Upcoming opportunities, February 2012 (updated)

As you may know, it is budget season once again in our Schools and Town.  Through this process, we continue to ask our leaders to present a united budget to taxpayers. The further the budget process progresses, the fewer the opportunities become to 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.
2. The Superintendent adjusted principals’ request and presented it to the Board of Education.  The proposal includes level service, other than small increases for computing & reduced pay for play fees.  Details are here.
3. The Board of Education is in the process of reviewing this budget, to decide what to change and then present to the Town Council.  They plan to vote on the budget at a special meeting on February 17th
4. Town Council will then decide what they will approve and send to referendum.

• Community Conversation on Town Budgetary Matters scheduled for Thursday, February 16^th at 7:30 p.m. at the Fire Training Center, 191 Merrow Road.
• Thursday, February 23^rd Capital Budget Public Hearing – 7:30 p.m. – Council Chambers
• Tuesday, March 6^th – 7:00 p.m. – Joint meeting with Council and Board of Education – Council Chambers

• Thursday, March 15^th – 7:30 p.m. – Town Manager discusses Budget with Council – Council Chambers
• Tuesday, March 20^th – 7:30 p.m. – Town Manager discusses Budget with Council – Council Chambers
• Wednesday, March 21^st – 7:30 p.m. – Town Manager discusses Budget with Council – Council Chambers
• Wednesday, March 28^th – 7:30 p.m. – Public Hearing on Town Manager’s Recommended Budget – Tolland High School Auditorium
• Tuesday, April 3^rd – 7:30 p.m. – Council Discussion-Budget Finalized – Council Chambers
• Tuesday, April 24^th – 7:30 p.m. – Annual Budget Presentation Meeting – Tolland High School Auditorium
• Wednesday, April 25^th – 12:30 p.m. – Budget Presentation – Senior Center, 674 Tolland Stage Road

Friends of Tolland Schools asks that the Board of Education make their case to taxpayers, in no uncertain terms, the consequences if the budget increase would be zero, 1, 2, or 3 percent. We ask the Board of Education work with the Town Council, build trust and model collaboration within the budget process. 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.

 

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