Following a second referendum in which voters rejected the proposed school budget as too high, the anti-spending group that orchestrated a month-long campaign announced that it was satisfied with the $200,000 cut to the school budget made by the Board of Finance, the June 6, 1988 Press reported.
Friends of Ridgefield spokesman Peter Warren said that his group had agreed to recommend that its members back the adjusted budget and that the matter be taken to a town meeting rather than a third referendum. Forty-one percent of Ridgefield voters — the highest budget referendum turnout on record — turned out and rejected the proposed school budget by a narrow 148 votes.
Following the vote, and after a subsequent six-hour meeting, the Board of Education and School Superintendent David Larsen finally found ways to cut $1.2 million from its proposed 1988-99. The largest single item to go, and the one that drew the most debate, was the extended-day kindergarten program. Seven teachers, a staff evaluation program and much equipment were also slashed from the budget.
Superintendent Larsen’s disappointment was obvious. He had attempted to rally school supporters with a statement, “Ridgefield has been here before. A dozen years ago the Ridgefield schools were without up-to-date textbooks, classes were large at every level and programs for students with special needs were limited … SAT scores were low and less than half of our students went on to four-year colleges. In town, few houses were selling….”
After decades of running full page ads of the Marlboro Man, the Press applauded a recent federal court decision finding tobacco companies liable for damages because of their misleading advertising which had promoted their product as healthy.
Dr. and Mrs. James Finklea announced the birth of their second child, Graham. As announced in last week’s Press, Mr. Finklea recently graduated with a master of science degree in interactive media from Quinnipiac University’s School of Communications.
Other recent births included Dean Marchison, son of Guy and Eileen Marchison of Island Hill Avenue; Diana Rubin, daughter of Jonathan and Amy Redfield Rubin; and Charles Szentkuti, son of Richard Charles and Cynthia Miller Szentkuti.
David Gelfman, son of Dr. and Mrs. Nelson Gelfman of Hessian Drive, received the Frederick Remington Art Prize from St. Lawrence University for his outstanding achievement in art.
Joseph Walsh, former assistant district attorney for Suffolk County, L.I., joined the law firm of Cohen and Wolf, P.C. He and his wife, Barbara moved to Ridgefield a month earlier.
Paul Biagiotti, son of Mr. and Mrs. Aldo Biagiotti of North Salem Road, received a doctorate of veterinary medicine from Tufts University.
Police sergeant John Roche presented a championship plaque to Tiger baseball coach Frank Lancaster in recognition of the Tiger’s 1988 FCIAC championship.