Mayor John Harkins’ 2015 Town Budget Proposal includes a $2,306,499 increase for Stratford Public Schools, 2.4%, which covers the schools’ $1,235,735 requested increase for personnel benefits and the $1,070,764 requested for salary increases (union and non-union). This follows the BOE’s request for an overall increase of $5.2 million.
While the allocation of monies within the schools’ total budget is determined by the BOE and not the mayor, Schools’ Chief Operating Officer Clarence Zachery sees no increases in the mayor’s proposed budget for books and computers or for the contractual transportation expense increase.
Another increase that was not specifically provided by the mayor’s proposal is $771,000 for special education. The Stratford Public Schools’ special education program, which serves students with disabilities, was found to be lacking in many areas — including educational benefit for the students — according to a November 2013 report by an outside auditing company. (See The Star, Jan. 31, page 1.)
Undergoing an audit of special education was urged by the mayor’s office last year.
According to Zachery, the BOE will have to make cuts elsewhere in its budget in order to find additional monies for things like computers and special education, if the mayor’s budget is passed by the Town Council as proposed.
