Springfield school budget group rejects state challenge

Springfield schools look to level-fund budget.

http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20101202/NEWS02/712029919

Published December 2, 2010 in the Rutland Herald         Springfield school budget group rejects state challenge         By SUSAN SMALLHEER Staff Writer                 SPRINGFIELD — The budget advisory group given the task of coming up with about $500,000 in cuts in the Springfield school budget as part of the state’s Challenges for Change said Tuesday they won’t do it.         At a meeting Tuesday night, the group said it will instead focus on the school’s regular budget process and aim for a level-funded budget, said Chairman Ernest “Puggy” Lamphere.         Lamphere, the town’s retired longtime fire chief, said the 10-person committee had been meeting with department heads to learn about the school budget and had held several meetings, including two this week.         But the committee didn’t come up with a list of recommended cuts.         “We have conducted the Challenges for Change assignment and conclude we cannot and will not promote a budget that includes the resulting reductions in our education programing,” read the letter, which Lamphere said would be signed by all committee members eventually.         “Rather, we will provide a budget we believe is needed to maintain the education standards we want and are required to address for the children of our community and we will be guided by the support of the voters of our community,” the letter concluded.         The advisory board plans on presenting the letter to the Springfield School Board at its next meeting, Dec. 6.         “We’re not doing a second budget,” Lamphere said after Tuesday night’s meeting, which included reviews of the capital and administration budget.         Lamphere said the committee did support two major capital construction projects proposed by Superintendent Frank Perotti: $140,000 for a new roof over the Springfield High School gymnasium and $725,000 toward completion of the new heating system at Riverside Middle School.         But as for a request for $3,500 worth of window blinds, Lamphere said the schools could live without them for a year or so.         In all, $112,000 in smaller capital projects will get heavy scrutiny, the committee agreed.         One of the proposed changes targeted a technology administrator’s position for elimination, but Perotti urged the group to reconsider.         Perotti said he had just been able to fill the position after months of searching for someone for the position. The position had been downgraded from a more senior position, a director of technology.         “That position is pretty desperately needed,” Perotti told the board.         http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20101202/NEWS02/712029919