First- thanks to all who voted in either or both referendums! Regardless of whether people vote “yes” or “no” – taking the time and making the effort to vote is an admirable action.

Now that a budget has been approved, the next step for the Board of Education is to finalize the school budget. A special meeting to take this action has been set for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, June 7 at Stonington High School. The Board must reduce its originally proposed budget by more than $300,000. A list of possible cuts needed to meet that threshold was detailed in a previous post on this blog.

Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Polling places:

First and third districts at Stonington firehouse in the Borough.

Second district at Pawcatuck firehouse.

Fourth and fifth districts at Hoxie firehouse in Mystic.

All votes matter.

In May the budget was rejected by 32 votes.

The Board of Finance takes a rejection of the budget to mean residents want further cuts.

A second referendum is scheduled Tuesday, June 5 with polls open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. If voters approve the budget, no further reductions will be made. If voters reject the budget, the Board of Finance will make further cuts.

Here are highlights of the budget changes needed to meet the $300,000 reduction:

- Elimination of a proposal to add two numeracy support teachers for the elementary and middle levels. These teachers would have helped both students and teachers by providing remedial assistance for struggling students, collaborating with teachers on brainstorming lesson planning to more effectively teach math concepts and also help provide more challenge for students excelling in math skills. Reduction:$120,758.

- Addition of a .5 administrator for the West Board/West Vine street schools. While a principal is shared by these two buildings, the lack of total-day administrative coverage in each building has meant many strains and challenges. This addition costing $52,000 aims to alleviate these difficulties.

- Elimination of a proposed increase in mental health services at Mystic Middle School. Reduction: $19,350.

- Reduction of allocations for athletic and co-curricular activities at Stonington High School. Reduction: $20,000.

- Elimination of a proposed increase for a world language teacher at SHS. The high school administration has said the impact of this is larger class sizes and the high likelihood some students will not get their first choice of language. Reduction: $19,350.

- Elimination of transportation to out-of-town magnet schools. Paying to transport students to schools such as the new Marine Science Magnet High School in Groton is not mandated. Reduction: $43,456.

- Elimination of a proposed summer academy aimed at engaging at-risk ninth graders entering SHS. Reduction: $5,800.

- Reducing use of the Old Mystic building to storage and meeting space only. Administrators’ offices will be relocated among the town’s schools. Reduction: $6,033.

- Deferral of textbook purchases. Reduction: $8,000.

- Reduction in the hourly rate paid tutors. Reduction: $14,350.

- Partial reduction of a proposal to add technology support for the district at a time when use of and demand for technology in the classroom has exploded. Reduction: $27,250.

Smotas, who formerly served as East Lyme’s superintendent, will bring both knowledge of the Stonington community and a wealth of experience as a superintendent.

He will begin work in Stonington late in June. Welcome to him!

At its meeting last week, the Board provided the schools’ administrative team with some thoughts and priorities. It faces the difficult task of meeting these budget reductions on May 24 to allow the public to understand what is included in the budget as it moves toward a second budget in June.

A second budget Town Meeting is scheduled at 7 p.m. May 24 at SHS. A second budget referendum vote is scheduled Tuesday, June 5. Yes votes at that time will mean – accept the budget as is. No votes at that time will mean – make further cuts.

Leanne has been a wonderful, positive-thinking, student-focused leader for Stonington Public Schools in the past several years. She has helped accomplish much for our students.

In the weeks ahead, the Board, sitting as a Search Committee, will meet to discuss embarking on a search for a new superintendent.

Second district voters approved the budget by a wide margin, but voters in the other two polling places rejected it. The final tally showed 32 more “no” votes cast than “yes” votes.

The Board of Finance meets tonight: Wednesday, May 9 at 7 p.m. at the Police Station to make cuts. Finance board members have said most of those cuts will come from the schools. A second referendum vote will likely be scheduled.

The Board of Education remains dedicated to working to ensure whatever budget is ultimately adopted will include services and programming to ensure the best potential for student achievement is reached for ALL students.

Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. in three polling places in town:

Residents of the First (Stonington) and Third (Deans Mill) districts vote at the Stonington Firehouse in the Borough.

Residents of the Second (Pawcatuck) district vote at the Pawcatuck firehouse on Liberty Street.

Residents of the Fourth (Mystic) and Fifth (Old Mystic) districts vote at the Hoxie firehouse in downtown Mystic.

A “yes” vote implies the budget should remain as is – that there should be no further cuts.

A “no” vote implies more cuts should be made, including cuts to the school budget.

Currently the school budget includes:

Math support for elementary and middle school students.

Additional administrative support at West Broad/West Vine.

Additional mental health supports at Mystic Middle.

A summer academy for at-risk high school students.

Additional world language personnel at the high school.

Restoration of funds for high school athletics.

Supports to maximize instructional technology.

In addition, the budget:

Maintains target class sizes

Maintains current student programming

Supports the district’s strategic plan

The usual process is that the budget, as presented by the Board of Finance, will be put to a town-wide referendum vote formally scheduled at this town meeting. That vote is expected to be Tuesday, May 8.

However, there may be an attempt made at the town meeting to call for reductions to the budget BEFORE it is put to a referendum vote.

To recall what has already happened with the budget: following an April 18 public hearing at which there was overwhelming support to restore money to the education budget, the Board of Finance returned $150,000 to the recommended schools’ budget and said voters should have their say on this proposal.

Have your voice heard on this issue. Attend the town meeting and speak up.

Thanks to all those who attended the budget public hearing to support the school budget!

There will be a budget town meeting at 7 p.m. April 30 at Stonington High School. The meeting will be adjourned to a referendum vote, which is scheduled Tuesday, May 8. Voters will cast their ballots on the budget at polling places. Details of the voting locations and time polls will be open will be provided soon.

Here are some highlights of the school budget, if it is accepted at referendum:

- Add a half-time administrator at West Broad-West Vine Street Schools.

- Provide two numeracy support teachers to work to help students struggling in math, as well as to help challenge top math students.

- Provide money to fund a full season of games for high school athletic teams and ease fundraising pressure for teams.

- Add a computer technician for the school system.

Please vote on Tuesday, May 8.