Wallingford Board of Ed Approves Budget with Full-Day Kindergarten, 4.88 Percent Increase

The Wallingford Board of Education will send a $98.3 million budget recommendation, which includes full-day kindergarten and expanded preschool opportunities, to Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr.

The budget, which represents a 4.88 increase in spending for the 2015-16 school year, was approved by an 8-1 vote Monday night.

In an email to the Wallingford Public School community, Superintendent of Schools Salvatore F. Menzo said the increase is “made up of both sustained services expenses (what it will cost to the run the district with the same programs as this year) and strategic plan initiatives (such items as full-day kindergarten and expanded preschool opportunities).”

Full-day kindergarten is expected to cost $304,500 while the preschool expansion program carries a $117,000 price tag.

Board of Education Vice Chairman Joe Marrone voted against the budget because he said the “4.8 percent increase wouldn’t be sustainable, so I can’t in good faith vote on (it),” according to the Meriden Record-Journal.

Now that the board has approved the budget, the recommendation goes to Dickinson for review.

In his email, Menzo outlined the following steps that will happen next:

• 1. On Tuesday, March 10, 2015, the Board of Education will host its annual Town Council Potluck Supper at which time the budget is reviewed with Town Council members.
• 2. Based on the information provided by the Board of Education and follow-up discussions, on or around April 1, 2015, the Mayor will provide all departments with his budget recommendation for 2015-16.
• 3. In April, the Town Council will host two meetings at which time the Board of Education will be present to discuss the budget request. One of the two meetings is explicitly set aside for public questions and comments. The dates have not been set for these meetings, but will be communicated with parents when they are available.
• 4. Tuesday, May 12, 2015, the Town Council votes to approve a 2015-16 budget.
• 5. In June, the Board of Education votes on any adjustments to the budget necessary to meet the allocation approved by the Town Council.

Read the board’s full budget recommendation here.

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