2010/11 Budget Update
Over the past week, a number of Board of Education meetings have taken place regarding next year’s budget. Below is an update of what transpired at these meetings.
· Due to the difficult financial situation affecting the town, the Board of Finance has stated that it expects to the BOE to develop a budget with no more than a 3.5% increase.
· The Superintendent’s proposed budget currently stands at 5.8%. The Superintendent’s 5.8% budget includes one 1.25FTE new teachers for the high school (despite a projected increase in enrollment), a 10% cut in operating costs at DHS and a reduction of 4 non-certified staff at DHS.
· The BOF’s request will require the BOE cut an additional $1.5 million from the Superintendent’s budget which has already cut the operating budget to the bone and forced DHS class sizes to rise above the BOE guidelines.
· Contractual salary increases for teachers are slated to be approximately 3%, insurance premiums are expected to rise 28%, and the BOE will have a revenue shortfall due to a reduction in reimbursement for special education expenses.
· Given that the BOE has no control over these fixed costs, the BOF 3.5% budget expectation means that the BOE will be forced to make significant cuts to operating costs.
· Recognizing that there has been a large increase in enrollment at DHS with more students expected next year, the BOE appears to be inclined to add teachers to the DHS budget so as to ensure the quality of education is not negatively impacted. However, achieving the BOF’s 3.5% budget across the district will mean painful cuts in other areas to ensure our student’s education is not compromised.
· Modifications currently under consideration by the BOE include:
o Cutting funding for all clubs and councils district-wide. This would have the potential to have a far reaching impact at the high school threatening all student organizations including NEIRAD, National Honor Society, Student Council, Theatre 308, Yearbook, Blue Wave News, etc.
o Instituting an activities fee or cutting all interscholastic sports
o Elimination of replacement computers for aging technology in the classrooms.
o Elimination of intramurals district –wide.
o Elimination of DHS Senior Internship program.
The Board of Ed has been asked to make significant cuts in the budget and has responded by proposing modifications that will significantly affect all areas of the high school experience. While none of us would like to see any reductions made to education, programs or sports at the high school, the reality is that in these economic times, sacrifices will need to be made. Our goal should be to ensure that no one area is disproportionately affected at the expense of the others. It is critical that we communicate to the BOE and the BOF that academic excellence at DHS cannot be compromised and that students still need the opportunity to be involved with their school and community.
Here is what you can do:
1. Attend or speak at the public hearing next Tuesday, February 2nd at 7:00 in Town Hall Auditorium. Students are also welcome to speak. Please let us know if you need any additional information for your speech. We would be happy to provide it to you.
2. Write letters to the editor. Newspaper contacts can be found by clicking on the following link. If letters are submitted by next Monday they will be printed in Thursday’s edition. http://www.darienps.org/dhspa/flyer/DHSContacts.pdf
3. Contact BOE and BOF members. Contact information is available by clicking on the following link. http://www.darienps.org/dhspa/flyer/DHSContacts.pdf
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