windhamweek.blogspot.com: Sewall: Cuts to school funds contradict state intervention

Chairman Sewall (UConn photo)

Nearly two years ago the Connecticut's State Board of Education moved into Windham's schools, appointed a special master to take over school operations.The school redo has been expensive and extensive. The school board claims while the state mandates improvements it has not provided adequate funds to accomplish those improvements. At least that’s Windham school board chairman claims regarding the district’s share of state dollars.

The problem centers around Educational Cost Sharing (ECS) funds. ECS is the state’s largest driver of state education aid to towns, accounting for 12.6% of the state’s FY 2011 budget. The formula behind the ECS Grant was originally intended to provide grants to towns progressively to ensure that all students had equal educational opportunity, regardless of their town’s ability to raise revenue to fund public education.  Several flaws in the ECS formula prevents it from achieving its objective.  Originally, the grant was supposed to be funded at $2.7 billion by FY 2008 but has only been funded at $1.9 billion since FY 2009. This under-funding has led to wide variation in the amount of funding towns receive.

Windham received $24,933,574 (2012-13). Under Gov. Malloy's proposed 2013-14 education budget Windham will not received an increase. With a smaller transportation allotment and no increased ECS funding Windham  could see a $100,000.00 net funding decrease although a competing budget proposal from the state education committee could over ride the governors budget proposal. If it should win, Windham could see a 3.9% increase in ECS funding.

Connecticut's education funding has been tight for the past four budget cycles. Windham's educators don't realize that they must share resources with 168 other school districts. Mr Sewall goes so far to claim there are too many school districts in Conn. grabbing too much of Windham's grant "pie." Murphy Sewall is incredulous that the state would short the Windham system $100,000.00 when the state has mandated that Windham improves its dysfunctional system.

Because Windham is one of the poorest towns in the state, the Connecticut Board of Education and state taxpayers pick up a great part of Windham's education tab. While an average Connecticut school district contributes 66% of their school costs (2009-10) and the state contributes 28.8% Windham taxpayers contribute28.2% (2009-10) and the state pitches in 50.6%. Federal grants and tuition income makes up the difference. Windham qualifies for every education grant known to man.

It is commendable that our school board fights for every last cent to educate our kids but lets face it, $100,000.00 when plugged into a $43 million dollar education budget shouldn't send Sewall  ranting.

While Sewall mourns the the possible loss of $100,000.00 in state funding he neglects mentioning the bonanza funding that Windham will receive in 2013 - 2014 .

Between 2007 and 2012 Windham's student population has decreased by 685 students. Some of the decrease is attributed to the region's hard economic times, the remainder to the fleeing of families to towns with successful schools. While WPS no longer has the responsibility of educating these students the ECS grant continues to be fully funded.

In the end, if the governor's proposed budget succeeds and Sewall loses his $100,000.00 in grants he will end with with an ECS increase of up to $957,855.00, even more if the education committee proposal is adopted.

When Special Master Adamowski arrived in Aug. 2011 to make WPS whole again the understanding was that he would control all aspects of the system during the rehabilitation process. Lately he has allowed Sewall to act as school spokesmen. If credibility is part of the making whole process, he definitely is not using the right person.