Marcia Chambers Photo
Supt. Hamlet Hernandez.
Schools Superintendent Hamlet Hernandez unveiled a proposed $49.6 million school budget last night, with a 3.97 percent increase over last year’s budget even though enrollment appears to be declining.
More than 60 parents, teachers, principals and staff filled the Lecture Hall at Branford High School as Hernandez first outlined his budget and then outlined his plan to make up an unusual number of school days lost to ongoing snowstorms.
In his first budget talk since his appointment, Hernandez showed the driving force in the $1.89 million increase is an allocation of $1.65 million for teacher salaries and benefits. So far there are no teacher givebacks in the works but the budget outline says that renegotiation of the teacher contract is imminent. It expires in 2012.
Marcia Chambers
State funding chart.
State funding for Branford, Hernandez said, “is flat.”
The most difficult part of the budget, he said, were staff reductions, including 6.5 teachers, four in the elementary schools and the others at Walsh Intermediate School. “We had angst over this,” Hernandez said. In the end class size will only go up “slightly,” he said.
After a 30-minute budget presentation to the board, Hernandez invited the audience and the public to attend budget workshops this week on Tuesday Feb. 8 and Wednesday Feb. 9 at Walsh Intermediate School at 7 p.m. At that time discussions will be held on items outlined in the budget. If the Board of Education does not vote on the budget by Wednesday, an additional meeting will be held on Feb. 16 at 7:30 at Walsh.
The next item on the agenda was one many in the audience wanted to talk about: How to modify the current school year calendar in light of recent school closings. Hernandez said he understood that no matter how the issue is decided, “some segment will be upset.”
Branford students have had a whopping seven to nine days off because of severe snow conditions. A number of parents came to the meeting to discuss make-up days and how they might impact vacations set to take place in February and in April. After more than 90 minutes of discussion, Hernandez proposed and the Board of Education (BOE) agreed to stick to its current calendar, which permits the school year to be extended for six days in June.
Those students who were home for seven days will make-up an additional day at the start of the April vacation. Two more days must be found for students at Walsh Intermediate School, who were told to stay home because snow had to be cleared off the school roof. What happens if there are more school closings was not on the table.
Under state law schools must have 180 school days. Branford has 181.
BOE member John Prins asked if the 180 days were sacrosanct. “After all, we are not alone,” he said, observing this was a statewide issue. Board Chairman Frank Carrano said “the state is not inclined” to change the number.
Hernandez outlined various scenarios, including eliminating the February one-week break or the April one-week break. Several parents observed that extending the school year in June was not a good choice because there is no air-conditioning in several of the schools. One board member noted that by June 1, students had lost interest in school.
Other parents said families had long-standing vacation plans. “I have a February vacation. It is only 12-to 13 days away. We have invested time and money,” said one father. Another parent wanted to know if vacations were canceled, did that mean teachers would cancel their vacations as well. “What percentage of the teachers will be in the school?” Another parent asked: “Will there be subs?”
The school principals in the room were asked their views. One reminded the superintendent and school board of the costs the school district would have to pay teachers and administrators for non-refundable trips. “Is the district willing to pay for that?” asked one principal.
Another principal noted that 25 percent of his faculty “won’t be here” during one of the breaks. And then the school district would have to hire substitute teachers. “That’s a lot of money for sub-quality instruction.”
One teacher said the school calendar was crucial to how parents and teachers plan their lives during the school year. To tamper with it at such a late date was not a good idea, she said.
Marcia Chambers Photo
Branford BOE.
In the end, Hernandez recommended that the school board stick “to the fidelity” of the calendar, which permits the additional days in June.
Carrano said: “If there is no motion to amend the calendar then the calendar stands.” The school board unanimously agreed.
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