Staff Writer

The battle of the school budget continues.

School Board Chairman Brian Dell’Olio said in response to the school board request of more than $35 million for the 2009-2010 school year, a more than $400,000 increase, the town finance committee has asked to decrease the proposed budget by more than $800,000.

Dell’Olio said Town Manager Thomas Hall first proposed a $92,000 decrease to the proposed budget. He said the town finance committee then requested an additional $715,000 decrease.

The original proposed budget requested more than $36 million, or a 3.45 percent increase from the previous year’s $35 million budget. The school board dropped the request to about $35.5 million during its March 18 meeting after the board found out what state general purpose aid would be, along with no increases in the school Anthem insurance rates, but included the additions of two technology teachers for the high school.

On Monday night, the school board gathered for a special meeting, with proposed budget reductions to meet the town finance committee’s request. 

The current proposed reductions would cut the equivalent of 10 full time positions. It would also request the elimination of the foreign language program at both the sixth grade level and at Wentworth Intermediate School.

The proposed reductions would also include restoration of the sports activity fee, also known as the “pay to play,” fee, which would bring back an estimated $45,000 of revenue. It also requests school buildings to be closed on weekends to save energy costs, which would prevent sports teams and community organizations to use them.

“I think the board did a good job giving the budget they asked for,” Dell’Olio said. “It kept all programs and services without layoffs. I’m proud of the work the board did.”

Although the equivalent of 10 positions will be reduced, one of the two tech positions requested would still remain. The overall reductions would total more than $862,000.

Superintendent David Doyle said the town council is straying from a “job savings measure” resolution passed in a March 18 meeting, which he said calls for the school board to join the council in delivering a responsible budget.

Councilor Shawn Babine, who originally wrote the resolution, said nothing has changed in regard to the resolution.

“Obviously the superintendent didn’t read the resolution,” Babine said. “The town council hasn’t wavered. They haven’t fired anyone or reduced programs.”

Babine said the school board having a special meeting about making reductions to the town finance committee’s suggestion is both “admirable,” and “political.” 

“They cut kept the new tech employee but are cutting foreign language? I think it’s asinine.”

Babine said it has been his goal to curtail pay raises and programs to a zero increase while maintaining the school system. He said while the school board “held the tax line,” they were still asking for a raise in teacher salaries.

“For them to do [the special meeting] is nothing more than political gamesmanship,” Babine said. “I think the superintendent should be fired for proposing this.”

Councilor Ronald Ahlquist said he doesn’t understand why the school board would ask for a new position considering the recent state of the economy.

“The school department has always lived very large with their tax dollars toward the schools,” Ahlquist said. “During difficult times, difficult decisions will be made.”

Councilor Karen D’Andrea said she was satisfied with Hall’s original proposal of reducing $92,000 from the budget, as it would have meant the school budget would be flat funded, meeting what the council had asked for. 

“I do think the $715,000 [amount the finance committee suggested] is extreme,” she said. 

The final reading by the town council is scheduled for the May 6 meeting. The public validation vote by town residents is currently scheduled for May 12.

Staff writer Dave Dyer can be reached at 282-4337 ext. 219