Bethany BOE Votes to Cut Section of First Grade for 2011-2012

Last night’s special meeting of the Bethany Board of Education was called to discuss and vote on some of the more difficult decisions that needed be made this budget session. On the table – cutting a section of first grade for the school year 2011-2012.

At the last regular meeting, Superintendent Tim Connellan had presented a pared down budget with an increase of 2.65 percent, and the BOE asked if he could get it below 2 percent.

Last night, Connellan returned with a 1.86 percent increase which included a savings of $30,000 in benefits and $23,000 in services, reducing the increase to $113,636 over last year.

The board, however, hoped for an even greater decrease considering the harsh economic times and the high unemployment rate in town.

Connellan said he did not recommend cutting a section of first grade as it would bring class size from around 15 up to 20 in each of the three sections.

“First grade is critical in regards to developing reading skills,” Connellan said. “I would prefer not to move to a larger class size if we have an option not to.”

Connellan emphasized, however, the teachers would work hard and do their best no matter what the numbers are in the classrooms. 

According to board member Brian Fournier, about $25,000 would be shaved from the budget; further savings could not be counted on due to the town’s exposure to paying towards that teacher’s unemployment. Fournier questioned whether that amount of money was enough to warrant increasing class size when compared to a $6 million budget.

“There are other ways to get below the 2 percent mark,” he said. “How much do we need that savings versus the impact it might have on students?”

After an hour of discussion, however, a motion was made to cut one section of the first grade, which passed. The following motion to approve the budget increase at $88,636 over last year, an increase of about 1.4 percent over this year’s budget, also was unanimously approved.

The Bethany Board of Education budget goes before the finance board on Mar. 1.