Upcoming opportunities, March 2012 (updated)

It is budget season once again in our Schools and Town.  Through this process, we continue to ask our leaders to work together on complex, multi-year problems.  There doesn’t have to be two sides, “taxpayer” vs. “services.”  Innovative opportunities that benefit all of us best come from all of us working together, with a better future for Tolland in mind.  We can break out of long existing roles and patterns of interaction. Our Advisory Board met and elaborated on this situation, more here.  Here is what has happened so far:

1. Each principal to submitted their budget based on request for greatest needs for 2012-2013.  The principals’ request totaled ~9% increase over the current year.
2. The Superintendent adjusted principals’ request and presented it to the Board of Education. Locked in contracts increase the budget ~4%.  The proposal includes level service, other than small increases for computing & reduced pay for play fees.  The Superintendent’s budget increase over the current year totals 5.98%.  Details are here.
3. The Board of Education struggled through reductions  and a special meeting on February 17th  submitted a BOE budget increase of 4.64% to the Town Council.   Read more here, on Tolland Patch.
4. Town Council is now deciding in March what to send to referendum.

• March 6 – Joint meeting between town council and school board; 7 p.m., town hall
• March 13 – Manager submits budget to council
• March 14 – Discussion of the Planning, Fire and Ambulance and Public Safety budgets; 7:30 p.m., town hall
• March 15 – Advertise public hearing
• March 20 – Manager discusses budget with council; 7:30 p.m., town hall
• March 21 – Manager discusses budget with council; 7:30 p.m., town hall
• March 28 – Public hearing on Town Manager’s recommended budget, 7:30 p.m., Tolland High School
• April 3 – Budget finalized – Council discussion; 7:30 p.m., town hall
• April 12 – Advertise budget
• April 24 – Annual budget presentation meeting; 7:30 p.m., Tolland High School
• April 25 – Budget presentation; 12:30 p.m., Tolland Senior Center
• May 1 – Budget referendum
• May 10 – Council sets mill rate
• June 30 – School board adopts final budget, dependent on expenditure/projected changes

Friends of Tolland Schools asks that our leaders continue to struggle through this difficult process, and each step of the way communicate to each other and all taxpayers, in no uncertain terms, the consequences if the budget increase would be 1, 2, or 3 percent.  We ask leaders to build trust and model collaboration within their work.  School cost increases outpacing funding sources is a complex, multi-year problem. As things are, the school board, the superintendent, the town council, the town manager, taxpayers, school staff, teachers, and students themselves all have their own story to tell. Leaders must work to bring their perspectives together. We all want a school system that works more effectively and more compassionately. We all want a sustainable Tolland. Please check our site to stay informed about our budget.  If you wish to be notified, sign up on the right –>