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Westport Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon is recommending the Board of Education not seek restoration of the $1 million cut from its proposed 2006-07 budget, according to a memo released today.
The board will discuss Landon’s recommendation during its meeting Monday at 8 p.m. in Bedford Middle School.
Last Monday the Board of Finance cut the funds from the proposal saying the cut should be made to the insurance fund. The finance board will hold its restoration hearing on Wednesday.
The changes mean the 2006-07 school budget would be $82 million if the Representative Town Meeting gives its final approval in May. It is a 4.3 percent increase over the current budget of $78.6 million.
Landon said today the cut will not impact any instructional programs or other important plans such as continuing maintenance projects.
“It only affects our insurance reserves and we still have money,” he said.
Additionally, he said, the Board of Finance assured him and the school board that if there was a mistake it will consider fixing it.
“I would have liked the cut to be less, but with their assurances I am comfortable,” he said.
Landon said the initial budget proposal was “lean and mean” and tighter than other area school district proposals.
The Board of Finance, he said, recognized the efforts to keep the education costs down and did not cut it. He is grateful for that, he said.
