Stratford Star

UPDATED: School board could vote Thursday on budget

Written by John Kovach
Monday, 13 February 2012 16:30

The chairman of the Board of Education said Monday that Mayor John A. Harkins has shown preliminary support for the 2012-13 school spending plan proposed by Schools Supt. Irene Cornish.

The Financial Review Committee reviewed the the draft proposal Monday, and will reconvene Thursday, Feb. 16, at 6 p.m. at 1000 East Broadway to further the discuss the "itemized list of expenditures." A special meeting of the Board of Education will immediately follow that meeting, at which a vote could be taken.

School board Chairman Gavin Forrester said he had met with Harkins, who was pleased with the increase as it stands now.

Supt. Irene Cornish presented an “itemized list of anticipated expenditures” Monday, Jan. 23, that increases four-tenths of 1% (.41%). The increase over the current budget would be $378,347, to a total slightly less that $93.8 million, if the board did not make any additions or subtractions. CLICK HERE TO READ THE ORIGINAL STORY ON THE PROPOSAL.

She said that increase would allow status quo, with no school closing and the migration of the foreign language program into sixth grade. It does not restore freshman sports.

Finance Committee members were waiting Monday for answers to questions regarding the proposal, which they were scheduled to receive Tuesday. An update will be posted once those answers are received.

One sticking point did rise Monday night. Forrester said Harkins had told him the town was expecting a $250,000 contribution toward post-retirement benefits.

Cornish said she had a different recollection of the meeting, and said Harkins told her he was OK with the $250,000 not being contributed if it meant no schools would close.

Forrester said it would take a cut of more than $250,000 to close a school.

The plan could change after the Feb. 8 announcement by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy of a change in the Educational Cost Sharing formula. Malloy's proposal indicates an increase in state aid of $576,597, or 2.81%, from slightly less than $20.5 million to slightly more than $21 million.

Marc Dillion, chief of staff for Harkins, and Forrester both said Feb. 8 it was premature to consider or comment on the proposed increase as it has not been approved by the state legislature, and details have not been spelled out.

Forrester said Monday that Malloy's proposal is being met with skepticism on both sides of the aisle.

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