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NORWALK, Conn. – Barbara Smyth looked on the bright side as dusk fell Wednesday over City Hall after what some were calling a disappointing decision by Norwalk's Board of Estimate and Taxation.
"While I would have liked $1.8 million, that would have really helped, considering where the BET was a couple of weeks ago, adamant that they would not give the schools more. They did come through with something," said Smyth, a Norwalk mother and unemployed teacher who had worked to bring hundreds of sign-waving demonstrators to City Hall's lawn yet again.
The BET voted unanimously – during an 18-minute-long meeting – to approve a resolution to provide another $1.4 million to the Board of Education to help cover a $4 million deficit that was discovered in mid-May. That was done by extending repayment of $3.1 million in insurance fund money to 2014-15 and by approving the transfer of $500,000 to the Board of Education. That money was found to be a surplus in this year's Board of Education budget.
That was "better than nothing," Smyth said. "It's a little disappointing, but that does tell me that they are hearing the parents. I am thankful for that."
The Board of Education, which was facing $5.9 million cuts after the Common Council set a spending cap in March, is now dealing with $6.3 million in cuts. That is down from the $10 million in cuts expected after the deficit was uncovered.
"This is a compromise, trying to work with all the parties involved to assist the Board of Education in difficult times," Mayor Richard Moccia said. "Appreciate all the turnout from the parents, the kids, everything."
He said he still had a city to run, with the other 47 percent of the budget. "When I hear we don't need our parks, we don't need fireworks, we don't need Calf Pasture and all of that – there are still many people in this city that pay their taxes and want a full and healthy life, just like you do," he said to the crowd of 200 people.
The Board of Education will vote Thursday night on a reconciliation plan presented by Superintendent Susan Marks on Tuesday, based on the $1.4 million figure, which is was what she had expected. "The board will make the final decision. They know what the bottom line is," she said.
Bruce Mellion, president of the Norwalk Federation of Teachers, who lives in New York, said, "I think the thing that's reprehensible is that there won't be any public comment tomorrow night. Our concern is that it's going to be a rubber-stamping of what Dr. Marks has proposed, and we don't think that's the best way to do it. We believe there's better ways to do it, in the best name of children."
He said, "We're working on some things" but would not elaborate.
Liz Morelli, a parent who demonstrated before the meeting, also said she was unhappy at the lack of public comment. "I think that they don't want to hear what we have to say," she said.
Comments (5)
Drew,
I so agree with you. Most classrooms are not physically able to accommodate more desks and chairs, and an increase of another ten students would also create a need to limit student movement during certain instructional activities that otherwise require independent movement. The retro model of seating students (for hours on end) in straight rows is no longer functional for student learning. Unfortunately, this model would, however, be the most feasible setup to accommodate a large number of students in one room. There has to be a better way of prioritizing the funds received. Thank you for supporting the schools with regard to classroom size and for your part in rallying for more ESC funding.
Just wait until Jack gets up there tonight and goes after the jack ass Fleischman..You wont want too miss it!
any parent that does NOT show up in Bridgeport tonight at the ECS meeting & demand that the ECS meet with us, then they deserve just want they get. I'm tired of blaming the Common Council for BOE problems! the ONLY thing that Common Council can do is set the cap, everything else is done by the BOE.
I agree. Sadly, I don't think there will be a big turnout. The meeting is at 6pm in Bridgeport, so whoever wants to attend from Norwalk has to fight rush hour traffic. I wonder if Rep. Andrew Fleischmann, of West Hartford, designed it that way so that Norwalk wouldn't show up. Let's prove him wrong!
We already know Rep's Fleischmann's attitude towards Norwalk from his behavior at a committee hearing, where Fleischmann responded to Norwalk Board of Ed Chairman Jack Chiaramonte's request for more school funding with an ugly mix of arrogance, smirking, and insults.
I truly wish the BET did vote on the full $1.8 but as the article said it is a lot better than nothing at this point. However, it makes me laugh that the union is now beyond the 11th hour is "working on some things" Really?!??! Give me a break! Where the heck were they months ago when all this was happening? Are they going to accept the 1 year freeze finally? Yeah, just what I thought as I see a pig flying over my head. I just hope the board tonight (after speaking at the ECS meeting in Bridgeport) really takes a hard look at Dr. Mark’s proposal's and put our teachers back first and foremost in the classrooms! WE NEED TEACHERS! What's the point of getting and AVP or Aides without teachers? It starts in the classrooms!