Schools

An Open Letter from Tim Herbst

Trumbull's Education Budget Increase was more than in other towns, and the school system is effective and lean.

OPEN LETTER TO TRUMBULL RESIDENTS CONCERNING THE EDUCATION BUDGET

FROM FIRST SELECTMAN TIMOTHY M. HERBST

 

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Fellow Trumbullites:

Last month, the Trumbull Town Council passed a budget that takes a giant step towards restoring the Town’s fiscal health and providing relief to our residents. It was a very difficult process filled with many serious and impactful decisions for our Town’s future.  The budget I proposed, adopted by the Town Council, made meaningful investments in economic development, education, public safety and the Town’s pension fund. This budget will help attract businesses and create jobs in Trumbull. I want to thank everybody involved in the debate over these past couple months. Members of the Board of Education, Board of Finance, Town Council along with our Town employees put an enormous amount of thought, emotion, and personal time into this budget, working towards what we thought was best for Trumbull. I also want to thank the people of Trumbull for their enlightening insight and advice during this whole process.

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During this budget process, some have gone out of their way to suggest that the quality of Trumbull’s Public School System has been compromised.  Rumors around Town have insinuated to parents that schools will be closed, class size will drastically increase and the quality of education will deteriorate.  I have elected to write this open letter to Trumbull residents to dispel the fear mongering, the rumors and the negativity.  No schools are closing.  Class size will not be compromised.  Every Trumbull taxpayer and every parent with children in our school system should know that despite a tough economy, Trumbull has an excellent school system.  Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.    Here are the facts:

  1. The recommended increase of 2.375 percent to Trumbull’s Board of Education budget is similar to other Fairfield County communities that value public education.  Westport’s education budget this year saw an increase of 1.65 percent, Ridgefield saw an increase of 1.81 percent, Easton received a BOE increase of 1.91 percent and New Canaan received an increase of 2.97 percent.  The education advocates who often compare us to these Towns have neglected to mention this year that our education budget increase is in line with, if not better than other Fairfield County communities;
  2. Last year, roughly 2,000 teachers were laid off across Connecticut.  In Trumbull, we not only avoided layoffs, we actually added staff.  As a result, we have maintained class size;
  3. When I ran for First Selectman, I pledged my support for technology enhancements throughout the school district.  Over the last two years, we have replaced 100 computers in our schools and installed SMART boards in all 5th grade classrooms.  Further, when the high school renovation is completed, we will have installed 79 new SMARTboards.  Thereafter, additional SMARTboards will be relocated and installed in our middle schools.  These technology investments will properly train our students to compete in a global economy;
  4. An additional 4.8 million dollars has been invested in public education over the last two years;
  5. CAPT Test scores have improved and Connecticut Mastery Test scores remain strong.  Trumbull children are performing better than children in the Town of Fairfield in many areas of the Connecticut Master Test, despite the fact that Fairfield spends more per pupil than Trumbull;
  6. For the last 25 years, Trumbull has been “talking” about implementing full day kindergarten, but has not taken the necessary steps to implement the program.  I was proud to openly talk about this early childhood initiative in 2009 as a candidate for First Selectman.  As a result of this dialogue, the Board of Education has taken the necessary steps to develop a plan to implement full day kindergarten for the 2012-2013 school year;
  7. When I took office as First Selectman, I committed that my administration would finish the job started under my predecessor, by completing the Trumbull High School renovation on time and under budget.  Through collaborative efforts and with the best interests of taxpayers in mind, we have reduced the costs of this project by 9 million dollars, while maintaining our state reimbursement.  The High School Building Committee should be commended for their hard work in seeing this project completed in a fiscally responsible manner. 

I would like to take this opportunity to address the 2011-2012 budget adopted by the Town Council, calling for an increase of 2.375 percent to the Board of Education budget.  The debate over this budget and the level of increase is larger than just a number.  It is part of a philosophical debate that centers on one question - - does consistently spending more money mean a better education for children?    I am of the mindset that spending more money is not an automatic panacea.  A better education is the direct result of hard working and creative teachers, strong building principals and support staff and committed parents.  This is demonstrated by the fact that Trumbull children are performing better than children in other Fairfield County school districts that spend more money per pupil.

I could not in good conscience, support the Board of Education’s requested 5.38 percent increase.  In this economic climate, how can we justify this type of an increase to Trumbull’s taxpayers when Trumbull’s teachers agreed to a zero percent wage increase for the 2011-2012 school year?  Trumbull is no exception to the effects of a severe economic recession, like no other we have seen in our lifetime.  Many of our residents are either unemployed or underemployed and risk losing their homes.  Senior citizens in Trumbull have not seen an increase in their Social Security over the course of the last two years.  Connecticut has an unemployment rate of 9.3 percent as of March 2011.  With the recently adopted state budget, Trumbull taxpayers will now see a whole host of new taxes, coupled with increases in the gas tax, sales tax and income tax. 

This is compounded by the fact that over the course of the last ten years Trumbull’s education budget has increased by 71.3 percent, with an average increase of 6.1 percent annually.  Between 2001-2009, before I took office, property taxes in the Town of Trumbull increased, on average, 54 percent.  Since 2007, the Board of Education has consistently returned excess surplus funds to the Town: in 2007, they had a surplus of $990,135, in 2008 a surplus of $982,215, in 2009 a surplus of $580,115 and in 2010 a surplus of $825,223.  With these types of increases, I question how anyone could make a plausible argument that the school system is being “dismantled” or “decimated.”  The facts simply do not support that proposition. 

As I have often said, Trumbull is not the Federal Reserve.  We do not print money.  There is only so much our taxpayers can afford.  That is why over the course of the last year and a half I have been committed to reigning in spending and stabilizing the tax rate.  Since becoming First Selectman of the Town of Trumbull, I have repeatedly suggested methods to reduce the Board of Education’s operating expenses without affecting children’s programs. 

Some of these proposals have included pooling health insurance between Town and Board of Education employees, both here in Trumbull and also with surrounding municipalities to reduce our insurance costs.  Why do we have two healthcare brokers being paid for by the Town to duplicate the same function?  Why don’t we have one healthcare broker negotiating health insurance rates for all of our employees?  I have also called for a consolidation of public facilities management between the Town and the Board of Education.  This can reduce duplication and produce savings.  We should also pool our purchasing practices, to obtain more favorable pricing, thus reducing our overall expenses.  These are proposals that could save the Town money without compromising student programs.   

We can produce fiscally responsible budgets in this difficult economy while still providing Trumbull’s children with the programs they deserve.  These two concepts are not mutually exclusive.   

Local government is full of dedicated people who have strong convictions, personal relationships, and long histories.  It’s important to remember that we are all neighbors and despite our disagreements, at the end of the day, we should all have the Town’s best interests at heart.   At times, we get emotional and passionate, and I’m the first to admit that I get very passionate about the issues.   However, I utterly reject the notion that Trumbull’s school system is in decline.  Trumbull has an excellent school system that has made positive strides in the last year and a half. 

I want to thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share with you some relevant facts concerning the budget and public education in Trumbull.  While our job is far from over, my administration remains committed to the ideal that the reality of Trumbull should live up to the promise of Trumbull.  I wish you all good health and a wonderful summer. 

                                                          Sincerely,

                                                          Timothy M. Herbst

                                                          First Selectman

Paid for by the Trumbull Republican Town Committee, Carl Scarpelli, Treasurer.


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