Technology plan gets boost in Trumbull

Trumbull schools' three-year technology plan is looking at a $125,000 to $300,000 boost.

The Board of Education voted use the remainder of its surplus for the technology plan, which involves replacing computers as old as 12 years. Funding for all-day kindergarten is taking $875,000 from the surplus.

"We haven't moved forward on our three-year technology plan in four to five years," said Schools Supt. Ralph Iassogna.

The impetus of the decision came from meetings with the Iassogna, First Selectman Tim Herbst, school Technology Manager Jeff Hackett and school board Chairman Stephen Wright, according to the superintendent.

Iassogna said the money would reduce the $2.5 million bonding already approved. All the equipment must be ordered by June 30. 

But the decision did not come easily. Efforts to use the funding to reduce Pay to Play fees failed.

Board member Tom Kelly supported the Pay 2 Play review. Fees went up to $250 a sport. To try out, insurance fees must also be paid. But fees are waived for those who can't pay, iassogna said.

"The vast majority of the requests for waivers were granted," Iassogna said.

According to Kelly, some parents he spoke to did not want to apply for the waiver, out of shame or fear their financial information would be compromised. Trumbull's fees are the second highest in the state, he added.

Iassogna replied that "we did not really probe" applicants' financial information, adding he did not like the district's high fees.

But using one-time funds means that the money may not be there next year, and could cause a funding cliff and/or anger parents, Iassogna noted.

In the past, speakers have told the Board that someone may legally challenge the fees.

An effort to divert $25,000 of the surplus to the Curriculum Department also failed. Curriculum Director Linda Paslov said she is working on what books to order since her budget was cut.

Her department also relies on some technology to write curriculum, Paslov said.

"We're making hard decisions," she said.

The final surplus number won't be known until later this summer.