42 Grove Street (203) 736-5095

Ansonia CT 06401 FAX: (203) 736-5098

For Immediate Release:

School budget appropriation will cause widespread layoffs and program cuts
Last night, the Ansonia Board of Apportionment and Taxation (BOAT) approved a budget which includes $27million in funding for the districts four public schools. The Board of Education submitted a request to BOAT for $27,868,000 representing an increase of $1.5million (5.66%) over the current year. This increase was necessary to keep services at their current level in the face of lost grant funding from the State of Connecticut. The bulk of the lost grant money was in the form of the Priority School District Grant which is being phased out due to Ansonias improvement in state test scores. The reductions outlined below will have a profoundly negative impact on students learning opportunity in Ansonias schools.

Area
Ten positions within the teachers union, impacting: One-half of a kindergarten teacher One-half of a full-time reading intervention teacher Four elementary teachers one each in grades 2, 3, 4, 5 One pre-kindergarten special education teacher One art teacher One music teacher One life skills teacher One English language learners teacher One-half of a physical education teacher One behavior interventionist 8 members of the tutors union, impacting: All tutors currently providing academic support to regular-education students in need of Tier 2 reading intervention 8 part-time interventionists, impacting: All part-time interventionists currently providing academic support to regular-education students in need of Tier 3 reading intervention Two members of the school administrators union, impacting: An assistant principal at the high school The district-wide Math & Science Coordinator

Scope
6% of the teachers union

100% of the tutors union 100% of all parttime interventionists 18% of the school administrators union

Area
Several support staff, impacting: The district parent liaison One kindergarten aide The district truancy officer The part-time I.T. technician One-half of the Network Directors position Reductions to the district-wide athletics budget, causing the following eliminations as decided by the Athletic Director: All middle school sports All high school freshman sports The dance/pompom squad Winter cheerleading Golf Tennis Winter and spring boys and girls track

Scope
Sharp reductions in key services for students, parents, and staff

A 33% reduction in funding