Dr. Susan Marks will lead the public through part two of a workshop on Norwalk's education budget, or as the budget is entitled, "The superintendent's requested, non-recommended budget." The workshop will be held January 24 at 7 p.m. in the Common Council Chambers on the third floor of City Hall. On hand will be members from the Common Council, and the Board of Estimate and Taxation (BET) as well as Dr. Marks and her budget team. The Norwalk PTO is encouraging all members of the public to attend.
Thus far in the school budget saga, the BET, through chair Fred Wilms, has said that the superintendent must hold to only a 2% increase. The superintendent has said that such a limit would adversely impact programs and came in with a slightly over 3% increase. Many parents have said cut everything but the stuff that their children are involved in.
Meanwhile, the Common Council accepted union contracts the last few years providing pay increases for both administrators and teachers. A three-year contract for teachers starting in September of 2010 included an increase of 1.35 percent for the first year, 1.36 for the second and 1.37 for the third. At the time, Fred Wilms said it was, "A very favorable deal for the city." Mostly because of health plan savings totaling up to about $2 million. Of course that agreement was reached right before the 2009 municipal election.
