School Board Proposes 5.07% Increase

Just after midnight, Trumbull’s Board of Education brought a five-hour meeting to an end, approving a budget of $91,878,405 for the 2012-2013 school year.

This was a 5.07 percent increase, according to the schools’ Business Manager and the night’s score keeper, Steve Sirico.

Full/Extended Day Kindergarten was retained, with relatively little comment, as were the positions Supt. Ralph Iassogna returned to this year’s budget. Iassogna noted that last week’s Tri-Board meeting (boards of education and finance and town council) allowed “many issues to be aired out,” it informed many elected officials and strengthened the process.

Board Chair Steve Wright began the approval process by telling the audience of almost 50, including a number of Board of Finance and Town Council members, that the board will first consider reductions, then add-backs.

The Cuts

Iassogna began by saying that efficiencies already realized will allow $322,000 to be removed from the budget without impacting any activity. The largest of these is $120,000, realized by lowering the projected medical insurance premium increase.

After another small reduction, board member Lisa Labella motioned for a $122,000 cut from what amounts to a catch all reserve account. One item is $62,000 for the elementary strings program.

After some discussion, including a comment by member Tom Kelly that Trumbull’s Pay-to-Participate fees - $325 for strings – are the fifth highest in the state, and “I’m not sure that’s a distinction we should relish.” 

The motion was withdrawn and replaced by one to cut $60,000. The remaining “strings subsidy” passed unanimously.

Member Loretta Chory offered a long list of small items, making a motion to cut $338,000. The list was almost entirely composed of discretionary items from the 5 percent of the budget the superintendent controls on a day-to-day basis – classroom and supplies and other such items that students see and use daily.

Ms. Chory saw that some items were increased more than her proposed three percent cap, and so reduced each to that number. Reminders from other board members that these were largely catch up after many of cuts to these items that went well beyond the bone would force students to do without.

Chory remained adamant. “The district will have to continue to do without…  three percent is reasonable in this economy.”  Member Mike Ward said, “three percent is totally ridiculous.”

The motion was called and defeated 6-1.

Vice Chair Deborah Herbst motioned for a cut of $338,000 that would overturn items restored to this year’s budget – two school secretaries, elementary interns and some curriculum writing. She reasoned that none of these would impact students negatively.

The motion was defeated five to two, with Ms. Herbst joined only by Ms. Chory in support.

After a break that allowed everyone to get their sugar highs from Linda Paslov’s treats table of chips, candy and a cake (Paslov provides a homemade cake for every meeting), Kelly offered a motion to eliminate $6,000 for curriculum binders. This passed six to one.

And so the cuts segment concluded, with a total of $388,626 approved.

Add Backs

Labella led off the add back portion, seeking $142,000 for part-time teachers for speech and language, technology at the high school and for the growing population on students whose first language is not English. All of these, Labella said, are supported by the administration. The motion carried unanimously.

Labella motioned for two additional teachers at , noting that enrollment has grown by 126 students over the last four years while certified staff has not grown. 

A discussion ensued about whether and where the teachers would be placed.  Robert Tremaglio, THS principal and Julie Luby, B House Principal, replied that the need exists, where they would be placed is to be determined in time to assure that Trumbull hires the best available teachers.

After considerable discussion about the need – Chory remained unconvinced, and Herbst said since the principal could not tell the board where they would be assigned she would not support the motion.

The motion passed 5-2.

New board member Rosemary Seaman, a retired principal, proposed adding two middle school reading teachers. 

She noted that sixth graders who “passed” the CMT were determined to not need reading support, and so were assigned to courses including home economics rather than being challenged to strengthen skills including abstract thinking.

Again, after some discussion, the motion carried 5-2, with Herbst and Chory opposed.

This ended the add backs, with a total of $442,500 returned, leaving the budget $53,874 above the superintendent’s recommendation and 5.05 percent above the current year.

Kelly motioned to direct the superintendent to take $53,874 out of the budget.  Wright noted “it’s not fair to the superintendent, he’s given us his budget,” then a couple of minutes later commented “at this hour I’m willing to be unfair.”

This motion was approved with six votes in favor and Ms. Chory abstaining.

Wright then moved to add a $75,000 staff member to analyze student data to support the district’s internal student assessments and external reporting requirements. After a short discussion a half-time position was approved by a vote of six for, with Labella abstaining.

Shortly after midnight Wright then called for the approval of a budget of $91,878,405, a 5.07 percent increase over the current year’s. The motion was approved 5-2, with Herbst and Chory opposed.

The first selectman has not yet released his proposed budget numbers.