Big Turnout for School Advocates at Budget Hearing
- Peter Prohaska
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
By 6:45pm Monday night, drivers were running out of places to park near Southington’s John Weichsel Municipal Center. Inside the assembly room, it was already standing room only. Once the public hearing got underway, Town Council Chair Paul Chaplinsky announced that the fire marshal had been notified about the crowd. A few people moved into the vestibule, while others stood aside to keep fire exits clear.
The crowd, which appeared to be close to the 140 people the room is allowed to hold, was mostly present to send a message: a reduction of the proposed schools budget was not going to be accepted quietly. About thirty students, educators, parents and other community members stepped to the podium to argue against a $1.6 million reduction recommended by the Board of Finance; only two spoke about the effect of higher taxes on residents who would struggle to pay. Recognizing the strong feelings of the attendees, the Council voted in favor of Chaplinsky’s suggestion that the hearing be kept open while they consider how best to address what he called a “difficult” budget season.
Many speakers returned to a common set of points. Several spoke of the ways in which a budget reflects the “values” held by a community. Several echoed the Superintendent's warning that budget cuts would mean personnel reductions for as many as 22 people, especially in positions like literacy specialists and para-educators. They said that cuts would lead to larger class sizes, more stress for teachers, and worse outcomes for students, especially those in need of extra help. Lack of class options, including career-oriented vocational learning, would also negatively impact students.
One consequence of these changes, several residents said, would be a teacher exodus caused by burnout or the lure of better conditions elsewhere; fewer people might choose Southington as a place to live and raise families, which would lower property values. Such a cycle, it was suggested, could create a spiral from which a community might struggle to exit.
Other speakers warned that cuts might cause schools to fall out of compliance with state mandates. Cuts would impact students who qualify for Individualized Education Programs or other assistance and could lead to loss of grants. Failure to comply could mean even less state funding in the future - an especially important consideration as Southington voters decide this fall whether to fund the elementary schools project.
Colleen Clark, who sits on the Board of Education, kicked off the comment session by calling Superintendent Steve Madancy’s budget "as lean and transparent as can be,” and argued for fully funding the budget that her Board approved. A fellow Board member, Joseph Baczewski, echoed that, saying that the proposed reduction would send a message that his organization’s work is “worthless in your eyes.”
Though the crowd clapped after each speaker finished, the loudest applause of the evening was reserved for Ryan King, a student at John F. Kennedy Middle School. He had gone from needing extra literacy support earlier in his school career to carrying an A in Language Arts, he said. King spoke of the need to “disagree respectfully,” as he made a case against proposed cuts to staff members who help students like him. As for the suggestion of “pay-to-play” that could offset some of the athletics budget, he pointed out that not every family could afford those extra fees. Middle school athletics, King argued, is where students begin to make life-long friends in addition to learning skills. The most important reason for the Town to invest in the education budget, said King, is that “we’re the future generation of Southington.”
Once the public hearing section of the meeting ended and the room had nearly emptied out, the Council still had its regular business to consider. Councilor Tony Morrison reported from the Ordinance Committee that it was still considering what to do about a noise ordinance, since it has come to light that the existing one is not enforceable because it lacks approval from the state. Another ordinance that would target the many small signs that Morrison said “litter” Southington’s landscape is also being considered. Town Manager Alex Ricciardone said he personally picks up many of them for disposal.
The Ordinance Committee also moved to consider cost recovery for fire services by bringing the issue to the full Council.
School finances appeared on the agenda again when Ricciardone reported on a recent meeting in Hartford involving legislators and the School and State Finance Project, a non-profit that seeks to address educational funding shortfalls in the state. The issue of ECS, education cost sharing, affects most districts in Connecticut, since the formula used to disperse funds for education hasn’t changed since 2013, per Ricciardone. This might be changing soon, he said, to help communities like Southington that are in the midst of hard budget decisions regarding school expenses. As Councilman David Zoni remarked, “It’s an election year, so I think that we got a good shot.”
Ricciardone also addressed a comment made earlier in the meeting regarding the Manager’s contingency fund, usually $1 million. That has dwindled this year to around $20,000, primarily due to ice and snow removal expenses during a tough winter. He pointed out that having money that can be shifted as needed — usually with Board of Finance and Town Council approval — without affecting departmental budgets is standard practice for towns like Southington.
A tax abatement was also unanimously approved for American General Investors, a company putting in a new building on a vacant parcel in the economic development zone. Town Manager Alex Ricciardone said the company would be creating around 26 jobs. Though the seven-year abatement is 100% for two years, that drops off to 50% in year three.
After more than three hours the night was not yet over for Council members and other officials, who entered executive session to discuss litigation matters.
The next meeting of Town Council is scheduled for May 11, when a final vote on the budget is expected.
