Newtown School Budget Enters Last Battle Round Before April 28 Public Vote

By Rebecca Carnes

Spring is not just a time when the snow starts to melt and we go to buy armfuls of Peeps at the grocery store - it is also the time when legislators in town vigorously debate the proposed school budget.

What’s the big deal, you ask? Why can’t I just buy my Cadbury Eggs and wait for the grass to grow?

Well, for one thing, the well-being of education for all Newtown students hangs in the balance. This year’s school budget is a 0.34 percent increase over last year, and promises to retain established programs while also increasing some needed staff and enhancing technology. Taxes will not increase due to the proposed school budget, and there will actually be a decrease of 0.71 percent in town taxes.

Many legislators have called the school budget “modest” and “reasonable.” And with legislative council member George Ferguson giving Superintendent Joseph Erardi a high-five for a job well done during a meeting Monday night, the school budget looks like it has gained positive momentum on its way to greet voters on April 28 for the town referendum.

But there’s a problem. Hardly anybody votes.

Voter turnout for referendums in Newtown has been steadily decreasing during the past few years, with about 30 percent turnout in 2012, 26 percent turnout in 2013, and a mere 19 percent voter turnout last year.

It would seem voters have turned a complacent, disengaged eye towards the allocation of money to improve Newtown Schools.

Dr. Erardi has reached out to many groups and organizations in town in an attempt to rally residents into voting. He isn’t saying vote “Yes.” He just wants parents and residents to be informed about what’s in the budget and vote on April 28.

“My job is to do everything and anything I can to inform the voters,” Erardi said during a phone interview. “And the other part of that equation is for the voters, the electorate, to hopefully do their job and find 20 minutes on April 28 and be an informed voter that day.”

One way voters can become informed and even voice their opinions, is to attend the legislative council meeting tonight (Wednesday, March 25) at 7 p.m. Residents are welcome to come to the Fairfield Hill’s Municipal Center for the legislative council meeting and give input on the school budget before it is voted on by legislators in early April.

Some hot button topics facing the passage of the school budget by the legislative council are decreasing enrollment and two petitions by a small but very vocal group in town that wants $200,000 added into this year’s school budget for an immediate implementation of a world language program in grades K through 6.

One of the group’s organizers, Michelle Assante, who has two children in Hawley School, wants Mandarin Chinese, among other languages, taught throughout the elementary grades. Assante’s group said the school’s implementation of a pilot Spanish instruction program in kindergarten doesn’t go far enough.

Assante and fellow-organizer Carla DeOliveira, have been circulating a petition to force the board to add $200,000 back into the school budget for a language program.

Board of Education Chairman Keith Alexander said the time is not right for this kind of action.

“The best time to bring these kinds of ideas to the Board is between the Superintendent’s presentation and the board vote (December-January). That is when the Board is discussing and considering the educational plan for the school system,” Alexander said.

Alexander said he voted in favor of the pilot kindergarten program to see if introducing it in kindergarten was the best route and because it would give the Board time to gain public input for full K-12 language instruction.

If the group comes forward during the town council’s meeting, Erardi said he will be prepared to share the reasoning behind implementing a pilot program first.

“Because I may or may not be aligned perfectly with what their thinking is, I’m just appreciative we’re all focused on what’s best for students and we’ll always find a way to have that appropriate conversation,” Erardi said.

Image via Shutterstock

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