Hartford Courant

School Spending Plan Refined

Superintendent Suggests Ways To Limit Proposed Increase

By FULVIO CATIVO
Courant Staff Writer

March 21 2007

WEST HARTFORD -- Cutbacks in school bus services and in raises for substitute teachers were among the budget reductions offered Tuesday by Superintendent David P. Sklarz, as he and his staff offered ways for the school board to pare back the increase in spending recommended in next year's school budget.

Those recommendations, totaling $1.8 million, followed a chilly reception to Sklarz's original budget plan, which called for 7.59 percent more than current spending.

Two weeks ago, the superintendent presented a proposed $122.1 million budget for the 2007-08 school year, representing an $8.6 million increase over the current budget of $113.5 million.

School board members, including Chairman Jack Darcey, immediately said the proposed increase was too steep.

Administrators returned Tuesday night and outlined a series of one-time savings, suggested cuts and phased-in expenses that could reduce the proposal to a 6.5 percent or 6 percent increase over the current budget. Increases in that range, board members have said, are more palatable.

One alternative set of budget reductions including cutting the number of buses available to transport students who opt out of their neighborhood magnet schools. Similar reductions could be made to the number of buses used to implement optional, later start times for the town's two high schools next year. The district could also save thousands if it raises substitute teachers' pay by $5, not $10, next year - up to $80 a day.

Additional savings could be recouped from staff salaries, discontinued accounting services and unanticipated retirements, administrators said.

Altogether, those cuts and savings would cut up to $1.3 million from the proposed spending plan, placing it at about $120.8 million, or 6.5 percent more than the current one.

To lower the proposed increase even more, the superintendent offered up another list of suggestions, including completely eliminating transportation for flexible start times at the two high schools, leaving substitutes' pay unchanged and phasing in school security upgrade costs over two years. The rounds of suggested cuts would leave the budget $1.8 million lower than initially proposed, or 6 percent more than this year's budget.

Sklarz warned against cutting the spending plan too much and again defended his proposed budget, saying that a 6.5 percent increase over the current budget would be "fiscally responsible."

Board members said they were reluctant to cut money that directly affects the classrooms. Clare Kindall, the board's newest member, thanked the superintendent for offering suggestions on where the budget could stand to be trimmed.

"It makes our jobs 1,000 times easier," she said.

The board will hold a public hearing on the budget next Wednesday at 7 p.m.

On April 4, the board will vote to approve a budget proposal and send it to the town council. Both meetings will be held in Room 314 of town hall.

Contact Fulvio Cativo at fcativo@courant.com.

Copyright 2007, Hartford Courant