Hartford Courant

School Board Examining New Ways To Save Money



By FULVIO CATIVO
Courant Staff Writer

June 9 2007

WEST HARTFORD -- School board members unanimously approved two plans Tuesday to explore ways to save the district more money.

The board created a subcommittee, made up of board members and system administrators, to consider the consolidation of town and school clerical, payroll, information technology and secretarial positions. The subcommittee must report its findings no later than the school board's second meeting of October 2007.

Superintendent David P. Sklarz explained that the subcommittee, which could find ways to streamline costs in town government and the school system, would not strip the school system of its autonomy and authority.

Board member Harry Captain said the subcommittee, proposed by board members Bruce Putterman and Clare Kindall, advances the district's efforts to consolidate operations and increase efficiency among the school and town services.

Last year, the school system's offices moved from 28 S. Main St. into town hall. The school and the town have also consolidated some custodial services in the last year, and earlier this year they agreed to share a human resources director to oversee most town and school hiring.

The other approved proposal will allow Captain and Lib Brassil Spinella, the board's two financial examiners, to evaluate the cost and benefits of the district's printing services. The board authorized a third-party financial examiner to determine whether the district's printing services should be outsourced. The last such review was in October 2000.