School Board Passes 4.64 Percent Budget Increase

A divided school board passed a budget totaling $36,270,845 after a 4-3 vote at Friday night's special meeting.

The school budget includes a 4.64 percent increase, which amounts to $1,608,488.

"We have historically speaking been fiscally responsible," Chairperson Andy Powell said of the budget. "We have not come to the town for additional monies. There's only one town that's more efficient than us," he said referring to state-wide school efficiency rankings.

A number of items were eliminated from the budget to reach the new number. They include (in reference to the district's at-risk list):

• 1. IT Storage Area Network SAN-Backup - $22,000
• 2. IT Web Filter - $4,040
• 4. TIS 1.0 Grade 3 Teacher - $60,868
• 5. BGP 1.0 Grade 1 Teacher - $60,868
• Numbers 7 -20: A collection of maintenance projects, ranging in costs from hundreds of dollars to several thousand dollars
• 28. IT Storage Area Network - $22,000
• An increase in pay-to-play sports fees: $225 at Tolland Middle School, $325 for JV and varsity sports at the high school

The at-risk list is available near the top of the article and has detailed explanations on each item.

The board whittled down the superintendent's latest adjusted budget, which was a recommended 5.67 percent increase. (The recently released adjustments were due to fluctuations in insurance, transportation costs and insurance HSA enrollments, amongst other changes.)

The board also weighed the possibility of cutting the world language program at Tolland Middle School. However, the removal of the program would be very damaging to the students and school's schedule, according to Principal Walter Willett, so the board kept the program and decided to focus on cuts that would maintain the "status quo" as much as possible for Tolland education.

Since the first grade and third grade teaching positions, coupled with declining enrollment, would cause little change in those class sizes, the board ultimately decided to remove the positions, which could have potentially reduced class sizes from the current average of 22 students, according to the at-risk list.

Tolland Intermediate School Principal James Dineen said that even maintaining class sizes may not be sufficient.

"Our status quo right now is not good enough," he said. "The teachers can't effectively meet the needs of all the students in the classroom."

Gayle Block, Steve Clark, Powell and Tom Frattaroli voted for the 4.64 percent increase. Althea Gill, Karen Kramer and Christine Vincent voted against. Frank Tantillo and Robert Pagoni were absent.

The school board will now submit the budget to Town Manager Steven Werbner.