The Derby school board Monday voted unanimously to adopt a $16.1 million spending plan for the 2012 – 2013 school year.
The budget carries a 4.66 percent increase — or $719,768 — over the current budget.
The budget now moves to the Derby Board of Apportionment and Taxation (tax board) for review. School officials are scheduled to explain the reasons behind their funding request at a tax board meeting March 6.
Ultimately, the tax board decides how much money to allocate to the school district.
This will be a tough budget year in Derby, as property owners just went through a state-mandated revaluation.
The school board Monday trimmed about $83,000 from Superintendent Stephen Tracy’s initial budget, which was unveiled Feb. 21.
The meeting started Monday with the Republicans and Democrats breaking into separate political caucuses. The Republicans met in one room. The Democrats on the school board met in another. The separate, closed-door meetings lasted for 28 minutes.
The meeting then reconvened with the school board making 10 changes to the superintendent’s proposed spending plan.
It is important to note the changes are not “cuts” in the existing school budget. They are cuts from what the superintendent requested for next year’s budget.
The changes were:
1. Reducing the proposed overtime costs from the district’s custodial staff by $15,000
2. Reducing the supply request for custodians by $20,000
3. Adding $25,000 to the budget to prevent the elimination of a half-time gym teacher position at Derby High School
4. Eliminating a $49,711 request for two “lead teachers” who were supposed to assist elementary school principals
5. Adding $99,422 to the budget to hire a library media specialist at Derby Middle School and a shared library media specialist for the district’s two elementary schools
6. Reducing a $100,000 proposal to join a regional alternative education program for high school students
7. Reducing a $2,000 request for curtains at one of the schools
8. Reducing a $10,000 request to purchase a software program that helps students plan and prepare for college
9. Reducing a budget item for athletic transportation by $20,000
10. Adding $10,000 for a weight room supervisor at the high school
Only two members of the public were in attendance at Monday’s school board meeting.
Chantal Gerckens, a Derby mother of three, said she was disappointed by the lack of interest among fellow residents.
“It’s pretty sad that parents don’t care, because they are not showing up,” she said during the public comment portion of the school board meeting.
Janine Netto, a Derby mother of three, questioned why Mayor Anthony Staffieri nor any members of the Board of Aldermen or the tax board were in attendance.
She said their attendance would help them understand the school board’s request.
As of Jan. 30, the school district was projecting they would close this year with a $150,000 surplus. Several of the items taken out of the budget request — custodian supplies, curtains, athletic transportation — are expected to be covered by that surplus.
