The Derby tax board could not agree Tuesday on the amount of money to allocate to Derby Public Schools for the 2011-2012 school year.
Nine out of the 10 members of the tax board were in attendance in City Hall, where the tax board had been expected to adopt a preliminary budget for next year covering school and city services.
However, after six attempts and a long break, the tax board ended the meeting without a budget.
Tax board chairwoman Judith Szewczyk will be contacting members to reconvene and try again.
There were four Democrats and five Republicans on the board Tuesday. However, seven votes were needed to make anything happen.
The tax board was in agreement in just about every area of the proposed budget — except when it came to funding Derby schools.
The school board had asked for $19 million, an increase of roughly $1.28 million — or about 7 percent — over its current budget.
The Attempts
At the tax board meeting last night, the board was split as follows:
First the tax board Republicans (Szewczyk, Jeremy Bell, Carolyn Duhaime, Mark Nichols and William Nelson-Cummings) voted for a school budget of about $18,231,662 million. Democrats voted no.
Democrat James Butler then proposed funding schools to the tune of $18,444,170. The Republicans voted no.
Round three — Democrats upped the ante by proposing to give the schools $18,590,170. The Republicans voted no.
Round four — Republican Mark Nichols proposed $18,337,916. The Dems voted no.
Round five — the Democrats proposed $18,450,000. The GOP said no.
Round six — OK, Republican William Nelson-Cummings said, in the spirit of cooperation, how ‘bout a compromise number of $18,337,915?
The Democrats voted no.
Deadlocked, Republican Mark Nichols asked the meeting to be adjourned. Everyone voted yes.
Speakers Ask For Adequate School Funding
Last night wasn’t the official public hearing on the combined Derby school and city budget — but a public comment period was offered at the start of the tax board meeting.
Six people spoke. All said positive things about the school district.
Dan Foley, a Democrat looking to unseat Mayor Anthony Staffieri, said the city has traditionally under-funded education in Derby.
“We, as a city, have not supported education the way we need to,” Foley said, adding later that Derby must stop treating education as “a hindrance we must deal with.”
Chantal Gerckens, a mother of three and a part-time school district employee, stressed the importance of all-day kindergarten — a program that could be the first thing the school board looks to eliminate if the tax board doesn’t allocate enough money to the schools.
Superintendent Stephen Tracy reminded the tax board that the school district has already lost 20 staff positions in the last three years. The school budget, even with its proposed 7 percent increase in funding — included the elimination of four teaching positions.
The school district has been tightening its belt. “We get that message,” he said.
Derby resident Christopher Bowen also said the city doesn’t give enough money to the school district. He said parents he talks to in Derby are talking about sending their children to private school or moving out of Derby due to the school system.
“We are creating a very bad situation for parents in this city,” Bowen said.
Beth Colette said if education isn’t Derby’s no. 1 priority, “This city will never prosper, in my humble opinion.”
Kimberly Kreiger, a 10-veteran of the school board, said the last three years in Derby “have been particularly difficult” in terms of funding. Programs in the school district are being dismantled due to the funding situation, Kreiger said. Click the video to see a portion of her comments.
If local city officials see a problem with the overall manner in which school costs are driven ever upward by things such as collective bargaining regulations and unfunded mandates — officials need to address their state and federal representatives Kreiger said.
“We need not to take it out on local boards of education,” she said.
The members of the tax board did not respond directly to the statements made by the speakers. However, during the deliberation over the school budget, tax board member Mark Nichols pointed out that the city provides the school district an additional $1.1 million not reflected in the school budget — an issue that has become a talking point for Mayor Anthony Staffieri’s administration.
So why don’t we, for once, try properly funding the schools, and give Dr. Tracey the 19 mill needed. And if we are going to harp about the 1.1 million the city is pitching in, then lets clear that up and give Dr. Tracey 20.1 million. Is the tax board trying to keep their own personal taxes down? Why do they keep throwing around numbers over a half million less than is really needed? That’s not whats best for the city, schools and children There’s an awful lot off proposals of 18.4 give or take. Seems like we will never get what’s right….
