Connecticut School Officials Prepare For Cuts to Special Education

December 17, 2009

A half-million-dollar cut in state funding for special education and an expected $1 million increase in expenses has Ledyard Public Schools seeking drastic solutions.

"We’re in the middle of a storm," Superintendent Michael Graner said Tuesday. "But no storm lasts forever. We need to do what needs to be done to weather this."

The cut in special-education funding prompted Graner and the Board of Education to initiate a freeze on "all expenditures, except items essential for classroom instruction," according to two letters sent to parents. The district is also considering reorganizing its schools and may eliminate as many as 13 positions.

Ledyard is not alone.

"This is not a Ledyard issue, it is a state issue," said state Rep. Tom Reynolds, "Every town is being affected by the tapping of the special-education reimbursement grant."

In early versions of the state budget, a higher percentage of towns’ special-education funding would have been reimbursed. But Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s budget decisions in September cut state aid to Connecticut cities and towns by 3 percent, leaving special-education funding among the hardest hit. This year, the state will reimburse Ledyard for 77 percent of its special-education budget , less than initially anticipated.

"All of our towns were prepared for a reduction, but they were not prepared for the scope of the reduction," Reynolds said. "That’s what we’re wrestling with as we speak."

Because the state budget covers two years, the district does not expect higher levels of special-education funding next year, Graner said. It must also meet contractual increases in teacher and staff salaries and will face higher transportation costs.

Graner said he will ask for contracted employees to defer wage increases next year, a move that could save close to $1 million, and the district plans to offer incentives for early retirement, which he estimates could save another $100,000.

The 2011-12 financial year could bring even more cuts in state funding to public schools. Federal stimulus money will no longer buoy the state’s Education Cost Sharing (ECS) grants. (This year and next, stimulus money makes up 14 percent of ECS grants and comes with conditions that the state cannot reduce its share of the funding.)

While budget cuts and wage concessions can help, Graner said, the school system is weighing more serious options.

"The real problem is the magnitude," he said. "If we had to cut a relatively small amount, that’s one thing. But there’s not really much more to cut. That’s the problem."

The school district is considering reorganizing its elementary schools, having kindergarten through second grade grouped together and third, fourth and fifth grades together. Graner said that would allow for fewer classes in each grade while preserving class sizes.

"The huge downside," he conceded, "is you lose the community-school concept. To lose that community-school co nnection is not something that anyone is taking lightly."

Another possibility would be to rearrange the schedule for high school students, who would take seven classes a year rather than eight, Graner said. That would reduce the number of classes being taught.

Graner said there are also plans to eliminate four elementary school teaching positions, six high school teaching positions, an elementary school assistant principal, a secretary and a custodian. Some of those 13 cuts could be achieved by means of incentives for senior teachers to retire.

On Monday, Graner met with teachers. "It was a sobering conversation," he said.

The Board of Education is holding a public forum tonight to review financial data and gather feedback from the community.

Graner said that, regardless of its decisions, the district will take steps to maintain its "instructional core," which he defined as reasonable class sizes, well-trained teachers, appropriate materials and a districtwide curriculum.

But some parents say administrators are moving too quickly.

"My biggest concern for me is that this is a bigger picture than just our children and schools; this is our town itself," said Leslie Masten, co-president of the PTO at Ledyard Center School. "People move here because of the schools. I lived here many years ago and when we had kids I said, ‘I want to live in Ledyard.’ … This affects more than just people with children, and I don’t think they’re thinking about that."

Kerri Charette, a parent who started a Facebook group for parents to discuss possible changes, said she hopes the school district does not rush to a final decision.

"Change is always scary, and as a teach er I know it can be very disconcerting to move buildings," she said. "That being said, it can work out. It just needs to be thoughtfully considered."