[CASL-L] Southington Layoffs on Horizon

[STEPHANIE PATTERSON]

The finance board has published a statement indicating that shortfalls on BOE budgets caused by state funding are not eligible for support from the town rainy day fund. The rainy day fund exceeds the 10% recommended reserve. Oddly enough, a member of the finance board is an administrator in a school in town. 

The grand list is growing with a mixture of commercial and residential construction that may bring in as much as $1 million dollars in new revenue. 

The union does not know what the next steps are at this point. There is no information readily available to those of us at risk of layoff this school year. 

In pondering what might be done to solve the problem I asked the union president if anyone suggested, or planned to suggest, that all bargaining units and core groups supported by the BOE budget come together to draft proposals together to create a win win ( and perhaps open contracts) proposal to be shared with the town boards and taxpayers, the answer was no. The union doesn’t see that as its core mission. Even in these circumstances. 

With a $2.1 million shortage, all library media specialist positions will be eliminated. Literacy and numeracy specialists may be able to transition to classrooms. Up to 50 or so positions may be eliminated - 30 something teachers, rest in secretarial and other support roles. 

Not a pretty picture! 



Sent from my iPhone