Free Daily Headlines :

  • COVID-19
  • Vaccine Info
  • Money
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Health
  • Justice
  • More
    • Environment
    • Economic Development
    • Gaming
    • Investigations
    • Social Services
    • TRANSPORTATION
  • Opinion
    • CT Viewpoints
    • CT Artpoints
DONATE
Reflecting Connecticut’s Reality.
    COVID-19
    Vaccine Info
    Money
    Politics
    Education
    Health
    Justice
    More
    Environment
    Economic Development
    Gaming
    Investigations
    Social Services
    TRANSPORTATION
    Opinion
    CT Viewpoints
    CT Artpoints

LET�S GET SOCIAL

Show your love for great stories and out standing journalism

Malloy provides some relief to small town leaders

  • by Jacqueline Rabe Thomas
  • April 25, 2012
  • View as "Clean Read" "Exit Clean Read"

Standing before municipal leaders at the state Capitol complex Wednesday, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said he has changed his mind about cutting state funding to small communities if they don’t reduce the high costs of running their schools over the next few years.

He does want the state to study ways that the smaller districts spend money on education, however.

When he introduced his sweeping education reform bill two months ago, Malloy proposed that the $79 million in school funding the state gives small districts each year be cut if a town spends what the state considers to be an exorbitant sum per student. The administration has said that more than about $15,400 per student is unacceptable.

“I am just trying to get people to have the discussion,” he said Wednesday, explaining the proposal highlighted the need for neighboring small districts to merge certain school functions to bring down costs.

This proposal — giving districts four school years to bring down their costs, and to have a state study regionalizing schools in the interim — faced immediate pushback from leaders of the state’s 49 small towns. If implemented in the coming fiscal year, 18 small towns that collectively receive $12.5 million a year would been deemed as spending too much on education and have their state funding cut.

“We’re being responsible by spending what it takes, while the state hasn’t,” Canaan First Selectwoman Patricia Ally Mechare said in February of her district’s spending $22,450 a year per student.

When Malloy faced town leaders Wednesday, cutting small-town budgets was on their minds.

“Thomaston is teetering … Are we going to be forced” to cut costs and regionalize? one leader asked him.

Mark Ojakian, the governor’s chief of staff, said during an interview that this component of a much larger education bill is not a sticking point for the administration.

“We are fine with a study,” he said.

State legislators and the administration have two weeks to reach agreement on an education reform package. Other controversial sections of the governor’s original bill include linking teacher tenure and certification to their performance evaluations and giving the state’s education commissioner broad authority to intervene in the lowest-performing schools.

Malloy told town leaders that he wants the state to “step in, preferably on an agreed upon basis” in these schools. Asked after the meeting if the state should be required to get permission to take over a school, from the local school board, for example, Malloy said, “No, I am not saying that they have a veto. What I’m saying is that our absolute preference would be to work with boards of education and mayors and first selectmen.”

Malloy also told municipal leaders that despite a looming $142 million deficit, he will not cut state aid to towns. However, he continued to warn them that they should not rely on the $50 million in increased funding he has proposed for education unless the legislature sends a “meaningful” education reform package to him to sign into law.

 

Sign up for CT Mirror's free daily news summary.

Free to Read. Not Free to Produce.

The Connecticut Mirror is a nonprofit newsroom. 90% of our revenue comes from people like you. If you value our reporting please consider making a donation. You'll enjoy reading CT Mirror even more knowing you helped make it happen.

YES, I'LL DONATE TODAY

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jacqueline Rabe Thomas

SEE WHAT READERS SAID

RELATED STORIES
More than 300 teachers vaccinated at Southbury clinic; State says older residents should come first
by Dave Altimari

Some teachers are getting vaccinated while the state is trying to get the COVID-19 vaccine out to older residents first.

Joe Biden takes office: ‘At this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed.’
by Mark Pazniokas

America took a deep breath and watched Joe Biden uneventfully inaugurated outside a Capitol invaded two weeks ago by rioters.

Lamont to lead NGA task force on pandemic response
by Mark Pazniokas

Gov. Ned Lamont will co-chair a National Governors Association task force on pandemic and disaster response.

Lamont sets the stage for a debate on marijuana taxation by mid-2022
by Keith M. Phaneuf

The governor's draft bill proposes taxing marijuana and erasing convictions for possession that occurred prior to Oct. 1, 2015.

