Community Corner

School Officials Accepting the Responsibility of Passing the Budget

The school board is slated to meet Monday at RHS - the day before the vote.

It seemed to be the consensus among the Board of Education's Democratic treasurer, its Republican chairman and the superintendent of schools that, with an extra $1 million in its budget proposal after two failed tries, the responsibility of getting a budget passed in referendum No. 3 lies with those who asked for the money in the first place. 

Here's what they had to say: 

Treasurer Kyle Percy: "I am glad that the Town Council has restored some of the funds that the mayor and council cut from the BoE requested budget. I want to thank the parents and students who came out to support the BoE.  Now we need to pass this referendum, so please get out and vote."

Superintendent Mary Conway: "I was completely surprised - quite delighted - but now it is important to get out to vote."

Chairman Dean Houle: "Parents and students did a fantastic job the other night rallying on the green in front of Town Hall and filling the council chambers. I wish I could have been in attendance, but as you know, we also had a Board of Education meeting that evening. I was amazed and thrilled to learn during our meeting - from a text message - that one million was added back to the Board of Education budget. Now, I am hopeful to see our supporters rallying residents to vote in support of the budget on Tuesday."

The voting on the latest proposed budget - $82.7 million - will be open on Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Center 375, located at 375 Hartford Turnpike. 

It is the culmination of a night a week earlier than began with a rally of more than 100 people on the town Green, a rally that continued upstairs and ultimately asked the council to restore as much of the $2 million cut from the original board request as possible. 

The council put $1 million back, making the board request $50,494,787. 
General government remained at $26,395,003 and capital and debt at $5,909,670. 

If passed at the referendum, the budget would raise taxes 1.88 mills to a rate of 35.51.

The school board is slated to meet Monday at 7:30 at Rockville High School in a special meeting to go over what could be put back into the budget if voters approve the numbers. An awards ceremony is scheduled for RHS at 6 on Monday. 

"We have a list of cuts," Conway said. "I am not sure it it is going to be last-out, first-in. I do not know what the board will want do."

Conway said two major target areas are being discussed where the school system can make up some lost revenue. One is "a movement toward an HSA," meaning that all employees opt for the health savings account plan when choosing insurance. It would have to be negotiated. 

The other is moving some special needs students from outplacements to a specially equipped room at RHS and bringing in some out of district students into Vernon to join them.

She said the board and school officials will take hard looks toward "at-risk accounts."

"There is no guaranteed savings in a number of accounts," she said. "The board can still say it will take that risk and not consider putting money back."
Conway was not sure how the school board would view eliminated positions. 
"We are trying to get to economy across district," Conway said. "We are trying to look at every nook and cranny and try not to affect what has direct contact with kids."


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