Two attend NCSD budget hearing; vote set for May 16
NORWICH – A public budget hearing was held for residents of Norwich City School District on Monday, May 8 in the District Office where the $42.18 million budget was presented to attendees in detail.
Two Norwich residents attended the hearing where Superintendent Gerard O'Sullivan presented the budget's components along with District Clerk Rob Wightman.
The proposed 2017-18 budget – which includes a 1.93 percent tax levy, bringing the five-year average tax levy to 1.28 percent – will be voted on Tuesday, May 16.
Wightman estimated that the tax levy would essentially boil-down to about a 0.54 cent weekly increase for City residents, and a 0.62 cent weekly increase for non-City residents.
Three goals accomplished in the proposed budget, according to O'Sullivan, are: maintaining class size and staffing to support students and programming, maintaining or increasing academic and extra-curricular opportunities, and strengthening systems for teacher support and professional development.
The underlying plan, says O'Sullivan, is to 'increase student achievement through improved instructional practices.'
Following the presentation, attendees Perry Owen and Don Chirlin voiced their opinions that while they believe overall the proposed budget is favorable and well-crafted, there is one budget-driver that stood out to each of them: Special education.
According to O'Sullivan's presentation, 27 percent of the proposed 2017-18 budget is allocated to special education, with the remaining 62 percent and 12 percent going towards benefit costs, and ongoing operations and maintenance, respectively.
When Owen queried this, Wightman said that the number is non-negotiable and is state-mandated.
Asked if this is unusually high, Wightman replied that Norwich is not alone in this predicament, and while about $17 thousand is required annually for each individual special needs child in the district, according to Wightman, this number is still below the state average.
Owen accepted this response and praised the district for its inclusivity.
The budget will be voted on Tuesday, May 16 at the following locations:
• District 1 at St. Bart's Parish Center: City of Norwich Wards 1 through 6, Town of Norwich Districts 1 and 2, Town of North Norwich, Town of Guilford, Town of New Berlin 1, and Oxford 1 and 2.
• District 2 at Plymouth Firehouse: Towns of Plymouth and Smyrna.
• District 3 at Preston Firehouse: Towns of Preston, Pharsalia, and McDonough.
Two Norwich residents attended the hearing where Superintendent Gerard O'Sullivan presented the budget's components along with District Clerk Rob Wightman.
The proposed 2017-18 budget – which includes a 1.93 percent tax levy, bringing the five-year average tax levy to 1.28 percent – will be voted on Tuesday, May 16.
Wightman estimated that the tax levy would essentially boil-down to about a 0.54 cent weekly increase for City residents, and a 0.62 cent weekly increase for non-City residents.
Three goals accomplished in the proposed budget, according to O'Sullivan, are: maintaining class size and staffing to support students and programming, maintaining or increasing academic and extra-curricular opportunities, and strengthening systems for teacher support and professional development.
The underlying plan, says O'Sullivan, is to 'increase student achievement through improved instructional practices.'
Following the presentation, attendees Perry Owen and Don Chirlin voiced their opinions that while they believe overall the proposed budget is favorable and well-crafted, there is one budget-driver that stood out to each of them: Special education.
According to O'Sullivan's presentation, 27 percent of the proposed 2017-18 budget is allocated to special education, with the remaining 62 percent and 12 percent going towards benefit costs, and ongoing operations and maintenance, respectively.
When Owen queried this, Wightman said that the number is non-negotiable and is state-mandated.
Asked if this is unusually high, Wightman replied that Norwich is not alone in this predicament, and while about $17 thousand is required annually for each individual special needs child in the district, according to Wightman, this number is still below the state average.
Owen accepted this response and praised the district for its inclusivity.
The budget will be voted on Tuesday, May 16 at the following locations:
• District 1 at St. Bart's Parish Center: City of Norwich Wards 1 through 6, Town of Norwich Districts 1 and 2, Town of North Norwich, Town of Guilford, Town of New Berlin 1, and Oxford 1 and 2.
• District 2 at Plymouth Firehouse: Towns of Plymouth and Smyrna.
• District 3 at Preston Firehouse: Towns of Preston, Pharsalia, and McDonough.
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