Westport Schools Supt. Elliott Landon tonight presented what he called a “3 R’s budget” of $74.9 million to the Board of Education for the 2004-2005 school year that is a 6.9 percent increase over the current year’s budget.
Schools Supt. Elliott Landon goes over budget figures tonight with board chair Sandra Urist. WestportNow.com photo
In a document prepared for tonight’s Board of Education meeting at Staples High School, Landon characterized the budget as being built on “3 R’s” re-examination, rationale, and responsibility.
“Whether addressing personnel, curriculum, equipment or facilities, every decision in this budget is both educationally and fiscally responsible,” he said.
He told the board that he shaped the budget “clearly cognizant of the fiscal pressures bearing down on the Town of Westport.” He called the 6.9 percent increase “modest.”
Landon reminded members that a year ago when he presented the current year’s budget, he had a goal of “not to do business as usual.”
He called the year-ago proposal “a pared down budget that, while educationally sufficient, was far from optimal.”
The new budget maintains “excellent class sizes we have been able to secure at the elementary and middle school levels” and further reduces academic class sizes at Staples High School, Landon said.
The budget includes addition of several staff members due to enrollment increases and program enhancements.
It also adds $125,000 to the fuel and utilities accounts for anticipated increases in use in the expanded and renovated Staples, he said.
There is also a $70,000 expenditure for beginning the process of duct cleaning in “select schools” to ensure healthy school environments for students and staff, Landon said.
Landon noted that the budget also includes an $800,000 reduction in the medical insurance reserve, an area of repeated discussion with the Board of Finance and Representative Town Meeting.
The budget does not provide for funds to restore last year’s start times to Coleytown Elementary and Coleytown Middle Schools.
The controversial issue has been discussed repeatedly by board members and was a hot item during the November election for board members.
Landon has said it would cost $250,000 to move the schools back to the original start times, money he said he would rather spend elsewhere.
