BOE Hears From Public, Delays Snow Day Decision

Parents had a range of advice for the Board of Education on Monday night as it heads toward budget deliberations.

More than one resident told the board during a public hearing at the Municipal Center that whatever recommendation it puts forward will be trimmed by the Board of Finance or Legislative Council, so it was unnecessary to cut any part of Superintendent of Schools Janet Robinson’s budget request now.

“This is not a time for luxuries, however, the budget she has shown you is not a luxury,” Julie Luby said.  “To not ask what we need assures the fact that we wouldn’t get it.”

Other residents, such as Laura Main, told the education board she did not believe officials were offering enough details on school spending and asked for more financial accountability.

“We need to be sure the money is being allocated properly,” she said. “I feel like there’s lots of work to be done. Again I want to thank you all because you have started this journey. Please continue.”

Still others addressed the issue of adding full-day kindergarten to the district's offerings, among one of Robinson’s recommendations.

Lauren Abdulrahman said she initially was against full-day kindergarten, believing that little children should be given more opportunities for the creative play and socialization that does not come from being in a classroom for several hours.

But then, she read on Newtown Patch who said children in half-day kindergarten are expected to learn the same material as those in a full day program, a compressed schedule that can create stress and anxiety for the children.

“I’m not really certain what the answer is,” Abdulrahman said. “I ask you to look at that and make sure it is in the best interest of our kids.”

On Tuesday, Feb. 8 the education board will start deliberations. The board also will use that meeting to decide whether .

Feb. 18 was supposed to have been a day off but given the many snow days this season, officials are considering designating it a make-up day. While Robinson said that the executive board of the teachers' union appeared willing to have teachers come in that day, the general membership had not been polled.

“I would not feel comfortable acting on that without further discussion with the union president and having a report tomorrow,” board member Andrew Buzzi said during the Monday hearing.

Presidents Day on Feb. 21 also is a day off but is a federal holiday, and board members appeared to hesitate in saying schools should be open on that day.

A majority of people who took an online poll organized by the district said they were in favor of holding classes on Feb. 18. But not everyone was convinced that was a good idea.

“At this point, with a little more than a week and half, to talk about the 18^th doesn’t make sense to me,” board member David Nanavaty said, adding he also was against canceling part of April break. “It doesn’t make sense to take over the April break unless we get saddled with 10 or more snow days.”

Nanavaty said if the district were to get many more snow days than the eight already on the books, officials could decide to reduce the number of school days to the state minimum of 180. Newtown’s school calendar normally has 183 days of classes.

Superintendent of Schools Janet Robinson said after some consideration, she would recommend leaving the calendar unchanged.

At the moment, June 23 is the last day of classes, which leaves five more snow makeup days but officials said they were concerned those could be eaten up by bad weather, including due to excessive heat.