Schools

Proposed School Budget Is $97m

Proposal is a 3.27 percent increase over this fiscal year.

 

The proposed school budget for next fiscal year totals $97,069,039 and represents a 3.27 percent increase over the current fiscal year, which ends on June 30.

This year's school budget of about $94 million was a .67 percent increase from the year prior.

Find out what's happening in Stratfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The total proposed budget, which was submitted last month by departing Superintendent Irene Cornish and will start to be reviewed next week, can be broken down as follows:

  • Plus $417,819 (0.92%) for salaries, totaling $45,869,114
  • Minus $497,568 (3.04%) for benefits, totaling $15,878,222
  • Plus $473,828 (22.85%) for classroom support, totaling $2,547,564
  • Minus $86,450 (2.29%) for plant operations, totaling $3,689,427
  • Plus $202,347 (4.76%) for transportation, totaling $4,450,770
  • Plus $1,526,635 (7.5%) for special education, totaling $21,884,907
  • Plus $22,088 (1.34%) for general services, totaling $1,664,571
  • Plus $1,017,813 (1527%) for contingency, totaling $1,084,465

"The disctrict is projecting a 4 percent decrease in health insurance premiums for FY 2013-14 as a result of the initial screening of the Board's Request For Proposals (RFP) for a health insurance provider," Cornish writes in her proposal.

Find out what's happening in Stratfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

About 75 percent of the budget will be paid by local taxes.

What's in the budget -- some highlights

  • $17,325 in funding for a part-time nurse for the Pathways program
  • $99,114 in funding for a secondary math/science coordinator
  • $56,765 to add sixth-grade teacher at Second Hill Lane
  • $121,814 (combined) in funding for Spanish/French teachers at middle and high schools
  • $150,000 increased funding for the implementation of a new teacher evaluation system
  • $158,700 increased magnet school tuition for the cost to transport students to Discovery and Wheeler magnet schools

What's considered but not in the budget

  • $42,998 to pay half the salary for an assistant principal at Franklin Elementary
  • $56,765 for a full-time music teacher to be shared between Chapel and Second Hill Lane

Stratford Board of Education Chairman Gavin Forrester said he anticipates a final budget be sent to Mayor John A. Harkins for approval by mid-February.

Stratford Patch will be at the budget committee meeting next week.


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