By Samaia Hernandez
Record-Journal staff
shernandez@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2266
As published in the Record Journal Thursday January 7, 2010
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WALLINGFORD – From building maintenance to adult education, the cuts proposed in the $88,599,670 school budget for 2010-11 are deep and affect all 12 public schools, including a major restructuring of the elementary schools.
The proposal is an attempt by the central office, fearing potentially deeper cuts from the mayor and Town Council, to keep cost increases as small as possible. However each department can expect to lose something.
While some admit a new, three-grade elementary school model may not initially go over well, they insist that it will best serve student learners. At the same time, several unions have already begun to entertain the idea of opening negotiations if it means saving jobs.
"Unlike last year, when there were no certified staff layoffs, Wallingford is now faced with a phenomenon that many other districts – 99 out of 159 reporting to the Connecticut Association of School Superintendents – have already experienced," said Superintendent Salvatore Menzo, whose proposal calls for 55.6 teacher layoffs and the elimination of an additional 117.1 full- and part-time positions out of roughly 1,130. "In the coming weeks, we hope that our budget workshop sessions and discussions with unions will garner additional savings that will mitigate the impact on personnel.
After unveiling the plan Tuesday night, school officials held meetings with union heads Wednesday.
"Obviously we’re concerned, because you’re talking about losing jobs, and you have to be concerned about that," said Annie MacDonald, president of the Paraprofessional Union of Wallingford Local 75, which has roughly 200 members. "One of the things is: at least we feel it’s fair. It’s across the board. One union isn’t taking a hit any more than any other union."
MacDonald, a paraprofessional at Rock Hill School, said the union will meet with officials again next week to learn how many jobs might be saved if concessions are made.
The Educational Administrators Association of Wallingford said that it has entered into discussion with the superintendent, while the teachers union’ of more than 600 members is holding off for more information on how the proposed cuts will impact the budget.
"There are still a lot of unknowns," said Richard Harkawik, president of the Wallingford Education Association. "We have a lot of questions about the decisions."
"At this time we have no inclination or desire to enter into negotiations over this. We need to see whatsoever remedies or solutions are out there," he said of the union, which is still under contract to receive a wage increase.
A major cost-saving measure calls for the reconfiguration of the town’s eight elementary schools, potentially uprooting children and sparking objections from parents and students. The plan would convert Highland, Cook Hill, E.C. Stevens and Moses Y. Beach into kindergarten-through-Grade-2 schools. Yalesville, Parker Farms, Pond Hill and Rock Hill schools would serve only grades 3-5.
The plan is designed to equalize enrollment numbers and reduce class sizes, and better distribute services such as literacy and mathematics coaches, providing a more narrowed focus on each grade level.
While some have concerns about uprooting students with special needs, and about transporting several young children to more than one school, MacDonald said she is convinced that even though the plan proposes to cut 34.1 paraprofessional positions, it is a good move that will permit student growth. "I think, ultimately, educationally it’s a great move," she said. "Again, it’s going to be hard for people to wrap their minds around."
Jennifer Bennett, who has two children at Moses Y. Beach, would be directly impacted by the change, since one of her children would then be directed to Rock Hill. Drop-offs and pickups could be difficult, she said, but if days were staggered, it could be easier to transport students to both schools. "I prefer the idea of children spending six years at the same school," said the mother of five, "but I understand that we all have to cut back, including schools, including government. Everybody needs to stop spending."
Other key parts of the proposal include
- reducing the school year by three days,
- charging families between $100 and $300 for high school students to play sports,
- reducing school building budgets by 30 percent, and
- eliminating several middle-school after-school programs, such as chess and flag football.
Tags: budget, cuts, restructure, Schools, taxes, Wallingford