Superintendent Seeks 2.9% Education Budget Increase

UPDATE Westport Schools Superintendent of Schools Elliott Landon tonight presented a proposed 2010-11 operating budget that is 2.9 percent over this year’s budget.
Elliott Landon: Did not restore this year’s cuts. Dave Matlow/WN file photo

“It is a sound budget that is fiscally prudent, fiscally responsible, and educationally appropriate,” Landon said in a memo to the Board of Education.

Landon told a board meeting the $97.3 million proposal was an austere budget and did not restore anything cut in this year’s budget, which was just an 0.5 percent increase over the previous year.

He said these cuts, which included elimination of music lessons at Staples High School, paraprofessional positions at elementary libraries, and fourth grade paraprofessionals, had “a significant impact.”

Landon said the proposed budget includes elimination of two secretarial positions at the high school, adding a high school English teacher, and holding the line on extracurricular spending.

He said some but not all of the extracurricular savings will be made up through private donations.

In his budget message to the Board of Education, Landon said:

“With the Great Recession slowly receding and, with it, a substantial rebound in the assets of individuals and corporations and a slow but steady increase in employment and residential sales, we find ourselves in a much different economic climate than was the case one year ago at this time.

“Nevertheless, as a nation and as a community, although we are able to breathe a collective sigh of relief, we are not fully ‘out of the woods,’ as it is said.

“Cognizant of the upswing in our economic fortunes, but fully aware of the difficulties that continue to confront us, I present for your review and approval my proposed budget for the 2010-11 school year.

“The essence of this proposed budget is a preservation of the vital educational programs we have steadfastly developed and supported over the past many years and program enhancements where they have been deemed critical to our continuation on the path of educational excellence.

“Concurrently, this budget reflects significant cost reductions through prudent fiscal management, involving efficiencies and restructuring, where appropriate.

“In several instances, however, by holding line expenditures to the same level reflected in the current budget, our students and staff will be required to do with less.

“These rigorous actions substantially reduced the amount of this proposed budget from the initial requests of the building principals and others throughout the school system.

“As with last year’s proposed school budget, the proposed budget for 2010-11 will enable us to provide the children attending our schools with the vital educational and support services that will enable them to be successful citizens and providers in the highly competitive environment they will encounter in their many years beyond high school.

“It is a sound budget that is fiscally prudent, fiscally responsible, and educationally appropriate.

“With a very limited 2.9 percent increase in expenditures, I believe my proposed 2010-11 education budget, as submitted, is deserving of Board of Education approval.”

The Board of Education and the Board of Finance will meet together on Friday at the Westport Public Library for their annual extended budget discussion.