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During the Stamford Board of Educations special budget allocations meeting Monday night Jerry Pia fought for and won the addition of two special education teachers and two social workers for the upcoming school year.
Im a big proponent of people getting help when they need it, board member Pia said in defense of adding the positions to the budget.
He sought to add the positions after hearing the testimony of 40 parents who explained how their children in special education benefited from more personal attention. Pia said he wished he could have added five more teachers, but it was tough enough to find the $128,000 needed for the two positions.
Mondays allocations came after the Board of Representatives reduced the school budget by $339,000 earlier this month when finalizing the citys spending plan. The board's reduction was meant for the Other Post-Employment Benefits, or OPEB; the other allocations were made to improve classroom conditions for next year.
Typically, budget allocations are made only when the Board of Finance or Board of Representatives reduce the Board of Education budget, Superintendent Joshua Starr said. This year, though, the school board felt they left a lot on the table including the additional special education teachers and social workers and wanted to revisit the budget.
The addition of the social workers also costs $128,000. Other additions include $64,000 for one preschool position, $192,000 for three teacher reserve positions, $152,000 for an administrator for ASD and preschools services, $64,000 to change the General Electric Developing Futures Grant to a half-time position, $110,000 to restore adult education funding, $18,000 to extend the year for middle school assistant principals, and $30,000 to recruit a new superintendent.
The reductions were: OPEB by $452,000 an extra $113,000 was taken out; gas and oil heat by $50,000 each; the benefit account by $130,000; Board of Education Services for the Blind revenue by $150,000; reduce Rippowams staff by one social studies teacher for $64,000; a teacher-on-special-assignment was reduced for a $64,000 savings; $24,000 was cut from a vacant administrative central office position; the teacher-on-special-assignment for No Child Left Behind position was cut to save $96,000; the superintendents salary and pension account was reduced by $86,000; and the board reduced $120,000 from the Literacy Program by supplying the money through 2010-11 additional funds.
What do you think of the budget changes the Board of Education made Monday night? Share your thoughts below or send them to reporter Anthony Buzzeo, tbuzzeo@mainstreetconnect.us.
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