The Westport Board of Education tonight approved its 2010-2011 budget of $96. 5 million, a 2.13 percent increase over the current year.
The adopted budget was less than the 2.9 percent increase requested last month by Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon.
The Board of Finance, which had urged the educators to come in with a flat budget, will consider the education budget along with the municipal budget in April.
The education budget was pared by saving money on a bus contract, economizing on fuel costs, and cutting back on supplies.
If they set the thermostats in the classrooms to someplace below inferno, perhaps they could come in with a flat budget!
Meg, that is a great idea. Actually if the whole country set their thermostat to 68 in the winter and 72 in the summer the whole country would save a bundle of money. Alas we tend to do the opposite.
for what it’s worth, my daughter freezes up at BMS!
Whats next Donald, A billion dollars
Mr. O’Day:
Will the board continue to rubber stamp Elliott Landon’s salary increase just like before or will you and the board give the *appearance* of a vetting process and then rubber stamp the increase?
Gosh Matt what a trick question – my Westport, CT public education (was and still is award-winning, even if I am not) equipped me to spot a loaded question like that quite handily.
Just what do you think the school superintendent in Westport, CT should be paid, given our high standards and our high cost of living in this area? And should his or her salary remain frozen? Is yours frozen?
Well, Mr. Whittle, I would say for the unresolved issues and lawsuits filed against the BoE/Landon I would be inclined not to keep increasing his salary.
Take a look at the President of UConn last year, he declined the increases offered to him because of the economic conditions facing his school and the state that funds it.
Or the inequity of compensation towards the Superintendents of Bridgeport, New Haven, and Hartford who face real challenges in their systems.
Like I said vet him just a little so it seems like there is concern. Window dress it if you will.
Elliott could “just say no.” 🙂
Dear Mr. O’Day,
I probably thought this was an increase:
https://www.westportnow.com/index.php?/v2/comments/board_of_ed_extends_landons_contract_to_2012/
Silly me. $15k in incentive is not a salary increase nor is $3k in travel expenses.
Please review the comments that followed that post. Quite a few folks were not pleased with that “non increase.”
At the end of the thread is a note about Michael Hogan of UConn turning down $100k in a bonus because of the fiscal troubles for the state.
should we be considering zero based budgeting?