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NORWALK, Conn. – Some of Norwalk's laid-off teachers may be reinstated after the school district received money from the federal government, a trio of Norwalk officials said Tuesday in a statement.
The city of Norwalk will receive $365,000 in federal Medicaid reimbursement funds for special education costs in the public schools, State Sen. Bob Duff and state Rep. Bruce Morris, both Democrats, and Mayor Richard Moccia announced Tuesday. That money should be used by the Board of Education to hire back some of the teachers and other essential school personnel who were let go as part of the recent school budget cuts, they said.
"This was a particularly brutal budget year for Norwalk's schools, and I know parents and students and education advocates were not pleased with the level of sacrifice our children were asked to endure," Duff said in the statement. "These federal funds can be used to repair some of the damage that was done in the spring. It would be a small but meaningful step to show our commitment to public education in Norwalk."
Morris echoed that sentiment. "This Medicaid reimbursement is part of the larger revenue stream that should be flowing into Norwalk, and as such, it should be put to its best use," Morris said in the statement. "That means repairing some of the damage that was done to our school budget in recent months. I hope and pray that the Board of Education feels the same way."
Moccia said that although he understands the decision rests with the Board of Education, "I join in the call to restore some of the staff cuts to help maintain teacher pupil ratios," according to the statement.
The men thanked Gov. Dannel Malloy and Social Services Commissioner Roderick Bremby for their attention and cooperation in helping to expedite the release of the funds.
Earlier this month, Norwalk's Board of Education voted 8-1 to approve a $159.5 million spending plan; the projected school budget shortfall had once reached as high as an estimated $10 million, bringing hundreds of concerned residents out to speak at public meetings.
Comments (3)
Question: Is it not best standard accounting practice to apply an reimbursement of a charge from any account not just a Medicare reimbursement to the account in which the charge originated. In this case the account would be the special ed. account.
I also noticed in a prior article that Longo stated by the end of August the credits due back to NPS for outplaced schools will be complete. At that point with the medicare reimbursement it is possible that the special ed. account may have an overage not a shortage (in the black not the red).
It is just my opinion but to get a true budget in place for NPS your accounting must be accurate. I also believe it may be part of the Federal grant guidelines on how to accurately account for spending of the monies given yearly to the district for special education.
My perspective is that for an accurate accounting of what the BOA spends in what year is how they can determine with the money they have to allocate spending on the next year. If the accounts are not true with their spending and credits how can the BOA determine their next budget accurately for ALL budgeted accounts?
Grand reinstate them. Right after you test them. I'm sure a few don't deserve to get back in as well as a few we don't need to see leave.
This is very good news and have full confidence in the BOE that they will do the right thing here with the money. However, it kind of cracks me up that Bob Duff wants to grab the spotlight here and remind all of us how hard the budget process was for the schools was this year with all the cuts. Where were you for the ECS meetings in February? It was a 2-day event and you never spoke? We didn't even see you at the ECS Task Force meeting in Bridgeport but YES your name was on the letter that was presented. I waited for 3 hours to speak at that meeting. If ECS was funded properly we would be arguing what NEW program could we be adding to the schools? Now, wouldn't that be an argument we would just love to have in Norwalk. I really hope that you are totally committed to getting us our deserved fair share of ECS funds and you pass that message along to Malloy who should be the FIRST person screaming from the roof top about how screwed up the system is and demand it gets fixed NOW!