Board of Selectmen delivers harsh dose of reality to schools

Anyone who thought a significant increase in school funding might finally pass in Winsted this year saw their hopes dashed Monday night when the Winchester Board of Selectmen cut more than $1.5 million from the superintendent’s proposed budget. But for residents concerned about property taxes, the cut was a relief, sending a clear message that spending must be pulled back. Either way, the school system is hurting.

In reality, Monday night’s decision did not constitute an actual cut, but it limited the increase in the school budget to $300,000 for 2010-11. Superintendent of Schools Blaise Salerno had requested a nearly 10-percent increase of $1.8 million, noting that the school system has suffered without funding increases for the past two years. A reduction in state and federal revenues in the coming school year will make it more difficult to balance the budget, particularly as the Winchester school district faces significant infrastructure and maintenance issues. Population shifts have contributed to a more challenging educational environment, requiring additional resources.

The situation with school funding is dire and has many people wondering how the education system is going to survive. A groundswell of support for Salerno’s increase had been building among parents in recent weeks, but town leaders were not convinced. The Board of Selectmen’s decision to deny an investment in education was a harsh dose of fiscal conservatism.

What happens next? Prepare to see cutbacks in staffing, increased class sizes, elimination of programs and reductions in supplies, equipment and maintenance. It will be an ugly process. Concessions from The Gilbert School will be necessary, and an elementary school may need to be closed.

Over the long term, continued funding cuts will only hurt the school system. If history is any indicator, the schools will scrape by financially, without making progress. More students will fall through the cracks and the town will continue its slide into general mediocrity.