How Far Can Colleen Palmer Stretch a Dollar?

Supt. of Schools Dr. Colleen Palmer was left with another dollar to play with next year after the Board of Finance voted to wipe out the Board of Education's entire $341,000 proposed spending increase for fiscal year 2011-12 — minus a buck.

The 4-2 vote was taken along party lines at the Board of Finance's Wednesday night meeting, with all Republicans in favor and all Democrats opposed to the cut.

Chris Baudouin, a Republican Board of Finance member, talked about "what's coming down the pike from Hartford," with Gov. Dannel Malloy proposing a state budget with increases in the income tax, sales tax and removal of the property tax credit. He said the consensus of the majority of the board was not to increase the burden on taxpayers with more increases from the town.

"Our responsibility is not just to look at the Board of Education, but the whole town," Baudouin said. "There's a balance. We have to come up with what's best for the entire town. No one got what they wanted."

While the proposed Board of Education budget increase was cut by 0.66 percent, the proposed increase on the town side was cut by 0.7, according to Board of Finance Chairman Mark Reed, a Republican.

But a group of education supporters attending the meeting did not see things the same way. They expressed concern over larger class sizes and one parent accused the Board of Finance of playing politics.

"Unlike the others who spoke, I wasn't surprised," said Kelly Plunkett, a school board member and a Democrat. "It's an election year. What first selectman wouldn't want to say he cut education to zero percent? And I'm not surprised it's a party line [vote]."

First Selectman Steve Vavrek, a Republican, appeared irritated as he watched Plunkett from his seat, but he declined to comment on her accusation.

Town Councilwoman Michele Mount, a Democrat, said residents should vote down the budget until officials put the education funding request back.

Palmer, who attended the meeting, said a zero budget may mean a higher rate for pay-for-play in sports and other after school activities and turning the Chalk Hill School building over to the town.

The Board of Education had planned to "hibernate" Chalk Hill next fall due to a decline in the student population. The sixth grade would go to Jockey Hollow Middle School and the basement floor of Chalk Hill would be used for alternative education. This was meant to save the district money and to buy the town time to decide what to do with the building.

Stating her case

A newly negotiated teachers' contract with a hard freeze on salaries and $400,000 in projected savings on health insurance allowed the Board of Education to propose a $51.77 million budget with a 0.66 percent increase over the current $51.43 million spending plan.

Much of the rationale for the finance board's decision to cut $341,000 from the proposed increase was that the district should save money from 18 teacher retirements.

However, Palmer told finance board members the savings are not realized in the first year. She said $1,571,472 would be saved in salaries, but $1,019,288 would be spent on retirement payouts.

"If the board votes for a zero budget, I want you to know there's no cash cow from these teachers retiring," Palmer said.

While enrollment has gone down, the superintendent said the district has already been aggressive in reducing staffing — cutting 30 classroom teachers over the past two years. In fact, Palmer added it may have been too aggressive.

The hiring of 3.45 new teachers for 2011-12 was meant to reduce larger class sizes at the elementary school level, but the $208,366 to make it happen was part of the proposed spending increase for 2011-12.

Palmer said the district will also lose $356,242 in federal job recovery funds used to hire new teachers, meaning the town will have to pay for their salaries and benefits.

Impassioned pleas

Several parents and one student made impassioned pleas to Board of Finance members not to vote to bring the education budget to a zero increase. Most complained about crowded classrooms and of their children getting upset when their teachers were laid off.

"How many more bright young teachers will be let go this year?" Lisa Dutkowsky asked.

Mount said a zero increase would send the message that Monroe does not care about education.

Phyliss Kansky, a former Town Councilwoman, said, "I have no children in this school system, but I think you're going down a slippery slope if you decide to take education down to zero."

Board of Education member Alan Vaglivelo, a Democrat, said, "I was pretty shocked when I heard a zero percent increase. We talk of declining enrollment. Another thing I see declining is the public's faith in our schools. We need money to stabilize the district."

Board debate

Finance board vice chairman, Mike Manjos, a Republican, said the board had to approve a town budget that will pass at the referendum the first time. Monroe traditionally has multiple referendum votes before residents adopt the town's annual operating budgets.

Manjos, Reed, Baudouin and Scott Ownes all stressed that their vote for a zero budget increase for the education budget does not mean they are against education. Manjos told residents gathered in the Town Council Chambers that he has two sons enrolled at Monroe Elementary School and that both have large class sizes.

"Yes I would like to fully fund education and then some," he said, before adding now is not the right time to do that.

The finance board's two Democrats, Ted Quinlan and Dan Hunsberger, voted in favor of a motion by Hunsberger to put the education funds back into the proposal, but that went down 4-2.

"When I look at a zero percent increase for education, I think it's irresponsible for our children and the property values," Quinlan said. "I would like to see the Board of Education budget back to what was approved and let the taxpayers decide. We're a body of six. It's larger than us. Let them decide."

"We want to get something that passes. Last year, we went on and on," Ownes said of the multiple referendum votes. "We have to move on with our life."

Hunsberger said, "To do this just to pass a budget on the first round does a disservice to the public."