Tolland School Board Officials Distribute Letter On Tuesday's Budget Vote

TOLLAND, CT — Tolland Board of Education Chairwoman Jenn Gallichant and school board vice chairman Bill Bode have written an open letter to the community regarding Tuesday's budget referendum.

Here is the full transcript:

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To the Residents of Tolland,

On Tuesday, May 5th, our community will again head to the polls for the annual budget referendum. As the Chair and Vice Chair of the Board of Education, we are not only officials, but are parents and neighbors deeply committed to the success of our students and the long term well-being of our town.

Tolland Public Schools remains an economically disciplined and efficient district, yet we face a significant cumulative challenge. Over the last decade, our budget increases have been strained by years of minimal growth, averaging only 1.5%, while costs for materials and services rise every year with inflation at a much higher rate. Our per-pupil expenditure ranks 143rd out of 165 districts in Connecticut, placing us in the lowest quartile of the state. We continue to struggle with additional unfunded state mandates which we must enact regardless of the cost to the district.

This year’s budget process required the board to make difficult but necessary decisions. The Board of Education’s adopted budget reflected a 6.7% increase, with more than 4.5% of that dedicated solely to covering the rising costs of existing operations. In our April 30th special meeting, the Board worked in a unanimous, bipartisan manner to reduce the district’s budget to the 3.4% increase directed by the Town Council. Meeting this number was not an easy task, as it contains several reductions to staff, programs, and supplies. We take these adjustments very seriously and we are profoundly grateful to our extraordinary staff who continue to provide exceptional education and support to our students and families every single day.

The choice before us on Tuesday is critical. The overall town budget increases the mill rate by 2.98% and reflects a 3.4% spending increase for the Board of Education. If this budget fails, the Town Council will look to reduce the overall budget further, which will result in even deeper cuts to services and programs. After years of limited funding increases, the impact of further district reductions would be significant for our students.

Great schools are the heart of a great community, but they require a shared commitment from residents. Our highest referendum voter turnout in recent years has been a scant 14% and this is just simply not enough. Education is the greatest gift we can give our children and voting on Tuesday is how we choose to invest in their future. We are both honored to serve this community and are grateful for the compassion and collaboration of our current board, but we cannot sustain the quality of our schools without your support. The strength and stability of our district truly rests in your hands. Please consider voting on Tuesday, May 5th.

Respectfully,

Jenn Gallichant, Chair, Tolland Board of Education

Bill Bode, Vice Chair, Tolland Board of Education