," he said.

Later Ochterski was critical of the board's inaction to make deeper cuts.

"Tonight, twice we have taken what the administration says is their best effort... the nurses position and the math position, and through fear said no to them. And I am willing to eliminate those positions also based on fear. But my fear is the second budget will go down," Ochterski added.

New budget cuts include (savings - explanation):

• $92,000 - elimination of Capitol Improvements budget ($50,000 for general building maintenance, $12,000 for wireless upgrades and $30,000 for new gym mats at Memorial School)
• $40,000 - anticipated savings from reduction of transportation costs. The district is currently working on a plan to adjust bus routes/schedules to find efficiencies.
• $25,000 - elimination of stipends for coaching, activities and athletic director. 
• $15,000 - anticipated energy savings
• $12,500 - art teacher reduction
• $12,000 -  IT budget reduction
• $10,750 -  reduction of athletics/general supplies at CRHS
• $10,000 - anticipated salary reduction for new Strong School Principal
• $4,000 - elimination of budget for new music equipment
• $3,000 - elimination of budget to pay for warm up uniforms for Coginchaug Volleyball team
• In addition, student parking fees at the high school would increase from $25 to $50.

The District Meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 25, at Coginchaug Regional High School at 8 p.m. The budget referendum will take place the following day, Thursday, May 26, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Correction: In Patch's original report we did not indicate that board member Dr. Joseph Ochterski abstained from the vote on the budget. It was approved by all other members of the board.