By James Lomuscio
After hours of hearing parents and school officials plead from the podium for a full restoration of the $1 million cut from the Westport Board of Education’s 2010-2011 budget, the Board of Finance late Wednesday voted 4 to 3 to restore just half—$500,000.
That amount had initially been proposed by Democratic board member Allyson Stollenwerck as a compromise, but it did not receive a second.
In contrast, board member Avi Kaner, a Republican, had pushed for an $803,000 restoration, an amount seconded by fellow Republican Edward Iannone.
On the opposite side, Helen Garten, the Democratic chairman, made a motion for restoring only $100,000, adding that the school board might recoup an extra $300,000 from its capital and nonrecurring fund. Her motion did not receive a second vote.
When it came time to vote, Kaner’s $803,000 restoration was voted down 4 to 3. Like an auctioneer working in reverse, he quickly down shifted to $650,000, losing that to a 4 to 3 party line vote as well. The audience groaned loudly following the vote.
Kaner then called for a five-minute break, after which the board returned with a motion to reintroduce Stollenwerck’s $500,000 compromise.
It passed by 4 to 3 with Stollenwerck joining Republicans Kaner, Iannone, and Charles Haberstroh in approval while her fellow Democrats were opposed.
The school board boosters, who had argued that the proposed budget was lean, only a 2.1 percent increase over the current year, were not pleased. Garten instructed them to take their comments outside.
Throughout the evening, parents and PTA officials, speaking on the heels of school board chairman Don O’Day and Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon, had extolled the school system as the town jewel that wooed many to Westport from New York City.
They also argued that not restoring the full amount would compromise the quality of education for the town’s most precious resource, its children.
Only one resident, Michael Calise, spoke against the full restoration, saying, “There are thousands of Westporters who cannot afford a tax increase.”
He cited increased unemployment and projected, higher state and federal taxes. He particularly noted a tax on unearned income effective in 2013, a tax he says will decrease the value of rental properties, shifting the tax burden to residences.
The Board of Education has the option of seeking full restoration at the Representative Town Meeting (RTM) budget sessions in May.
What will full day kindergarten five days a week cost? I know the superintendent is proposing this from the current three day (which was suppose to be ‘budget neutral’). What is the cost of teaching kindergartners Spanish? And how much value is in that?
While I certainly don’t like to see cuts in the school budget, I was against it last year and I’m not pleased to see it again this year. However, I do think there are areas to sharpen the pencil and some belt tightening could be exercised.
Especially when they want to increase the kindergarten day, which in my humble opinion is the answer to a question no one asked. Perhaps the cost to expanding this program is only negligible, but it illustrates how those proposing spending more money aren’t using their resources as wisely as they could and maybe should start realizing you can’t have everything they want (at least right now). And I say this as someone who moved here for the excellent schools and who has two children in elementary school and another who will start.
Believe me I don’t want to compromise what we have, but I think partial restoration is reasonable and even generous when you compare it to what the BOF gave the town toward restoring what they had requested.
Hey Raho,
The westport school system is no different than bridgeport, east hartford, or Bangladesh for that matter, so get used to emptying your pockets for NOTHING baby!
Half a million $ in this town just about gets you a nice fruit basket. You knew that when ya moved here, now go get yer shine box!
Doug –
Really? No different? Must have missed the info you surely must be relying upon . . . .