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THE SUNDAY REPUBLICAN

SUNDAY, MARCH 11, 2012

TOUGH CHOICES FOR TORRINGTON SCHOOLS

>> TEXT BY KEVIN LITTEN

The Torrington Board of Education faces some tough choices as the board strives to deliver a no-increase budget in the face of rising expenses and less federal
funding. To achieve that goal, the board would have to cut $4 million from its current staff and services. At a third budget meeting Monday, the board and administrators are scheduled to discuss 26 options for ways to cut costs, including the elimination of the music departments fourth- to eighth-grade strings program and
the instituting of pay-to-play sports. Here are the proposals under consideration:
>> Align the Torrington public schools calendar with Oliver
Wolcott Vocational-Technical School
The school district is required to pay for transportation to all public
schools, including Oliver Wolcott Vocational-Technical School which
is part of the state vo-tech system. Aligning vacation with the state
technical school schedule is estimated to reduce costs because the
bus company could lower costs by being able to run all its buses on
the same schedule. There would likely be some professional days
that could not be aligned.
Estimated to lower costs by: $40,000

>> Have families or PTOs provide student supplies

Currently, money is budgeted for pencils, pens, crayons, markers, art
supplies and other items used in classrooms. If this item is cut, Parent-Teacher Organizations have indicated they are willing to raise
money for supplies for their schools.
Estimated to lower costs by: $24,000

>> Reduce instructional resources and dues and fees

This line item covers materials teachers use to guide classroom instruction, such as curriculum literature, software, website memberships, and fees for organizations that provide instructional help and
posters for classrooms.
Estimated to lower costs by: $24,000

>> Reduction of band field trip transportation costs in grades

9 through 12
This spending line contains money for the Torrington High School
band to travel to performances. If its cut, parents will have to pick up
the costs.
Estimated to lower costs by: $15,000

>> Reduction of Torrington Middle School late bus from

three days a week to one
The middle school late bus provides rides home for students who
stay after school for help on homework, sports and detention.
Estimated to lower costs by: $20,000

>> Elimination of strings

music program in grades
four to eight
Nearly 200 students participate
in this program at the middle
school and elementary levels
combined. School board members have questioned whether
they need to spread cuts to
band and chorus to ensure fairness, and administrators are likely to present the cost savings of
eliminating band at Mondays
meeting. Matt Valenti, Torrington Education Association president and orchestra teacher, has
questioned the administrations
cost estimates of this program
because there are several parttime teachers whom he believes
were counted as full-time teachers in the boards estimate.
Estimated to lower costs by:
$230,000

REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN ARCHIVE

The Forbes Elementary

School orchestra performed
this holiday concert in
December 2011 to a packed
house. Pictured, front row
from left, are Brooke
Jacquemin, Sam Bossone and
Jessie Keen. The program
they participated in then, the
districts strings music
program for fourth- through
eighth-graders, is among the
proposed cuts. Some 200
children currently participate.

>> Reduction of General Enrichment Program

The General Enrichment Program pays for students in grades K-5 to
attend shows at the Warner Theatre and orchestra performances
and to visit museums. This cut would affect every student in the five
elementary schools.
Estimated to lower by costs by: $30,000

es above 25 are paid an additional stipend.

Estimated to lower costs by: $250,000

>> Pay-for-play
athletics
Students who participate in sports would
have to pay fees to
cover the costs of
equipment, travel,
coaches salaries and
building rentals. The
school system would
have to cover fees for
students who receive
free and reduced lunch.
However, administrators estimate that
would cost a little less
than $85,000.
Estimated to lower
costs by: $228,450

I Eliminate two full-time middle school teachers

Like the high school, class sizes vary depending on subject, so its
not clear how this would affect class size. The school would likely reduce course offerings. This reduction would be in addition to two
full-time teaching positions Principal Steve Gottlieb has already proposed cutting as he realigns the schools curricula with new state
standards.
Estimated to lower costs by: $100,000
JIM SHANNON REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN

Torringtons Ryan Andrews, front,

won the NVL title in the 100-yard
breaststroke this season. Under
the pay-for-play budget
proposal, boys who want to swim
or dive would pay $989.19 while
girls would pay $1,435.90.

The estimated fees students would need to pay to participate in

the following sports are:
TORRINGTON HIGH SCHOOL
Football . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $913.02
Boys soccer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $540.88
Boys swimming and diving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $989.19
Boys outdoor track . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $438.15
Girls soccer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $601.36
Boys basketball. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $987.84
Girls basketball . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $867.58
Girls outdoor track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $554.45
Girls volleyball. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $660.91
Baseball . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $915.21
Boys indoor track . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $231.65
Girls swimming and diving. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,435.90
Girls indoor track . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $247.99
Cheerleading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $541.96
Softball . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $931.53
Boys cross country . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $454.48
Girls tennis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $663.90
Girls cross country . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $454.48
Dance team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $601.07
Boys golf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,039.82
Boys tennis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $698.98
Wrestling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $137.71
TORRINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOL
Boys soccer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $170.89
Girls soccer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $221.18
Boys/girls cross country . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $87.83
Girls volleyball . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $344.63
Boys basketball . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $566.59
Girls basketball . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $373.09
Baseball . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $298.87
Softball . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $297.41
Boys track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $188.85
Girls track . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $145.38
Intramurals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $115.56

er Education Cost Sharing grants to school boards. Because of this,

the school board has not included this money toward its budget.
Mayor Ryan J. Bingham has said he will recommend to the Board of
Finance that the entire grant increase be forwarded to the school
system. The city has historically always given Education Cost Sharing grants to the school district. If it does this year, the school board
will have another $468,000 in its coffers.

