Latest news with #educationbudget
CBC
02-06-2025
- Business
- CBC
Anglophone South eliminates library worker jobs
The Anglophone South school district is eliminating 13 full-time and five part-time library worker positions, just days after the province promised more collaboration to mitigate the impact of budget cuts. Theresa McAllister, the provincial president of Local 2745 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, said she learned of the cuts in a meeting Monday morning. She put the number of positions eliminated at 17, with 15 employees affected. "The kids are the ones that will be affected, because they're saying the libraries will not close," she said. "Wonderful. But who's going to be working in those libraries?" The district says the laid-off workers will be eligible for other jobs within the school system, and the cuts won't affect students because schools now use classroom-based book collections. "Schools no longer have traditional library tasks," spokesperson Jessica Hanlon said in an emailed statement. "The decision to reduce library worker roles was part of an overall effort to maximize our budget to focus most directly on student learning in our classrooms, and make best use of our employees' skill sets." The positions were the only library jobs remaining in the district. Last week, the Holt Liberal government asked districts for new spending plans to "mitigate choices that could impact the classroom and the supports our students rely on most." That followed a month of controversy over the province's budget allocation to the seven education districts and the cuts some districts made in response. While overall funding went up, the government's earmarking of most of the money in specific areas left the districts having to reduce spending by $43 million. Letters sent to the districts last week said the Education Department wanted to collaborate with the districts and would "consider adjusting funding in relation to the proposals you submit." The new district plans were due at the end of the day last Friday. McAllister said it was confusing that Monday's layoffs happened so soon after that deadline. "We would be the last to be invited to collaborate," she said. "Let's just put that out there. So I don't know. But I aim to find out exactly how that happened or didn't happen, if they did relook, if they got extra money." Hanlon said the decision on the library worker positions is final and won't be reversed as a result of any further discussions with the government.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Education budget increased by $1.1 million at Killingly annual town meeting: What happens now?
After about five hours and speeches from many teachers, students and citizens, two changes were made to the proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 at Killingly's annual town meeting May 5. The first change was to reduce the general government budget by $13,500 by eliminating town councilor stipends. That motion was approved, with 87 votes in favor of the reduction and 62 opposed. With this change, the proposed general government budget is now $23,629,755. In addition, $1.1 million was added to the education budget. The motion to increase the education budget passed, with 117 votes in favor of the increase and 37 opposed. Now, the proposed education budget totals $49,038,817. The major point of contention at Killingly's annual town meeting was the proposed education budget. In a letter to parents and guardians, Killingly Public Schools Superintendent Susan Nash-Ditzel and Board of Education Chair Susan Lannon wrote that seven people would lose their jobs and 24 positions in the district would be eliminated if the education budget initially proposed at the town meeting was approved. In addition to the staff cuts, facilities, transportation, athletics and information technology budgets were all slated to be reduced had the initial education budget passed. Community members stepped in at the annual town meeting to ensure the school budget was raised. 'Let's be honest, once positions are cut, they are never coming back,' said Jennifer Thompson, a parent in the Killingly Public School District. 'As a parent, we have always told our children we want them to be better than us and being better than us comes from and through educational and extracurricular opportunities.' Robert Polselli, a robotics coach as well as an engineering and technology teacher at Killingly High School, said the cuts would have lasting effects on students. 'Larger class sizes, fewer opportunities and diminished resources will absolutely affect the quality of education and the preparedness of our students, not just for college, but for life,' he said. Now, the budget will be voted on at the referendum May 13. A sample ballot was posted on the Town of Killingly's website May 6. Four questions appear on the ballot. The first question is: 'Shall the General Government Budget for the Town of Killingly, Connecticut, in the amount $23,629,755 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026 be approved?' The next question is a follow-up question to the first, and asks 'For voters who voted 'NO' on Question #1a 'Is the Budget Too High?' or 'Is the Budget Too Low?' Then, the ballot asks: 'Shall the Education Budget for the Town of Killingly, Connecticut, in the amount of $49,038,817 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026 be approved?' Like the question on the general government budget, the follow-up question is 'For voters who voted 'NO' on Question #2a Is the Budget Too High?' or 'Is the Budget Too Low?' Voters in districts 1,3 and 5 will vote in the board of education central office, located at 79 Westfield Ave. Voters in districts 2 and 4 will vote at Killingly High School. The polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Absentee ballots for the budget referendum became available May 6. Those interested in obtaining an absentee ballot should contact the Killingly town clerk at 860-779-5307 as soon as possible. All ballots must be issued in person according to Connecticut General Statutes. This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: Education budget increases $1.1 million at Killingly annual town meeting
