Norwich School Board Panel Proposes $1.5 Million in Cuts

April 13, 2010

Sharply decreasing special education tuition and combining classrooms head the list of more than $1.5 million in cost-cutting measures being proposed by the Board of Education’s Budget Expenditure Committee.

The 18-point proposal offered Monday afternoon would eliminate more than $1 million in special education tuition; save $282,000 by combining smaller classes into large ones; and cut $100,250 from the utilities budget.

It also would eliminate all non-mandated bus transportation.

The total of all the cuts would be $1,549,971. The cuts would still leave the Board of Education with a budget request of $64.7 million, or about $2.1 million more than the flat $62.58 million being proposed by City Manager Alan Bergren.

$12 million saving

The committee also received a report from Interim Superintendent Abby Dolliver stating the city could save more than $12 million in future costs by shutting down Greeneville Elementary School at the end of the year.

Dolliver, who is expected to have the interim label removed from her title at tonight’s Board of Education meeting, said the 1956 building must undergo massive renovations to meet present building and safety code requirements, as well as those for handicapped accessibility.

Upgrade work would include bathrooms; the roof and parking lot; new fire and alarm systems; and ventilation, wiring and plumbing systems.