Stratford Star

Supt.'s budget would keep all schools open

Written by John Kovach
Saturday, 28 January 2012 16:27

No schools would close and no more sports would be benched under the “itemized list of anticipated expenditures” proposed to the Board of Education by Superintendent Irene Cornish Monday night, Jan. 23.

“It will allow us to maintain status quo,” Cornish said to the board.

The proposed increase of slightly more than four-tenths of 1% (.41%) would also continue the foreign language program into sixth grade.

The increase over the current budget would be $378,347, to a total slightly less that $93.8 million, if the board did not make any additions or subtractions.

“I have to thank Dr. Cornish and her entire team for their efforts,” Board of Education Chairman Gavin Forrester III said. “This budget maintains the programs that we currently have in place and most importantly does not require us to propose closing any facilities. This is in part due to reduced energy costs as a result of the board’s long-term capital planning, in conjunction with our energy consultants, that have made our buildings more energy-efficient. Along with those savings, by conducting a thorough review of our transportation master plan the administration has been able to come up with significant savings by changing some routes and some school start times to make our district more efficient. Finally, the fact that our medical insurance program has come in with a below-market price increase of approximately 4% has made it possible for the administration to come in with the lowest funding increase in several years, even below many of the municipalities in our area. Based upon the estimate that Stratford has about 28,000 households, the actual dollar figure for the proposed increase is less than $15 per family, or less than a carton of cigarettes.”

Benefit costs drop $1.3 million, a decrease of 7.66%.

Plant operations costs would fall $199,709, a decrease of 4.91%.

The largest increase is in special education costs, 4.66%, or $906,839 more than in 2011-12.

Classroom support spending would increase 7.18%, or $144,364.

Salaries would go up $769,491, or 1.73%.

Transportation would increase $21,596, slightly more than one-half of 1%.

The general services budget would increase 4.87%, or $73,833.

Internal reductions total $600,927 from fiscal 2011-12. Utility savings amount to $221,055. Savings of $200,000 would be realized in transportation by switching the start time for Lordship School to match Nichols School, Cornish said. Funding for library books and materials is cut for fiscal 2012-13, saving $99,373. The elimination of an elementary school teacher saves $56,867, and switching to a new insurance carrier for life and long-term disability insurance would save $23,632.

Sports programs are not changed from their current status in the proposed spending plan. That means freshman sports would not be reinstated.

The proposal would eliminate one teaching position in elementary school, but keep class sizes within board guidelines, Cornish said.

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