Commit to Stratford's Students, Say Residents

Stratford students who act, sing or play an instrument are "wonderful ambassadors" for Stratford and hence deserve adequate financial support from the town, a speaker at a public forum on the budget argued Wednesday night.

"There's a lack of funding for these compared to sports," Rick Marcone told the six Town Council members in attendance on the auditorium stage of Flood Middle School, as a sparse audience of residents listened on.

Marcone, who is a former chairman of the Democratic Town Committee, reminded Council members how, before the budget passed last year, they voted to add $40,000 to reinstate freshman sports.

"I understand there's always more needs than money to go around" but students who show an interest in the arts should be given an opportunity, said Marcone.

Before shipping its budget for next fiscal year to Mayor John A. Harkins in February, the Stratford Board of Education approved an additional $27,500 in funding toward jazz and marching band competitions, as well as an additional $10,000 in funding for the drama clubs at Stratford and Bunnell high schools.

The Board of Education's proposed budget of $96.9 million sought a 3.18 percent increase in spending over the current fiscal year, which ends June 30. The mayor's proposed allocation for schools, $95.5 million, represents a 1.6 percent increase.

"They are committed to the success of our students," Jennifer Falotico, another speaker at the public forum, said of the Stratford Board of Education.

Falotico, who is president of Eli Whitney PTSA and a scholarship coordinator for Stratford Pop Warner Football and Cheerleading, said Stratford parents have plenty to be proud of.

"Our students are working hard," said Falotico, noting that 2012 Stratford CMT scores ranked top in the town's District Reference Group (DRG) -- for the third year in a row. "As a parent and leader in this community I urge you to be committed to students, I urge you to remember ... we're not just talking about the bottom line."

The Town Council members in attendance voted to submit the proposed budget without recommendation to the full Council, which is expected to vote on the entire budget in May.