School Chiefs, Legislators Discuss Ways to Cut Budgets

April 12, 2010

Dozens of state legislators and school officials from towns all over eastern Connecticut gathered at the Kelly Middle School library Saturday morning to discuss ways for school districts to cut spending in the midst of one of the leanest budget years in recent memory.

The discussi on focused on transportation, special education and health insurance pooling. Some ideas presented included housing special education services at a central location between neighboring school districts to cut costs of services and transportation, having a regional substitute-teacher pool and health insurance pooling between school districts.

Concerns were expressed over a state Department of Education policy that schools must continue to provide special-education services for another full year to students who turn 21 after the school year has ended.

Norwich Interim Superintendent of Schools Abby Dolliver said it places a greater financial burden on schools, a view shared by state Sen. Edith Prague.

"I’m concerned about this role the school has to play in special education," said Prague, who said she plans to examine this policy further.

Another topic of concern to many of the attendees was House Bill 5033, which would require seat belts for all buses beginning in the model year 2012. School Business Administrator Athena Nagel said there is no evidence seat belts would make buses any safer, and enforcement would be difficult.

"There is not going to be enough staff on buses to make sure kids use seat belts," she said.

Norwich Mayor Peter Nystrom urged state lawmakers not to support any new unfunded mandates.

"Don’t support new spending when you can’t pay for current programs," he said.

State Rep. Chris Coutu, R-Norwich, assured Nystrom that the schools shared this sentiment.

"Proposing a $377 million increase in spending fo r new programs is unacceptable when we’re not following through with current municipal funding," he said. "Unfortunately, it takes a crisis for people to think outside of the box."

While the discussion yielded no firm plans of action, it served as a way to let local school officials and legislators talk about issues facing school districts statewide.

Other speakers included Norwich Board of Education Chairman Charles Jaskiewicz, EASTCONN Regional Director of Education Services Tom Cronin and Doreen Marvin, director of development at LEARN.

Attendees included state Rep. Melissa Olson, Norwich Alderman Bill Nash, Groton Superintendent of Schools Paul Kadri, Voluntown Superintendent Adam Burrows, North Stonington Superintendent Natalie Pukas, and school officials and Board of Education members from Ledyard, Franklin, Lisbon and Montville.