Board of Ed Begins Budget Discussions

Brookfield Board of Education (BOE) Chairman Ray DiStephan said even though the teachers made “a tremendous commitment” to reduce costs in , residents should not expect the school district’s proposed budget for the next fiscal year to be lower than the current $36,150,000 appropriation.

“Don’t expect it to be zero, minus $600,000,” he said, making reference to the combined savings from general wages and health care benefits in the teachers’ package for the fiscal year that will start in July.

“There are costs beyond our control, such as fuel prices and health care with other employees,” DiStephan said as Superintendent Anthony Bivona prepares to present his proposed budget to the BOE December 21.

Bivona told the BOE at its meeting Wednesday that there also may be changes in grant money and federal funding that has been provided to school districts during the economic recession.

However, DiStephan said that the contract with the teachers, which he believes is the only one of its kind in a school district in Connecticut, will allow the BOE some flexibility in lowering class sizes, its top priority.

“Part of the reason that it’s at the very top is that we ,” he said in an interview regarding the program that will start during the next academic year at Center Elementary School (CES).

DiStephan said under the full-day model, which was approved by the BOE on a 4-3 vote last month, kindergarten teachers won’t have the smaller afternoon classes in the current extended-day model.

“To ensure that we’re not losing all of that, we’re going to try to make sure that the class sizes are reasonable,” he said.

DiStephan said he would like to lower the average kindergarten class from the current 21 students per teacher to 18 students per classroom.

He said the BOE also wants to lower class sizes at Huckleberry Hill Elementary School (HHES), which has students in second through fourth grade.

After reviewing Bivona’s proposal, the BOE will begin its budget deliberations early next month and then send its recommended package to First Selectman Bill Davidson by January 31.

Bivona has stated that his other priority areas include enhancing the fine arts, music and world language offerings and strengthening “remedial programs for students not meeting academic expectations on local and state assessments.”

The New Board

DiStephan, who became chairman last February , was elected unanimously to a full term during the meeting.

Jane Miller, who had been the BOE secretary, was elected as vice chairman and Susan Queenan, a new member, will serve as secretary.

The other new members, Paul Checco and Scott McCarthy, join returning members Victor Katz and Harry Shaker, who is serving a two-year term.