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Community Corner

Board Of Education Approves $32.17 Million Budget

The Board of Finance Discusses The Budget On March 9.

The Board of Education voted Thursday night to approve Superintendent Leanne Masterjoseph’s proposed budget of  $32.17 million for the 2011-20112 school year, a 2.2 percent increase from last year. The next hurdle will be the Board of Finance who will receive the budget on March 9.

Objections to cuts involve a teaching position at the pre-school, being eliminated. 

“We don’t provide the bare minimum program but the best possible program,” Speech Pathologist Kathy St. Rock said.

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She went on the describe the value of the program that provides care for 3- to 5-year-olds, many with special needs.  

“There needs to be three classrooms, you can only have so many three-year–olds with special needs in a classroom,” St. Rock said. 

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She pointed out that the program accepts children when they turn 3 so new students are entering throughout the school year.

“I have asked you to look at the numbers more seriously before you make a decision to cut that third position,” St Rock said.

Another objection was raised to the cut of a custodial supervisor salary of $63,382. 

Dave Pierce, who has held that position for 11 years, spoke up in defense of his position, describing how hard the 22 current custodians all work as well as his supervising duties which include a cleaning routine at the .

“I recommend to increase in the number of custodians not reduce them,” Pierce said.

“The decision to move forward with this reduction is that we have identified ways to perform those supervisory/managerial tasks using other existing supervisory staff," Operations Manager Bill King said. 

“While no decision regarding personnel is easy; these are very difficult economic times.  We have to protect our core mission of providing the best learning environment to the students of this community and continually work to find the best use of the limited resources to do so.”

An analysis of a possible 0.5 increase in kindergarten teachers at both and and was also proposed but no decision was forthcoming until a performance of the current kindergarten students compared to last year can be analyzed. 

As it stands, Principal Terry Jordan of West Vine and West Broad Street schools said  that “she hasn’t found numbers detrimental, classes work like a well-oiled machine."

The cost to add a half-time kindergarten teacher at both schools would total $88,240, including paraprofessional help.  All kindergarten classes now have no fewer than three adults at one time. 

Principal Doug Hammel of Deans Mill School says there are currently 20.4 students in each classroom and “a lot of support in kindergarten.”

The Board of Finance will meet to discuss the school budget on March 9 at 7:30 p.m. in the Stonington Police Department meeting room.

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