Norwich school board ‘reluctantly’ absorbs $2.9 million budget reduction.
Norwich — The Board of Education on Tuesday adopted “ugly” budget cuts, eliminating dozens of classroom support staff, nurses and custodial staff, along with equipment, supplies and services to absorb a $2.9 million cut in its proposed budget.
The City Council on Monday approved a school budget totaling $84.2 million, a 3.9% increase but still $2.9 million less than the school board said it needed to maintain current programs and staffing.
The school board on Tuesday reviewed a revised list of prospective cuts provided by Superintendent Kristen Stringfellow in May. The list included eliminating cross-town transportation for the two existing elementary magnet schools — offering parents not in those neighborhood school districts the option of providing their own transportation — to save $400,000. All proposed new positions, including three reading teachers, an assistant special education director and a custodian, were removed.
The board considered but rejected an idea of closing an elementary school to save another $400,000. Board member Christine Distasio had suggested the Thomas Mahan School as a possible target, since the school near Interstate 395 was one slated for future closure in a proposed school consolidation/renovation project now being considered.
Board member Aaron “Al” Daniels said he would prefer instead to cut the budget by eliminating more support staff positions in addition to the 40 to 45 employees already on Stringfellow’s list, including paraeducators, school office staff and other classroom support staff. Stringfellow’s list also included eliminating numerous classroom and school support staff, custodians, and licensed practical nurses from school nurses’ offices, leaving only one school nurse per school.
“This is broad district employee unemployment of Norwich taxpayers, largely,” Stringfellow said.
She added that the moves would reduce community access to school buildings after hours, greatly reducing use of the schools as community centers.
The board planned to discuss the possibility of employee concessions in an executive session later Tuesday. But Stringfellow cautioned that the budget picture next year likely won’t be any better, and the only option remaining would be to close an elementary school.
Last week, the Norwich Free Academy
Foundation contributed $1.3 million in a onetime grant toward the NFA budget to eliminate the adopted 3% NFA tuition increase for the coming year. But Norwich school board members said they fully expect an NFA tuition hike next year.
Stringfellow said she would need to work with building principals and central office staff to figure out the “ugly” picture of the support staff cuts. She said where legally required, special education support or English language teachers might need to be retained.
With modifiers such as “very reluctantly” and “with a heavy heart,” the board voted unanimously to absorb the budget cuts with the staff reductions, rather than a school closure.