In the grip of a pandemic: What would Dr. King say?
by Suzanne Lagarde MD

No one can dispute that we are in the midst of a history making week —the inauguration of a new President and the departure of a President under the cloud of accusations that he incited an insurrection against American democracy. However, the coming week will prove to be a week like no other in American history for more reasons than what is happening in our country’s capital.

Support Our Work

Show your love for great stories and outstanding journalism.

$
Select One
  • Monthly
  • Yearly
  • Once
Artpoint painter
CT ViewpointsCT Artpoints
Opinion In the grip of a pandemic: What would Dr. King say?
by Suzanne Lagarde MD

No one can dispute that we are in the midst of a history making week —the inauguration of a new President and the departure of a President under the cloud of accusations that he incited an insurrection against American democracy. However, the coming week will prove to be a week like no other in American history for more reasons than what is happening in our country’s capital.

Opinion Connecticut’s broad access to internet making at-home work more doable
by Timothy Wilkerson

When it comes to ranking public access to broadband networks, Connecticut has been consistently among the top five U.S. states for over a decade. In 2020, Connecticut topped two lists including best broadband access by BroadbandNow and WalletHub recognized the state as No. 1 in internet access to households as part of their Best States for Working from Home report.

Opinion The elephant in the Metro-North station
by David Moyer

All over the world, businesses are discussing their revised needs for space as a result of the pandemic. White-collar professionals who have successfully adapted to working from home will have, when they do go to their companies’ offices, fewer of them, with less square footage. Exactly how much is still a matter of debate since the post-pandemic habits of and requirements for in-person face time are still in flux. One thing’s for certain. It isn’t going to increase.

Opinion Separating myth and reality in aid in dying
by Lisa Blumberg

The virus is surging and the death rate is increasing as the already overburdened health system is in crisis. Yet, there is talk of the legislature again considering a bill to permit doctors to provide lethal prescriptions to terminally ill adults requesting them. This is despite the fact that such bills have stalled in committee five times in the past and due to the pandemic, the legislature may meet virtually for much of the upcoming session. Proponents will be talking about choice and compassion. Let’s separate rhetoric from reality.

Artwork Grand guidance
by Anne:Gogh

In a world of systemic oppression aimed towards those of darker skintones – representation matters. We are more than our equity elusive environments, more than numbers in a prison and much more than victims of societal dispositions. This piece depicts a melanated young man draped in a cape ascending high above multiple forms of oppression. […]

Artwork Shea
by Anthony Valentine

Shea is a story about race and social inequalities that plague America. It is a narrative that prompts the question, “Do you know what it’s like to wake up in new skin?”

Artwork The Declaration of Human Rights
by Andres Chaparro

Through my artwork I strive to create an example of ideas that reflect my desire to raise social consciousness, and cultural awareness. Jazz music is the catalyst to all my work, and plays a major influence in each piece of work.”

Artwork ‘A thing of beauty. Destroy it forever’
by Richard DiCarlo | Derby

During times like these it’s often fun to revisit something familiar and approach things with a different slant. I have been taking some Pop culture and Art masterpieces and applying the vintage 1960’s and 70’s classic figures (Fisher Price, little people) to the make an amusing pieces. Here is my homage to Fisher -Price, Yellow […]

Twitter Feed
A Twitter List by CTMirror

Engage

  • Reflections Tickets & Sponsorships
  • Events
  • Donate
  • Newsletter Sign-Up
  • Submit to Viewpoints
  • Submit to ArtPoints
  • Economic Indicator Dashboard
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Commenting Guidelines
  • Legal Notices
  • Contact Us

About

  • About CT Mirror
  • Announcements
  • Board
  • Staff
  • Sponsors and Funders
  • Donors
  • Friends of CT Mirror
  • History
  • Financial
  • Policies
  • Strategic Plan

Opportunity

  • Advertising and Sponsorship
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Use of Photography
  • Work for Us

Go Deeper

  • Steady Habits Podcast
  • Economic Indicator Dashboard
  • Five Things

The Connecticut News Project, Inc. 1049 Asylum Avenue, Hartford, CT 06105. Phone: 860-218-6380

© Copyright 2021, The Connecticut News Project. All Rights Reserved. Website by Web Publisher PRO