Schools
More Teachers Could Return after Insurance Money Restored
Two school board members also promised to ask the town for additional funding for freshman sports. The 2011-2012 budget becomes official July 1.
Trumbull’s Board of Education accepted the return of $1.074 million of health insurance funds pulled out of its budget by the Town Council and applied $223,000 no longer required for insurance to rehire three teachers.
The board held a special meeting at the district offices Tuesday night.
Rehires may include a high school teacher, a middle school specialist, the two TAG teachers, or another combination recommended by senior staff to Supt. Ralph Iassogna.
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Freshman sports remain out, but board member Tom Kelly said he will seek additional funding from the Board of Finance after July 1 to restore them.
Iassogna opened by summarizing events. The Town Council created an impasse by transferring the $1.074 million from the education board approved budget to a special purpose town controlled account, then usurping its authority by assigning the funds to the schools’ health insurance line.
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Iassogna told the board and some 25 meeting attendees that if this “were not resolved the board would have to reduce the budget by the same $1.074 million.”
After a week of difficult negotiations the matter has been brought to a workable resolution, though not one in which the town recognizes the education board’s sole right, under state statute, to make line item allocations within its budget.
The First Selectman told the Superintendent that on July 1 the funds will be placed in a special purpose town-controlled account that can be “utilized as the board sees fit.”
This half way measure satisfied the board’s attorney Thomas Mooney, who, despite concerns about the town seeking to control a portion of the education budget, also counseled the board to avoid potentially costly legal recourse.
Board member Lisa Labella introduced a motion calling on the board to accept the funds that “relies upon the representation of the First Selectman that it may expend from the separate account for employee health insurance costs effective July 1, 2011, without restriction, and therefore moves forward with budget adjustments on that basis.”
Iassogna added that “if the funds are not received on July 1, we file an injunction,” but that no legal action can be taken until then.
And, in response to a question from Mr. Kelly, the superintendent said that the board has received nothing in writing from the First Selectman.
Iassogna noted that “if this motion is accepted there is no need to reduce the budget.”
Kelly called the town’s action “an attempt to usurp board authority” and an “end around.” He continued, “I can’t support the motion as long as the money stays in the town’s control.”
Board member Deborah Herbst said she would not be averse to litigation “if we have to,” but hoped that situation would not arise.
Kelly called his concern “one of principle,” saying that he does not want money spent on litigation, but “I don’t want to see any more shenanigans.”
Board Chair Edward Lovely added, “I, too, support the motion… we need to find closure,” and “I have confidence they will make good.”
The motion was approved with only Mr. Kelly voting no.
Iassogna said since the $1.074 million was budgeted, negotiations with Anthem have reduced the projected health insurance need to about $851,000, leaving $223,000 for the board to use for other purposes.
Member Loretta Chory motioned to add $177,000 of federal stimulus funds, rehire two teachers and allocate $83,000 to restoring most of freshman sports.
Kelly stated that though he supports the freshman sports, classroom instruction has a higher priority. The motion was defeated 5-2, with Chory and Herbst in support.
A second motion was made and approved, 5-2, that the entire $400,000 be used at the superintendent’s discretion to rehire teachers.
Ms. Labella closed the meeting thanking everyone who communicated their wishes to the board, and hopes that “going forward, they will stay as engaged as they have been over the last month,” and that she resents the comment about the board’s “political motives” saying that “every cut made was on a list that was initially prepared some two months ago.”
