City Council

~AD HOC REPORT~ Budget Ad Hoc: Education Wednesday, April 3, 2024 Chair Holly Robinson called the meeting to order at 7p.m. on Wednesday, April 3, 2024. Present were Committee Members& Councilmen: Joseph Britton, Peter Buzaid, Frank Salvatore & Irving Fox. From the City were Dan Garrick, Finance Director; Kara Prunty, Assistant Finance Director (Budgets & Grants); Joanne Stark, Assistant Finance Director (Operations). From Danbury Public Schools were Kara Casimiro, Interim Superintendent; John Spang, Chief Finance Officer; Michael Seelig, Chief Strategy & Operations Officer; Kelly Truchess, Asst. Superintendent; Kimberly Thompson, HR Director. From the BOE were Gladys Cooper, Chair; Theresa Buzaid; Richard Jannelli; Luisa Britton; and Michelle Coelho. From the City were Roberto Alves, Mayor; Taylor O’Brien, Chief of Staff, Mayor’s Office; Francesca Capodilupo, Government Affairs & Communications Advisor, Mayor’s Office; Farley Santos, Community Relations & Constituent Services Advisor, Mayor’s Office; Jason Nova, Executive Aide, Mayor’s Office. Ex Officio Members present were: Ryan Hawley, Barry Rickert, Gary Simone, Michael Coelho, Diane LaPine, Shaun Ratchford, Dennis Perkins, Duane Perkins, Jeffrey Tomchik, Andrea Gartner, William McAllister, Paul Rotello, and Ben Chianese. Present from the public were several unidentified individuals. Ms. Casimiro provided an overview of the Education Budget request. She discussed increases to enrollment, notably multilanguage and high needs learners, and she anticipates the numbers to continue to increase. She noted the State’s accountability and rating system which results in underfunding from the state. She explained consequences as larger class sizes, teacher to student ratios with a large portion of high needs students. She identified the “lights on” budget as $160.5 million, and noted another $10.8 million in lost ESSER funds. Mr. Spang identified new budget drivers as: Expiring ESSER funds; Increased Enrollment which requires more teachers, buses and supervisors for additional lunch areas; Preparation for The Academies, Academic Improvement Support for legally mandated needs; Safety and Technology needs; Instructional Improvements to include paraeducators; and Capital needs with a focus on replacing 1/5 of classroom technology per year to stay as up-to-date as possible. He noted some savings to the budget due to lower enrollment at the Magnet School and lower salaries for some new hire positions. He explained an overall line item increase of 3-4% for inflation. He provided a three-year expectation and noted consumer pricing indexes, an enrollment decline in elementary schools, and healthcare inflation. Ms. Casimiro discussed student achievement levels and an Alliance Grant that will end in 2026. She presented the impact of underfunding, and noted the potential overall loss of 120 staff members. Chair Robinson discussed her concern with using ESSER funds to cover operational costs, and questioned last year’s request that resulted in the need for additional funds. She asked for the net cost of and increase cost per student. Member Fox thanked the administration for the impactful presentation and asked for clarification on the impact of growing enrollment to additional costs. Ms. Casimiro identified higher numbers of multilanguage students who require more services, requirements and staff. Member Fox commented on the obligation of the City to fully fund The Academies because it was something that the residents voted on and approved. He emphasized the need to take those who can’t afford tax large increases into account with making budget decisions. Member Britton commented on the impact of underfunded budgets over the years and noted the need for the City and BOE to work together. He expressed concerns with the use of ESSER Funds for operational costs and the need to have planned better to absorb those costs back into the budget. He asked about efficiency audits and a grant department. Ms. Casimiro discussed the detailed work that goes into using every grant dollar and explained that there is no dedicated grant personnel, with staff working on grants when possible. Chair Robinson asked about administration salary increases and costs for additional guidance counselors and safety advocates. Ms. Truchess discussed a 300 to 1 students to counselor ratio. Member P. Buzaid asked about staff retention and asked about unfilled positions. Ms. Casimiro noted the problem of retaining staff, leaders, and supporting staff. Ms. Thompson confirmed certified and non-certified openings. Member Salvatore expressed concerns over underfunding in the