School Superintendent MaryAnne Mascolo is asking the Board of Finance to reconsider its decision from Monday night to hold a school budget presentation to the finance board at Town Hall, rather than in Seymour Middle School, a larger space.
Mascolo had asked for the venue change for several reasons.
She is planning an extensive budget presentation and said the larger space will allow more members of the public to attend. In addition, the middle school provides easy access to volunteer babysitting services, the superintendent said.
“Although I cannot guarantee the number of parents that will attend the meeting, it would give those parents who have expressed interest in this process the ability to be informed as citizens,” Mascolo said in a letter sent to the finance board today.
Mascolo’s letter is printed below. Article continues after the jump.
The Finance Board is scheduled to take a look at the school budget Feb. 28.
Mascolo’s request did not go unnoticed.
The meeting question will be raised again at a meeting of the Board of Finance Thursday, at Mascolo’s request, said Robert Koskelowski, chairman of the finance board.
He said he voted Monday to have the meeting at the middle school, as Mascolo requested, but the vote was 3 – 3.
“I do have to say the members voting no felt that we have all that information we need in Town Hall. For instance if we need copies made immediately,” Koskelowski said.
“We’re not trying to shun anybody,” he said.
The school district’s $30.2 million request represents a 3.9 percent, or $1.12 million, increase over current spending.
With the same programs as the current year, the district expects to need about $900,000 more in 2011 – 2012.
Programs add on another $200,000. They include:
▪ $50,000 for more professional development
▪ $55,000 for building repair and maintenance
▪ $31,800 for equipment, including cleaning machines
▪ $63,200 for technology equipment, specifically “smart boards” for classrooms in each of the town’s schools
The Feb. 28 meeting is for the Board of Finance to get information from the Board of Education, and there is an opportunity for public comment.
In the past two years, the school system has not received an increase in its $29.1 million budget.
Seymour is currently formulating its budget. The document below shows the budget discussion schedule.
