Once again, we face the challenge that Ansonia has struggled with for more than a decade: How do we fund our school system without bankrupting our city?
Education is expensive, Special Education is even more expensive, and, relying on Ansonia’s property taxes to pay the bill is not sustainable.
Ansonia BOE “Underfunded”
According to the report prepared for Representative Bruce Morris (D‑Norwalk), in January, 2015, Ansonia Board of Education (BOE) is “underfunded” by 26 percent, or $5.7 million for 2014 – 2015, and has been “underfunded” since 2008.
The report, posted below, compares the Education Cost Sharing (ECS) grant amount that towns actually received to the ECS formula target amount for FY 2014 – 2015.
It found that 109 towns are “underfunded” and 43 towns are “overfunded.”
Article continues after document.
Special Needs
Costs for Special Education continue to rise as increasing numbers of children need these programs.
At the beginning of the school year, September 2014, there were 430 special needs students in Ansonia; at the end of the year, Ansonia BOE estimates that number will grow to 485.
This year, our special needs students make up 12 percent of the student population and use 32 percent of the budget.
Ansonia BOE estimates that this program is underfunded as well -– by $400,000 from the State of Connecticut and $7.6 million from the federal government.
If our schools were fully funded
If the State of Connecticut followed the Education Cost Sharing Grant formula, and the State and Federal Government properly funded our special needs children, Ansonia’s Board of Education would have had an additional $13.7 million in the 2014 – 15 budget.
That additional $13.7 million would make the following classes and opportunities possible for our children:
K‑3
- 2 teachers in every class room to ensure all students read by grade 3
- All day kindergarten fully funded (current State funding will be going away)
K‑8
- 2 new science lab classes for elementary students
- Media classes for all elementary and middle school students
- Afters chool and summer school programs
- Science/engineering/technology programs for middle school students
- After school instrumental music to prepare for the high school program
8 – 12
- Students able to take SAT’s at no cost
- Field trips to explore Career choices
- Advanced Placement (College Prep)
- AP Economics
- Language
- Spanish for all students grade K‑8
- Chinese for grade 8 – 12
Our children deserve the education that the State of Connecticut promised them — we need to make sure they get it.
The writer represents Ansonia’s First Ward on the Board of Aldermen.