>> Reduction of technology budget

>> Teacher, staff and program reductions

This spending item would reduce the number of upgrades to technology at the districts seven schools and defer the purchase of computers required under a state mandate that would be used to
implement online statewide testing.
Estimated to lower costs by: $100,000

Some of the proposed cuts involve both teachers, staff and programs. Because the school district does not yet know how many
teachers will retire at the end of the year, it is unclear how many of
the proposed reductions would result in layoffs. At least some of the
teacher and staff reductions would occur through attrition. The
school district uses the figure of $50,000 to estimate one full-time
teacher position, and the practice of bumping rights, or eliminating less senior teachers first, is not factored into the cost-saving estimate. The staff reductions, some of which would eliminate entire
programs, include:

>> Other cost-saving factors

The proposed budget so far includes other cost-saving factors under
consideration. They include:

Furlough days
This spending item is so complex, the board has not discussed it, and
any potential cost savings has not been estimated. Placing any
unionized employees on furlough would require negotiation with
each of the districts six unions.

Air conditioning cost reductions

The administration did better than expected in receiving incentives
from Northeast Utilities to purchase new air conditioning systems for
the middle school, so they have been able to lower the cost projection by $100,000.

Gaining the citys approval to pass the Education Cost

Sharing grant to the Board of Education
The state recommends, but does not require, municipalities to deliv-

I Eliminating four full-time high school teachers

Because class sizes vary at the high school depending on the subject, its not clear how this would affect class size. Its more likely that
the high school would offer fewer subjects rather than increase class
sizes.
Estimated to lower costs by: $200,000

I Eliminate one teacher at each elementary school in grades

4 or 5.
Administrators have targeted the fourth and fifth grade teachers because younger children benefit more from smaller class sizes as they
learn basic skills they will carry with them into the upper grades. Two
school principals have said fourth and fifth grade class sizes could
swell from 25 or less to between 29 and 31. Teachers who have class-

I Eliminate one full-time

elementary assistant principal
There is only one elementary
assistant principal in the district, at the districts largest
school, Torringford School.
The school has nearly 650 students, almost double the size
of the other elementary
schools. Torringfords assistant principal is Charles Beyer,
a more than 30-year veteran.
Will lower costs by: $102,000,
the assistant principals salary

I Eliminate one certified

support staff in each
elementary school
Most certified support staff
provide help to students reading below grade level and to
prepare students for yearly
testing. The staff work oneon-one or in small groups with
reluctant readers and provide
training for teachers.
Estimated to lower costs by:
$250,000

REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN ARCHIVE

Torrington Mayor Owen J.

Quinn Jr., center, holds a 2003
news conference to celebrate
the city being named one of
the 100 best communities for
music education in the nation,
a list the city has topped for
more than a decade. Charles
Beyer, right, was the systems
arts director at the time, a
position that no longer exists.
Beyers current position also
is being targeted for a budget
cut because hes now the only
elementary assistant principal
in the district at Torringford
school, the citys largest K-5
building.

Eliminate of the Latin program

The high school offers Latin classes taught by one teacher. This estimate reflects salary and materials.
Will lower costs by: $80,000

Eliminate one full-time guidance counselor at Torrington

Middle School

Middle school guidance teachers help students create their class

schedules, assist in making the decision about whether students go
to Oliver Wolcott Vocational-Technical School or the high school.
This reduction would leave the middle school with one guidance
counselor.
Estimated to lower costs by: $50,000

Eliminate one full-time guidance counselor at Torrington

High School

Reducing guidance counselors from three to two at the high school

could make more difficult a state mandate to create individual learning plans for students.
Estimated to lower costs by: $50,000

Reduce Library Media Specialists K-8

In Connecticut, library media specialists are required to have a masters degree or a license in school library media. The specialists provide technology integration and oversee the school media
collections, including books, periodicals, videos and sound recordings. There are three full-time positions and one part-time position
who are shared at the five elementary schools.
Estimated to lower costs by: $175,000

Eliminate art teachers K-5

Art teachers would be eliminated, as would weekly art classes provided in all elementary schools. Art instruction would become the
responsibility of the classroom teacher.
Estimated to lower costs by: $240,000

Eliminate World Language Program at Torrington Middle

School

Eliminating the world language program would mean the Torrington

Middle School would no longer offer foreign language classes taught
by five teachers. Currently students can study Italian, French and
Spanish.
Estimated to lower costs by: $250,000

