Many Urge Town Council to Fully Fund Education Budget

It is a theme that will be played out before the Town Council from now until the final budget is approved in about six weeks. 

At last week’s Council meeting, the great majority of speakers pleaded for its members to fully fund the education budget. Many also called for the continuation of the plan to move forward with the Honeyspot School construction project. 

In all, about two dozen people addressed the Council during its "Public Forum" session with the great majority speaking in favor of increased school funding. 

Andrea Veilleux of Washington Parkway was the second speaker to the podium and the first to address school funding, after Neil Sherman briefly spoke about the I-95 Exit 33 issue. Veilleux said, “I would like to ask that the Council fully fund the 1.77% education budget increase,” adding that “ … taxes increase and services decrease … public improvement projects are cut … we all lose. 

“We need to add to the grand list to offset the taxpayer burden,” she continued, then asking “Where is the draw to move to Stratford?”

Olga Pena of Laughlin Road was up next, acknowledging the difficult position that Town Council members find themselves in, especially at budget time. “Volunteering can be thankless so I thank you,” she said, then advocating for Honeyspot School “to take advantage of free [state] money,” and to fully fund the superintendent of schools proposed education budget. 

“Our schools have an aging infrastructure … none are efficient. Building a new school will save in the long run on repairs and energy,” Pena said. Making decisions “in trying times is difficult,” she said. “But not making decisions is more costly in the long run. “ 

Kelly Spellman of Quail Street is a first grade parent of a student at Stratford Academy. Moving the magnet school “would be detrimental to the program and the town,” she said. “According to the state department of education, magnet schools provide educational choice and reduce incidences of racial isolation.

There is a freeze on new magnet school construction in Connecticut, Spellman continued, and starting from scratch would take a “long, long time … We have an opportunity to build a school to move the town forward. 

“We are already approved by the state and I was told that if we pass on this now then we may not see this funding again. Stratford Academy is outstanding and achieving its goals. Please fund the Board of Education budget and Honeyspot School.” 

Kerri Kelemen of Wiklund Avenue told Council members that she was thankful to the mayor for the $1 million increase in new education spending in the mayor’s proposed 2011-2012 budget released last week. “But I urge the council to look to the future … we want to see” the additional .77% funded, warning of cuts to languages, the arts and sports. “At worst, a school might be closed … but if funding is not provided, we start down a slippery slope. We need to invest now … the long-term benefits outweigh the near-term shortfalls.” 

They came and came; more loyal yet unhappy subjects pleading before the Royal Court.

There was Christine Duffy of Torsey Street, Jen Olbrys of Cutspring Road, Kelly Ryder of Broadbridge Avenue, Ryan Mahoney of Rowland Street and Ponce James of Sedgwick Avenue. 

Duffy told members that “passing on state money is irresponsible.”

Olbrys reminded everyone of the old transmission commercial warning, “pay me now or pay me later.” 

Ryder quoted Mark Twain. 

Mahoney told members that he had four children at Stratford Academy and asked members not to be the Town Council that forced the closing of schools. 

James simply stated that since his son started school “he has been doing great.” 

Then there was Carrie Wassman of Woodstock Avenue, Allison Perley of Hurd Avenue, and Jennifer Kepchar and Kim Perillo, both of Barrister Road, prompting Council Chairman Thomas Malloy to quip, “Did you two carpool?” 

Wassman, the co-president of Wilcoxson School PTA, simply warned that without additional school funding support, “the [for sale] sign may go up on my house.”

Perley noted that administration costs may need to be looked at more closely. 

Kepchar added that even during the difficult conversations on the issues of school closings, “I was proud that one wasn’t pitted against the other.”

For her part, Perillo said, “Stratford has waited long enough to build a new school – 40 years is too long.”

The pro-school budget speaker line was nearing its end. 

Kevin Grinvalsky of St. Michael’s Avenue favored the full school budget while returned to a theme he first posed in February, telling Council members about an alleged drug abuse problem within the public works department. 

Wali Kadeem of Larkin Court noted that “if you can build a school, do it now.” 

Then there was Eileen Santos of Ocean Avenue, who perhaps represented all the pro-education budget  speakers when she noted that she fully understands the challenge of balancing the town's budget. However, the “failure to pass full budget will close schools … Our children will only take gym once a week … Close schools and they will lose the opportunity to walk to schools … There will be larger class sizes if we close schools … lengthy bus rides reduce test scores … when schools close, the value of our homes drops … The bottom line, we can’t continue to underfund schools. Young families will not move here … I implore you to pass" the full education budget.

Part 2: There were other speakers, too, at the Council meeting last week. Stratford Patch will tell you what they said tomorrow.