Coventry is in the midst of the budget development season.  The district budget has been most difficult to assemble, given the exceptionally challenging economic times we are facing as a community and as a country.

The financial structure in Connecticut reflects the statewide dependence on the local towns for educational resource support.  This financial design is unfair from so many perspectives.  The proposed budget (FY10) reflects the challenges of implementing educational services, and yet restricting financial requests to a level never before attempted given the current compulsory state of our systems.  The unprecedented proposed percentage increase of approximately 1.7% (actual number not known at time of submission) must reflect the increased efficiencies of the redeployment of staff, as well as the deferral of projects and initiatives to potentially better future economic times.  Please note the following “Potential Educational Services Impact” statement, as a result of the proposed budget:

• Loss of kindergarten teacher – increase class size
• Loss of first grade teacher – increase class size
• Loss of second grade teacher – increase class size
• Reduction in art, physical education, and music across system
• Loss of third grade teacher – increase class size
• Loss of fourth grade teacher – increase class size
• Loss of fifth grade teacher – increase class size
• Loss of secretarial services
• Loss of para-educators providing instructional assistance
• Reductions in training and preparedness for all staff
• Loss of some curricular alignment development efforts
• Reduction in some coordination of outside agencies
• Serious reductions in instructional supplies including paper, pencils, and textbooks at all levels
• Reductions in science equipment
• Elimination of some elective offerings
• Elimination of selected sports programs
• Elimination of some afterschool activities
• Loss of middle school teachers – increase class size
• Loss of high school teachers – increase class size
• Inability to maintain facilities at appropriate level with maintenance reductions
• Inability to pay preschool lease site fees
• Reduction of some E.O. Smith agricultural slots
• Reducing instructional days for students
• Reduction of nursing services
• Reducing hours and staff of school library services
• Potentially reducing afterschool homework assistance by eliminating late busses
• Seriously increasing parent athletic and extracurricular fees
• Elimination of staff positions in all categories
• Serious loss of quality programs as a result of limiting staff training
• Reduction of substitute services resulting in students “doubling up” in other classes when teachers are absent
• Telephones go unanswered in offices without secretarial support
• Parent and student demand for guidance support goes unmet
• Parents cannot afford athletic and extra curricular fees – programs are eliminated – parents choose out of district schools
• Supplemental student services are reduced
• In-school suspension program cannot be funded – Parents’ work disrupted because of more out-of-school suspensions

I know you join me in looking forward to better times as we jointly reflect on our responsibilities towards young people.

Best regards,

Donna

PS – Are you a business in Coventry interested in hosting a Donuts with Donna Session?  Call the Superintendent’s Office (742-7317 x2) to get information and/or to be put on the 2009-10 list.  Check out our website at www.coventrypublicschools.org for the latest schedule of Donuts with Donna sessions.