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The cuts to the 2017-18 school year budget include trimming 1 percent of each school's budget, as well as eliminating 45 employee positions and cutting programs such as preschool at Brookside Elementary, middle school private music lessons, and closing the pool at Norwalk High School, the Hour reported.
The cuts reduce the district's budget to $1.99 million, according to the Hour. The reason for the deficit was due to rising health insurance costs, as well as a reduction in the insurance fund to cover a fund for special education, the Hour reported. The Hour reported that the district had engaged in negotiations with the teacher union in an effort to get employees to switch a state collective health insurance plan, but that plan had fallen through.
School board officials told the Hour that although they were not happy to make the cuts, they were necessary to offset the deficits.
The budget will go to the full Board of Education for a vote at its June 20 meeting, where public comment will be allowed, according to the Hour.
Click here to read the Hour story and see more details of the cuts to the school budget.
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