Budget Cuts May Force School Board to Close Buildings, Pare Programs

Groton school officials, under pressure to provide a zero percent budget increase and facing federal cuts, may be forced to cut programs across multiple schools and consolidate buildings in the coming year.

The t asks for $2.1 million more than the current year, an increase driven partly by the withdrawal of federal funding, board of education members said Thursday.

The district’s proposed spending plan represents about a 3 percent increase - but Groton must make up for $5 million in federal money that previously supported programs and staff, officials said.

The schools used about $3.6 million in federal dollars to implement full-day kindergarten programs, boost remedial education and provide tutoring.  Another $1.1 million dollars was set aside for programs under the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act; the special education department hired a school psychologist, subsidized out-of-district tuition, occupational and physical therapy. 

Money was also used to expand pre-kindergarten services, hire a social worker and to institute tutoring and community programs to help close the achievement gap for students at l. 

Now that the money is gone, the school board faces difficult choices as it considers ways to pare down spending.

“The problem is when (the budget) comes back to us, we’re in trouble,” said School Board Chairman Brian Shirvell. The school board believes town leaders will demand a zero percent increase, as was submitted last year.

The school board will likely vote Monday to submit the budget to the town on Feb. 28. 

“We’ve been cutting all the low hanging fruit,” said board member Robert Peruzzotti. “It’s blood and muscle that’s left.” 

Several possible cuts could be considered - full-day kindergarten costs about $1 million, and high school and middle school sports and student activities cost about $850,000.

The budget assumes all three middle schools will stay open next year, but if the Town Council and Representative Town Meeting cut $2 million, “it will force us to consolidate,” said board member Elizabeth Gianacoplos. Members of the Board of Education, town council and other town officials are expected to meet Wednesday to discuss possible school closures, program cuts and redistricting scenarios.

If consolidation becomes necessary, the board will have to decide which school the district can afford to close.

If or is chosen, could take the extra students, but the building is in disrepair. 

Fitch Middle was built in 1928, and received a minor renovation in 1977, Facilities and Grounds Director Wes Greenleaf said. The cost estimate to repair the ageing infrastructure and make it code compliant is $41.5 million dollars.

"It's really a decrepit building," he said. "The best parts of it are parts rebuilt in 1977, the gymnasium and the locker rooms." 

However, estimates to renovate West Side and Cutler are $23 million and $29.6 million respectively, according to Greenleaf.

If needed, consolidation would take place at the beginning of the next school year, officials said.

The pschools has been a long time coming. Big projects and renovations to the schools were halted in 1995, according to Greenleaf, after it was determined the buildings were no longer cost efficient.