Budget Finalized – Where Did We Find $100,000.00?

On Thursday, May 13th, the Board of Education finalized the 2010-2011 budget by identifying the remaining $100,000.00 to be cut as required by the town’s budget process.

In a budget so tight, where did we find an additional $100,000.00?

It’s important to note that when we developed the budget in December & January, we anticipated 4 teacher retirements at the end of June.  Each of these retirees was at the highest level of salary called an MA10 (Masters Degree and 10+years experience).   Knowing that we would replace these individuals with less experienced, and less expensive teachers, we budgeted to bring new hires on at a salary level called MA4 (Masters Degree and 4 years experience).  This savings was calculated into the original BOE budget which reflected a 1.37% increase.

When the Board of Finance determined that we would need to trim an additional $100,000.00 from our proposed budget, we considered the following:

1.  Between the time the budget was initially developed and now, we received confirmation of two more retirements and one resignation.  This allowed for us to base our calculations on a total of 6 retirements and 1 replacement — again trimming back salaries from MA10 level to MA4.  This helped us to achieve a good portion of the necessary savings.

2.  With this in mind, I recommended that the Board, rather than cutting teachers or programs, adjust the hiring target from a MA4 to an MA2 (Masters degree and 2 years experience) in order to account for the additional dollars and achieve the $100,000. savings.   I did so, knowing that the education of students in our district would not be negatively impacted, that students would still have the benefit of instructors possessing advanced degrees, and that the citizens of Stonington would still receive all of the programs they voted for when they generously passed the referendum on May 6th.  When Board members posed questions concerning the impact of this adjustment to teaching and learning, I assured them that significant numbers of teachers had been hired over the last 10 years in Stonington at the MA2 level and they chose to support my recommendation.

Unfortunately, coverage in one of our local newspapers did not reflect the meeting’s events accurately and implied that Stonington’s newest teachers would not be hired this spring if they possess Masters degrees.  I hope it is clear from this blog post that just the opposite is true.  I am dismayed that such an article ran as the front page story and that the information was incorrect.    While I am grateful that the editor of the paper has promised a correction, I wanted the opportunity to write directly to all of you.  Using MA2 as a hiring target, my goal is to bring teachers on board who already possess Masters degrees and up to 2 years of experience .  The time and dedication required by new teachers is enormous without the additional stress of outside coursework.  I am continually impressed by those who manage it so seamlessly, but  whenever possible it is my preference to hire those who have already earned their advanced degrees.

Thanks for listening and thanks for your on-going support.

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