Community Corner

School Board Puts $100,000 Back for Paraprofessionals

The Board of Education then knocked down the budget increase to 2.2 percent.

The Board of Education on Tuesday put a significant amount of money back into the paraprofessional account and still managed to reduce the bottom line on Superintendent of Schools Mary Conway's proposed budget for the 2012-13 fiscal year.

After a lot of moving, shaking and jostling numbers around, $88,000 was trimmed off the top to bring the grand total to $48,521,897, an increase of 2.2 percent from the current year.

The school board put $100,000 back into the $1.492 million line item that funds paraprofessionals.

Restoring money to the paraprofessional account was the popular choice of the night as parents, students, teachers and some paraprofessionals packed the Board of Education meeting room to plead - and demand - a restoration of funds.

The current budget includes $1.5 million for paraprofessionals and Conway reduced that to $1.492 million in her proposal for 2011-12. Many of those in attendance wanted $237,000 put back into the account to fund non-mandated - or mainstream - students. The amount represents half of what a "fully staffed" paraprofessional roster would look like, school officials said.

So members of the public took to the seats, stood in the back, lined the side walls and even spilled out into hallways. There were signs, petitions and a lot of applause for those who spoke.

Two of them were Jack Krupienski, a fourth-grader at Center Road School, and his mom, Nancy. Jack was diagnosed with a brain tumor last year and credited the paraprofessional in his classroom for helping him get through, "a scary time."

Several speakers said the term "luxury" was being used to describe paraprofessionals and that is the complete opposites of their value. Several speakers said paraprofessionals were "a necessity."

Other speakers said that the individual students - and thus the quality of education - will suffer with fewer paraprofessionals.

There are currently 148 paraprofessionals in the school system, Conway said. The original $1.492 million request for next year would have resulted in a net loss of four positions, something that is typical through attrition, she said.

"And I am sure we will be hiring to fill some positions," she said. 

The $100,000 will fund about 12 more positions, Conway said. 

Conway said placement of paraprofessionals will be based on a priority chart next year.

On Monday at 6 p.m. A special Board of Education meeting is scheduled to approve the 2012-13 budget. A public comment session will be included.

On Feb. 10, the education budget is to be delivered to the town.

School board member Michelle Arn originally moved that $237,000 be pout back into the account. After a lengthy discussion among board members, she withdrew the motion and then moved for the $100,000.


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