Eliminate four full-time nurses

Each school has a full-time nurse, so this would reduce nurses districtwide to three, meaning they would have to travel between the
seven schools. Its not yet clear that this is even a possibility because
of reporting requirements for injuries and illnesses. A nurse must
handle any incident of sick or injured children or staff, from an exam
to the paperwork. It also raises questions about safety, the schools
ability to respond to emergencies and administer first aid, and provide basic health care.
Estimated to lower costs by: $218,000

IF YOU GO
The Torrington Board of Educations budget committee will meet to hash out $4 million in proposed cuts at 5:30 p.m. Monday at the districts
central administration office at 355 Migeon Ave. The full board will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Torrington High Schools media center. Public
comment is scheduled for Wednesdays meeting; no public comment is scheduled for Monday. Both meetings are open to the public.

SCHOOLS: Heart-wrenching process for Board of Education members

Continued from Page One
gram if were at a zero,
Kloczko said, referring to the
buzzword thats been mentioned by all manner of city officials trying to avoid tax
increases. You are not going to
have a quality school system
any longer.
Kloczko is not the superintendent. Shes acting while the
school board ponders who will
replace Christopher G. Leone,
who resigned in August. Because of her status, Kloczko has
said the budget must be decided
by the school board. Kloczko
said shell tell the board
Wednesday what the district
can limp by with. She said its
not going to be the zero the
board members referenced
again and again last week in
meetings that had school principals, their voices trembling
with emotion, lobbying for their
schools and students.

Both Kloczko and Board of

Education members trace the
zero to Mayor Ryan J. Bingham. The three-term Republican mayor has made budget
policy central to his administration, slashing $1 million in City
Hall spending last year, and has
directed all departments on
Jan. 6 to return budgets with no
increase because our goal, like
any year, is to have a no-tax-increase budget, the mayor
wrote in his memorandum.
I always took that to mean
that when all departments are
supposed to come in at a zero,
were a department, said
Danielle Batchelder, Board of
Education business manager.
Bingham said he wouldnt object to a school budget increase
if the city has the revenue to support it without raising taxes. The
problem is, the states promise to
increase city school funding by
$468,000 and the decision to
switch insurance carriers only

fills about one-quarter of the

school districts funding hole.
Added to that is the citys dismal economic picture, which
has translated into sluggish taxable property growth that will
fill the city treasury with little
new tax revenue. Even if the
city can direct savings and new
revenue toward the school district, Bingham said budget
planners wont know for weeks
how much that is.
The superintendents budget,
with or without the citys numbers, is due by March 15.
AS THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
DECIDES WHAT TAXPAYERS,
nearly three-quarters of whom
dont have students in school, are
willing to accept, their budget is
littered with major cost drivers.
Health insurance is projected
to increase by $600,000. Special
education costs have swollen by
$719,000 an amount administrators argue must be preserved

because the district is seeing a

sharp increase in students with
special needs, and they are trying to avoid $60,000-per-student
out-of-district placements for
children they cannot help.
Also untouchable is a $521,000
increase to improve buildings.
Board of Education members
have ordered administrators not
to touch the capital budget because improvements have been
delayed for years and they worry buildings will crumble if
nothing is done. At East School,
the windows are so leaky, instead of rewarding students by
allowing them to bang out chalkboard erasers, children who behave get to empty pails that
collect water on windowsills.
The only way to hit zero is to
cut programs and staff.
Facing cuts that could change
the face of the district and even
destroy long-standing traditions
like being named one of the top
100 communities in the nation

with excellent music education

has been heart-wrenching for
board members, said Kenneth
P. Traub, the boards chairman.
Its very discouraging,
Traub said. Weve lost 70 positions in three years, counting the
cuts in this budget. Were down
administration, assistant principals, teachers. Were down an
ungodly number of positions at
Migeon Avenue that weve consolidated or moved around.
Former
superintendent
Leone, who departed after a
570-day tenure, had a threeyear sustainable budget plan
that was supposed to carry the
district through next school
year without severe impacts,
Traub said. The problem now is
all of the more justified cuts
were made in the first two years
and now the only place to go is
severe, Traub said.
The district is faced with
what administrators call a
funding cliff. The federal gov-

ernment provided $1.4 million

in a jobs program last year that
no one expects to get back. Its
been doomsday scenarios every
year and then at the last moment, the government has come
in with funding, Batchelder
said. We kept saying theres
going to be a funding cliff if you
give all this money to us. They
knew that, but they did it anyway to sustain jobs.
Traub said the lack of funding
could render the district unrecognizable. Such a budget is akin
to telling the citys schoolchildren, forget the dream of getting
into a good university or pursuing
a profession like medicine or law
or science, Traub said.
Im going to make the case
that we cant live at a zero,
Traub said. How the city
comes up with that, that will be
the citys responsibility. It puts
a lot of pressure on the City
Council and the Board of Finance and the mayor.