Board of Education Presents Budget to Town Boards

The boards of finance and selectmen for Haddam and Killingworth met Wednesday to hear the proposed $38.4 million school budget for fiscal 2011-2012, presented by the Regional School District 17 Board of Education. The new budget was developed by School Superintendent Gary Mala before he left to take a job as Superintendent in Avon.

Mala previously explained that the spending proposal is a “maintenance budget” only, with no new programs or initiatives.

According to the most recent audit, Haddam has an average enrollment of 1,353 students, which represents 54 percent of the district and Killingworth has 1,139, which makes up 46 percent of the district.

John Sullivan, the interim superintendent, gave a brief synopsis of the budget.

The total proposal is $38,448,242, which is $1 million more than this year's budget, an increase of 2.87 percent. The average state increase for spending by school districts is 2.77 percent. Over 70 percent of the district's budget represents contracted salaries and benefits. 

Under an early retirement plan offered by the district this year, 13 teachers will retire, resulting in approximatly $406,796 in savings. As a result of these retirements and new concessions with the Haddam Killingworth Education Association, the union that represents teachers, the district will realize close to $1 million in savings.

An increase of 37 percent in special education tuition was due to 6 additional special education students, increasing that department's budget by $251,048 to $937,477. The department currently has 22 special education students. 

Amy Jacques-Purdy, who chairs the school board, reminded other members that this is not the final budget. “We have a lot to do on the budget,” she said. “This is [Mala’s] budget, not the board’s budget.”

Some finance board members expressed concern at the spending increase, given the tough economy.

Jacques-Purdy said if cuts are made, then layoffs in the teaching staff might be required.

“We have no place left to go, it will be bodies.”

Mark Almeida, the school board's treasurer, said he feels the board has been fiscally responsible over the past few years, “In my opinion, some of our past budgets have been too low." 

 Almeida also reminded the members of the boards of finance and selectmen that the school board puts its budget up for referendum, though it is not obligated to do so.

“As a board, we could sit there and approve a budget and never put it out for referendum.”

As a regional school district the board has complete control over the budget and is not mandated to seek input from other local officials.

 “We need to decide as a board what is in the best interests of our students but doesn’t burden the tax payers,” Jacques-Purdy said.

The board will hold two Community Input Sessions on the budget. The first will be Monday, March 28 at Haddam Killingworth Middle School in the Student Commons at 6:30 p.m.  The second will be Monday, April 4, at 6:30 p.m., in board room of the district's Central Office.

The Public Hearing on the final proposed budget will be Monday, April 11 at 7 p.m., in the middle school Student Commons.

Howard J. Thiery III, assistant superintendent from Southington, is the district's new superintendent and is expected to begin work here in a few weeks.

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