By Sarah Opdahl
Reacting to the New Fairfield Board of Finance’s (BOF) vote to cut $350,000 from the education operating budget, school officials presented to the Board of Education (BOE) potential cuts on Thursday, April 9—doubling down on the possibility of staff eliminations, class size increases, and program reductions. The BOE indicated that they do not support the cuts. Following the 2023 budget referendums, which did result in lower cuts to the education budget after each No vote, there is now a potential for a No vote campaign to possibly impact the education cuts for this year. It was made plain that the cuts presented on this evening are not the official cuts, and the BOE would work with the administration to make decisions on final cuts once the budget is approved by the residents.
Superintendent Dr. Ken Craw said “budgetary choices have an impact.” He pointed out that he had advocated for a $250,000 “lesser-impact” cut to the budget and was dismayed by the BOF landing at a $350,000 cut. He stressed the “cumulative nature of cuts” and the need to “move forward and recoup what has been lost.” The originally proposed budget brought back a previously cut position of the middle school librarian and a new counselor position at the high school. The original budget also had a series of impacts that drove up the increase, including running out of federal funding that was issued during the height of the pandemic and removing a retirement savings calculation that assumed lower-salaried staff would be hired when faculty members retire.
Funding for replacement of the high school’s turf and track, which was removed from the BOF-approved budget, was a heavy disappointment to the school and BOE, despite the BOF’s assurance that funds will be provided from surplus revenue if a grant is not possible.
Given the backlash the administration has received regarding proposed cuts for teacher and paraprofessional positions, rather than an administrator, there was a significant defense for the position prepared. Some see the three assistant principals at the elementary school as top heavy and remember there being administrative savings promoted when the new addition was proposed. However, school officials say that all four administrators are continuously needed, and ran through a slideshow to exemplify what a typical day looks like for the principals. There was also an example provided in which an elementary principal was needed to help fill in at the middle school during an administrator’s leave of absence.
The BOE approved a motion to request $75,000 in surplus funds from the unassigned fund balance, which will be used to fund middle school intercom system repairs and STEAM room improvements. The BOF has already indicated this request will be approved.