School, Finance Boards Moving ‘Cautiously’ With ECS Funding

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said Wednesday that the town of Southington is in line to receive an additional $352,087 in Educational Cost Sharing from the state during the upcoming school year.

Town officials are not banking on it just yet, however.

School and Finance Board members are prepared to move forward with a conservative projected ECS revenue designated in the governor's plan, a decision that was made after promises in previous years were not fulfilled.

The town appears to be in good position to receive additional state ECS funding for the 2012-13 school year after Malloy said during a press conference Wednesday afternoon that he is committed to education reform.

Malloy said he intends to work with state legislators in ECS funding statewide, as well as offering $4.5 million in excess funding grant to all districts, although preference will be given to 30 Alliance districts.

“We can get good teachers into classrooms, and hire the best superintendents and administrators, but we must address the overarching resources issue and fund the programs that will directly reach the kids who are at a disadvantage because their school is underperforming,” Malloy said. “We have held towns harmless, no one is losing ECS funding - which sends a clear signal to our children that we will make the investment and deliver on our promise of high-quality education for every student in Connecticut.”

State Rep. Bruce “Zeke” Zalaski said Thursday that the announcement is “good news” for the Southington school district and believes the governor will be able to follow through with his proposal.

The ECS proposal would provide Southington with $20.19 million in funding.

“It is important that we continue to invest in our students, teachers and schools,” Zalaski said. “I will continue to support policies that provide Southington with this additional school funding.”

Although the town appears to be in good position to receive the increase in state funding, members of the Board of Finance continue to move forward cautiously and said it would be difficult to approve the request for a 3.8 percent increase.

Finance members including Joseph Labieniec, Wayne Stanforth and Chairman John Leary said the economy has continued to struggle, especially in the private sector, and they will face the challenge of balancing the school district’s needs with the needs of the taxpayer.

Almost every finance board member said they support the schools and will work line item by line item to provide as much funding as possible, especially as the current proposal calls for the elimination of 22 full-time positions including 15 teachers, but could not promise a rubber stamp on the Board of Education’s proposed budget.

“There is a revenue shortage, which at a 3 percent increase for the taxpayer is going to be a tough challenge,” Stanforth said. “The governor is increasing taxes in many aspects across the state with no more money coming back down to town. It’s a challenge.”