Coping with the shrinking Consolidated School enrollment

CORNWALL — Looking ahead to spending estimates for the 2019-20 fiscal year, which begins July 1, the Cornwall Board of Education reviewed its proposed budget, which shows a 5.31 percent increase over this year’s budget. 

The spending plan was presented to the Board of Finance at a meeting on Thursday, March 14, at the Cornwall Consolidated School library.

The budget totals $2,486,770, up by $125,325 compared with the current year’s budget. Savings were found in some areas, including eliminating the health savings account program for staff, an adjustment in library software, in-service conferences and shared athletic officials as teams are combined among schools.

Areas slated for increase in the proposed budget include contracted raises and step increases for certified staff, tech services and science software, instructional equipment maintenance and curriculum supplies.   

While the textbook line shows a decrease, there is an increase in online instruction that allows for more targeted, individualized instruction.

The school is also looking to expand instruction in coding. 

“We’re trying it as an after-school enrichment workshop offering,” Principal Mike Croft explained.

While attrition by teaching staff has over time achieved a balance with reduced enrollment, the school is seeking to add a part-time teaching assignment.

“The change is not a full-time teacher,” Board Chairman Catherine Tatge said. “At a certain point we have to be sure that we are not going backward.”

The combined classes for different age groups have turned out to be a positive in the minds of residents, Croft told the board. Residents are seeing a progressive version of the traditional approaches. What does not work is an overly small class, he noted. Last year’s graduating class at Cornwall had only two students.

The Board of Finance will meet on Thursday, March 21, at 7 p.m. to discuss the proposed 2019-20 budgets of both the Board of Education and the Board of Selectmen. The Board of Finance’s public hearing on both budgets is scheduled for Friday, April 26, at 7:30 p.m.  The hearing will be held at the Cornwall Consolidated School.