For the past two months the BOE has deliberated on Superintendent of Schools David Abbey’s proposed budget, which he had reduced to $122,305,502 in response to the BOE asking he keep it under a 3.5% increase.
But taking a first step to move forward with a 10-year facilities study known as the Antinozzi Report, the BOE is requesting $834,000 to go toward funding some of its first-year recommendations.
Emphasizing its point, the BOE also had Elio Longo, chief financial officer, separate other building and grounds costs totaling $2,273,541 out from the budget proposal, at least for discussion purposes, which in themselves account for a 10% increase over the current year.
In a meeting that went past 11:30 p.m., the board reviewed a list of specific items members had considered adding back in or cutting, including staff, tech materials and bus monitors.
“If it’s a safety feature, we need it on every bus,” said member Lee Goldstein. “If it’s not on every bus, it’s not a safety concern.”
The BOE realized a $90,000 saving with the cut, despite Abbey recommendation that it remain.
The board also took away $20,000 for a furniture account, $36,000 from the ongoing purchase cycle for Smartboards, and $25,000 from the innovation fund.
At the same time it added back in $228,200 for the two elementary science coaches, plus benefits, and another $94,880 for a middle school literacy coach, plus benefits.
A motion to cut a .5 FTE (full-time equivalent) assistant principal at Saugatuck Elementary School with a $79,000 impact was narrowly defeated in a 3-to-4 vote, following a good deal of public input on maintaining the position.
With both Coleytown Elementary and Greens Farms Schools each operating with only 1.5 FTE assistant principals, while the other elementary schools have 2 FTE, several members of the public expressed a need for the district to maintain parity.
In terms of items being cut, one parent raised the question of why certain programs like elementary science had been brought to the chopping block, while others—in particular the elementary world language program—are not being looked at.
“Maybe take a look at what can be cut on the parts that are not as successful,” Jen Greely said, noting the elementary Spanish curriculum costs $1.26 million and testing results of fifth graders who have participated in it for six years are very poor.
“Instead we’re taking cuts in the programs that do work,” she said, speaking on behalf of her school’s assistant principal and the impact she has had.
Kristin Schneeman, a Representative Town Meeting member from District 9, agreed with Greely’s assessment, noting many parents have brought the program into question.
“What evidence are we using to base decisions on?” she asked, noting there was “a lot of unhappiness in Westport” about the elementary world language program
For the past two months the BOE has deliberated on Superintendent of Schools David Abbey’s proposed budget, which he had reduced to $122,305,502 in response to the BOE asking he keep it under a 3.5% increase.
But taking a first step to move forward with a 10-year facilities study known as the Antinozzi Report, the BOE is requesting $834,000 to go toward funding some of its first-year recommendations.
Emphasizing its point, the BOE also had Elio Longo, chief financial officer, separate other building and grounds costs totaling $2,273,541 out from the budget proposal, at least for discussion purposes, which in themselves account for a 10% increase over the current year.
In a meeting that went past 11:30 p.m., the board reviewed a list of specific items members had considered adding back in or cutting, including staff, tech materials and bus monitors.
“If it’s a safety feature, we need it on every bus,” said member Lee Goldstein. “If it’s not on every bus, it’s not a safety concern.”
The BOE realized a $90,000 saving with the cut, despite Abbey recommendation that it remain.
The board also took away $20,000 for a furniture account, $36,000 from the ongoing purchase cycle for Smartboards, and $25,000 from the innovation fund.
At the same time it added back in $228,200 for the two elementary science coaches, plus benefits, and another $94,880 for a middle school literacy coach, plus benefits.
A motion to cut a .5 FTE (full-time equivalent) assistant principal at Saugatuck Elementary School with a $79,000 impact was narrowly defeated in a 3-to-4 vote, following a good deal of public input on maintaining the position.
With both Coleytown Elementary and Greens Farms Schools each operating with only 1.5 FTE assistant principals, while the other elementary schools have 2 FTE, several members of the public expressed a need for the district to maintain parity.
In terms of items being cut, one parent raised the question of why certain programs like elementary science had been brought to the chopping block, while others—in particular the elementary world language program—are not being looked at.
“Maybe take a look at what can be cut on the parts that are not as successful,” Jen Greely said, noting the elementary Spanish curriculum costs $1.26 million and testing results of fifth graders who have participated in it for six years are very poor.
“Instead we’re taking cuts in the programs that do work,” she said, speaking on behalf of her school’s assistant principal and the impact she has had.
Kristin Schneeman, a Representative Town Meeting member from District 9, agreed with Greely’s assessment, noting many parents have brought the program into question.
“What evidence are we using to base decisions on?” she asked, noting there was “a lot of unhappiness in Westport” about the elementary world language program
