Shelton parents continued to push for more money in the school budget Thursday — overwhelming the public comment session before the Board of Aldermen meeting with pleas for more funding in the 2010 – 2011 budget.
About a dozen people spoke, highlighting concerns about teacher layoffs and program cuts that could result from the budget as it is proposed right now.
The Board of Education originally requested $66.5 million, but Mayor Mark A. Lauretti included only $63.1 million in his budget proposal in late February.
The total city budget proposal is for $110.09 million — a proposal that keeps the tax rate steady.
“Please be creative and find a way to fund the Board of Education request,” urged parent Jennifer Recker, who helped launch Yes! To Education in Shelton, a group that is fighting for more education money.
Board of Education member Kate Kutash said the cuts might be intended to make the Board of Education tighten its belt, ​“But it is only tightening the noose on the quality of education in Shelton.”
Other parents talked about the need special education services, extra curricular activities and tutoring.
No Discussion Yet
After the tax board deadlocked on the budget, Lauretti’s plan was sent directly to the Board of Aldermen, which has the final say on the budget.
The Board of Aldermen was not scheduled to discuss the budget at its meeting Thursday.
Instead, the Board of Aldermen is scheduled to have its first budget workshop on at 7:30 p.m. April 15.
A public hearing on the proposal will be held at 7 p.m. on April 27, and the Board of Aldermen are scheduled to vote on the proposal on May 13.
But the parents fighting for more education money have taken advantage of every opportunity they could to voice their concerns about the budget.
More than 600 people showed up to a Board of Education meeting last month, and another 100 hosted a rally last week.
Several that spoke Thursday said they would also attend the budget workshops and the public hearing on the proposal.
