School Board Searches for Ways to Cut Spending

Members of the Board of Education's finance committee met Wednesday to discuss possible budget cuts in an effort to soften the blow of $600,000 in lost federal funding and minimize an overall budget increase.

While the brief meeting produced no definite solutions to fiscal obstacles faced, the meeting provided board members and Interim Superintendent Dr. Ernest Perlini with an opportunity to review potential cost-saving measures as the budget process unfolds.

Finance Committee Chair Christopher Watts (D) did, however, reveal that the Board anticipates their budget will come in under the Town Council's current estimate of a 3 percent increase.

"I think the Town Council's estimates are probably on the high side," Watts said. "[Our increase] probably won't be that bad."

The main cost-saving measures reviewed by the committee include negotiations with the and self-funding health insurance, which is expected to rise by 13.9 percent over the next year, according to Windsor Public Schools Human Resources Director Dr. Craig Cooke.

The Town of Windsor decided to (town employees do not include employees of Windsor Public Schools) prior to the current fiscal year, saving the town approximately $400,000.

Watts estimated Wednesday that self-insuring could represent $450,000 in savings.

The district is currently in negotiations with Rainbow Bus Lines, according to Watts, and has presented a proposal that includes a zero percent increase next fiscal year in exchange for contractual adjustments.

Watts said that the district expects to hear back from the Bloomfield Avenue transportation company at the end of this week.

Committee members also discussed taking a look at tuition costs associated with out-of-district placements — particularly with regard to students attending magnet and CREC schools.

Tuition for the town's 445 students that attend magnet schools is expected to cost the district nearly $1 million over the next fiscal year. 

Accordingly, the committee and Perlini plan to look at the potential effects of "reabsorbing students," which Watts said would be minimal.

"When [former Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Feser] was here we took a look at the effect reabsorbing students would have and we found it wouldn't affect classes because students would be spread out from (kindergarten) to high school... It would mean maybe adding one or two teachers," he said.

While the committee said it would take a close look at out-of-district tuition costs and the affects of reabsorbing students into the district, the committee did not say it would take steps to encourage parents to return their students to Windsor Public Schools.

A public hearing on the Board of Education's proposed budget is scheduled for January 25; one day after Perlini will make his presentation to Board members.