Update — Shelton Schools Superintendent Freeman Burr sent the following news release Friday afternoon:
“The Shelton Boards of Aldermen and Education are pleased to announce that Mayor Mark A. Lauretti, Superintendent of Schools, Freeman Burr along with Aldermen John Anglace and John Papa have reached an arrangement that will allow the Board of Education to re-allocate $500,000 within its budget to implement Full Day Kindergarten, cover its increased costs for Students with Disabilities and eliminate Pay to Participate for all students involved in extracurricular activities and athletics.
The parties also reached agreement wherein the BOE will meet all (propane) costs for 2013 – 14 and the City will cover BOE propane costs above $226,000 for 2014 – 15.”
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The move comes after a strong push from Shelton parents.
Alderman John Finn reported the news to parents on the Shelton Taxpayers for Full Day Kindergarten Facebook group, where parents and elected officials have been discussing the issue for weeks.
Finn said he was told an Aldermen vote isn’t needed and that the budget is in effect as of July 1 (the start of the city’s fiscal year).
“Thank you parents for standing up for your children! Without you this would had never happen,” Finn posted on the social media site.
The school superintendent said the Board of Education will likely accept the proposal at a future school board meeting.
Shelton Board of Aldermen President John Anglace said Friday afternoon that the agreement allows the school board to reallocate money they had earmarked for certain capital expenses toward full-day kindergarten and other costs instead.
Anglace said the city, as part of the budget Aldermen approved 6 – 2 May 22, will approve picking up the those expenses — on things like new and replacement equipment, and textbooks — on a case by case basis, as school officials bring them to the Aldermen’s attention next year.
Though school officials were also concerned about a possible cost overrun in their budget next year to cover propane costs, the city agreed to “indemnify” the school board should an overage occur, Anglace said.
“That way they’ll feel more comfortable for next year,” he said.
Anglace said the agreement is “a win-win for everybody.”
“I think both sides have worked together very well,” he said.
Board of Education Chairman Mark Holden said Friday that with the agreement was “wonderful” news and said the necessary changes to the school district’s budget will probably take place at a meeting by the middle of next month.
Original story from May 29 follows:
The chairman of Shelton’s Board of Education announced Wednesday that city and school officials are nearing an agreement that would make full-day kindergarten a reality this fall.
The chairman, Mark Holden, made the announcement at a special meeting the school board had scheduled to discuss the implications of the budget passed by Aldermen last week, which school officials said would not result in full-day kindergarten being funded.
Click here to read a story about the Aldermen’s meeting.
Wednesday’s meeting was called to order a few minutes after 5 p.m., but school board members immediately voted to go into a 10-minute recess to caucus — behind closed doors — as members of separate political parties.
The state’s Freedom of Information Act does not consider a political caucus a public “meeting,” provided all the individuals belong to the same political party and don’t form a quorum of a public body.
The meeting re-convened about 15 minutes later with Holden saying he had good news and bad news.
“This afternoon an offer was made for a proposal for additional funding that would accrue to the benefit in one way or another to the Board of Education that contains the components we feel are probably adequate to allow for the funding of full-day-kindergarten and the elimination of the pay-to-participate program,” Holden said.
At that point Superintendent Freeman Burr said the deal school officials have discussed with city officials — also behind closed doors — would also cover the school district’s anticipated higher costs for special education and utilities.
“This is not a done deal, but we’re seeing considerable progress,” Holden said.
Click the play button above to see a portion of his remarks.
“We need to check with legal counsel to make sure that certain aspects can function the way they’re intended,” the chairman went on. “The right people are saying the right kinds of things at this point to accomplish the goals of full-day kindergarten and pay-to-participate going away.”
Holden also shared the update on the very active Facebook group “Shelton Taxpayers For Full-Day Kindergarten,” membership in which has swelled to 333, up from about 260 Thursday. Click here to read reaction.