past and explained that a fully funded education budget would result in a 3 Mill increase, and a 5 Mill increase to meet next year’s expected budget request. He agreed the need to fully fund The Academies. Ms. Casimiro noted the need and importance of having an honest conversation about the needs and consequences. Chair Robinson agreed that standing committees are needed to address issues throughout the year versus once a year. She asked Mr. Garrick what the proposed budget Mill Rate increase is. He identified it as 1.1 increase, and noted that a fully funded education budget would mean a Mill Rate of 26.5. He explained the state’s cap on mill rate increases (6.27) and noted that going over the cap would mean deductions to state funding for every point above the cap. Member Salvatore clarified that due to the state cap the City could not increase the Mill Rate anymore, and that the only option to provide more funding for the education budget would be to take money from other line items. Mr. Chianese talked about the proposed budget that does not cover the “lights on” needs and suggested that we increase the Mill Rate past the state cap to find the funds needed. He explained the impact of going from full day to ½ day kindergarten on the residents and asked that Ms. Casimiro identify the cost of each potential cut due to underfunding and prioritize the list. Mr. Duane Perkins asked if the State Delegation for Danbury have discussed the needs of The Academies since the City visited similar schools in Nashville, and he asked about the impact on other municipalities that have used ESSER funds for operational costs. Mr. Santos (State Representative) confirmed that the delegation has regularly discussed Danbury’s needs and that he and the Mayor continue to lobby for more funding. Mr. Spang noted that required positions are being built into this and future budgets. Mr. Coelho thanked the administration, staff and BOE for their hard work, and noted that the state has underfunded Danbury for years. He asked about the cost of special services for multilanguage students, and asked for a year to year comparison for the last ten years. Ms. Casimiro noted the need to provide special services and that the ratio of staff to students has become better. He asked about the decline of elementary school enrollment. Ms. Casimiro identified the wave of students going from elementary to middle and high school. Mr. Rickert asked about the Social Security line item. Mr. Spang identified those as employee benefits and labor costs. He quoted a letter sent from Ms. Casimiro to Mayor Alves expressing concerns over the delayed opening of The Academies. Ms. Casimiro noted that she had tried to identify temporary locations for students from overcrowded schools but found additional issues with moving them. She noted the need for providing more space for lunches at the high school, and for supervisors for those spaces. Mr. Hawley noted the need to address overcrowding at Danbury High School, and he asked about the use of new technology like A.I. to help with challenges in the schools. Ms. Casimiro discussed how staff that have been learning more about new technology and A.I., and understands the significance it will have on teaching. Mayor Alves discussed the importance of discussing the critical issue of education funding and noted his personal connection as a parent of school aged children and a taxpayer. He acknowledged the need and impact of raising taxes on residents, and for property owners who pass the increase on to their tenants. He discussed his continued efforts to lobby the state for more funding, and noted the need to change the City’s budget deadline in the Charter to a date after the state’s deadline, so that the City knows the actual amount of funding coming from the State. He addressed increases to some city department budgets that will in turn help improve the city’s services to the schools and he expressed the importance of continuing to work together with the school administration and BOE. A motion made by Member Salvatore, and seconded by Member Britton, to recommend that the City Council adopt the Education Budget as presented by the Mayor for the Fiscal Year 2024-2025. The motion carried unanimously. Members Fox, Salvatore, Peter Buzaid and Britton reiterated their support of Danbury Public Schools and thanked the staff and teachers for their hard work. A motion made by Member Salvatore, and seconded by Member Britton, to adjourn. The motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 9:05p.m. Respectfully submitted, Holly Robinson, Chair Joseph Britton, Peter Buzaid, Frank Salvatore, Irving Fox