Concerned about a potential tax hike in the vicinity of 5%, the selectmen on Monday night worried over what kind of “non-binding recommendation” to make to the Board of Finance on a proposed school budget that would generate much of that increase.
“I don’t want a failed budget,” said Selectwoman Maureen Kozlark. “I have quite a few people I’ve talked to, who’ve always supported the school budget — they’re going to vote ‘no’ this time.
But Selectman Steve Zemo was uneasy recommending a cut to education spending when Superintendent Karen Baldwin had said the bulk of the 5.7% school increase she is seeking would go to contract settlements and efforts to improve special education services.
He noted that the school budgets have been held to under 3% a year for 10 years, a period when costs were reduced by moving various union groups were moved to health savings accounts.
“I think all the low-hanging fruit’s been picked,” Zemo said.
He was troubled to have heard from Superintendent that 19% of students have individual education plans to address special needs or learn English as a second language.
“Nineteen percent of kids in town have plan. The worst part of it is, the plans are under-funded,” he said. “That’s immoral and illegal.”
The selectmen expect to vote on a recommendation Tuesday night, although with budget meetings scheduled Wednesday and Thursday, as well, they could put the decision off a night or two.
Their discussion Monday night came after Superintendent Karen Baldwin gave a presentation on the school district’s needs and proposed spending.
“We’re seeking an increase in spending of 5.72%,” said Baldwin, who is presenting her first budget as superintendent in Ridgefield.
The request is down from the 5.91% increase approved by the Board of Education in February, thanks to review of benefits spending with town officials and a decision to consider a self-insurance model on dental coverage.
“We’ve reduced the budget $163,645,” Baldwin said. “It’s a $90,999,220 request.”
It’s also considerably more than the 2.2% increase the selectmen are now considering for town departments budget.
Selectmen Barbara Manners said the town also had needs.
“The Fire Department wants an eight-man shift for the safety of the town,” she said. “The library needs a new director.”
Besides special education spending, the school increase is driven largely by a 3.69% salary increase for teachers next year that is part of a three-year 9.75% contract agreement the school board reached with the teachers union — numbers Baldwin said are in keeping with the three-year agreements other Connecticut school systems have been making this year.
“Average settlements across the state were 9.72%. New Canaan and Westport just settled at over 10%,” Baldwin said. “So our 9.75% over three years we feel is fair and reasonable settlement.”
The school budget attempts to address problems raised in an outside consultant’s review of the special education in Ridgefield.
“This budget has made real intensive efforts to be responsive to the needs of all learners,” Baldwin said.
The need for improved school services begins with — but is not limited to — special needs students, according to Baldwin, “Pretty clearly, we’re not serving all children,” she said. “I heard that pretty consistently from parents — parents of children with special needs, and parents of children at RHS who don’t want to take six APs.”
The post School increase at 5.7% leaves selectmen uneasy appeared first on The Ridgefield Press.