Terry….so you just want to give a blank check…Terry did you go through the proposed budget? Did you see what these increase are for……Mr. Tracey proposal is laughable…go to Seymour’s Budget proposal…they break it out by line item…the super is vague and assumes that we should just do what he says. Where is the accountability…why cant he lay off some of central office??? we have 4 schools in the whole district. That is 4.75 million a school. is that where it is going?
Be strong Democrats! Do not compromise! Do what’s right for the children of Derby.
Right for Derby Children? Idoc…define right? I love party hacks…you write a statement like that…all it is Political theater. Where were the Democrats when the GOP worked hard to get the New middle school built. Don’t be blinded by party affiliation…we need leaders who are focused on having sensible solutions not just party rhetoric.
right   /raɪt/ [rahyt]
adjective, -er, -est, noun, adverb, verb
–adjective
1. in accordance with what is good, proper, or just: right conduct.
Understand now Crash! What is good for the children of Derby, may not be good for Crash! I have an interest in the future not the past as you seem to have.
And where were the Republicans on the previous school referendums. Tell me Crash, where were they. I’ll tell you where they were, the same place the Democrats were on the last one. Some were for and some were against. It wasn’t a party issue. And the school budget should not be either, but we all know it is. My children have long since graduated from the Derby school system, should I as a taxpayer turn my back on the current students, well I choose not to. If you want to turn your back that’s your decision.
OK..Derby and IDOC. First off i want the future of Derby to be great. But i think it is naive to just roll over every time the super or the BOE wants more money, yet the ROI is horrible. Democrats are so great at avoiding the details.
and FYI DAN FOLEY CAN”T DO JAKE FOR EDUCATION. DEMOCRATS STOP CREATING FALSE HOPE. I actually like Dan but seriously the mayor of derby has no authority to do anything in regards to funding of the schools. Derbyguy….Seymour line by line is available ONLINE…I WORK FOR A LIVING…i am not able to go to meetings or miss work to go into city hall during the day. PUT THE LINE BY LINE ONLINE. As i said there is BS in the budget he proposed…for example, show me how transportation cost are up 22k from last year..that could be true…i wanna see it, just because it is in a powerpoint doesn’t make it true. What is Curriculum development and how is it 80k..show me..and how is that different from staff training? can we save money there? and what is tech infrastructure???? and how is it 31k GO WIRELESS if i am wrong i will admit it…show me why these this are more expensive and the cost is going up…don’t just tell me. And i am not asking you to turn your back…i am asking for a responsible budget. And for the record IDOC what is right for children is what is right for crash…a solid and thriving school system is the lynch pin and foundation to a thriving community. You can not have a great city and not have a great school. Stop thinking because i am not a Democrat that i don’t care about children…you don’t have a monopoly on caring…but what i notice democrats are lazy in there solutions…and that is where we disagree…because i care for not only the children i care for that 75 year old couple living off of social security…
Derby guy…your solutions lack vision or complete comprehension…and i love how you basically are saying in print that if your on dan foley’e ticket you have to do what he says…is that what you mean when you say influence???? ala Marc Garfolao? PUT THE FULL BUDGET ONLINE….HAVE YOU NOT REALIZED I WANT PROOF NOT LIP SERVICE…i want to see line by line, i want to see the increases…….make it public for all to see. Why is that scary to you? I am not complaining about the influx of people i am complaining about the mismanagement the funding that the BOE gets. i will restate….I AM FOR EDUCATING CHILDREN AND THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH IT. just be responsible…throwing money at it doesn’t work….RENT WAITING FOR SUPERMAN
Sharpeye…although we agree on some things…i am not posting to go after Dan or promote Tony…We have serious issues in the city. I am stating my opinion or in some cases facts…on how i see it. and Derby guy…i forgot to state that i know when and where meetings are…i am very versed in how government works but when your in the age of information an organization is unwilling to share all info…i mean isn’t that what Democrats cry about with Tony???? Your lying about the fund balance show us where it went???? But to not expect the same of the only board that the Dems control…a little ironic?