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Fairfield Schools Make 'Low Impact' Budget Cuts

FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Fairfield’s students will not see any changes at their schools next fall because of budget cuts. Superintendent David Title and the Fairfield Board of Education made up the $250,000 trimmed from its funding request with “little or no impact” Tuesday night.

“I’m very thankful to only have to give you a list of $250,000 worth of cuts,” Title said. “Because the potential to have to go through what we did last year was looming, and it was not going to be particularly inviting.”

Fairfield’s Board of Selectmen, Board of Finance and Representative Town Meeting reduced the school board’s budget by a combined $528,477 since it was approved by the Board of Education in January. All but $250,000 came out of the district’s pension fund, because of changes made to the town’s projections for the next year.

Title suggested making up the $250,000 difference with 11 changes, all worth less than $50,000. The adjustments included using less and cheaper paper, paying for slightly less professional development for teachers, and cutting back trash and recycling pickup in the summer.

The district will also save money from two unaccounted for teacher retirements, a favorable bid on a software system and the switch from larger in-ground oil tanks to smaller above-ground tanks.  “We really tried to make these cuts as low impact as possible,” Title said.

Some board members were wary of rolling back professional development, which covers training for Fairfield’s teachers. The district plans to have a new math and language arts curriculum next year, both of which would need extra training. But curriculum director Gary Rosato said the changes would be made in small increments and would not affect the overall plan.

“The numbers are not that large,” Rosato said. “In most areas we’re talking about a $300 to $500 reduction.”

The Board of Education voted unanimously to approve the changes Tuesday night. 

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