Ridgefield News
April 16, 1999

School Budget Passed By Board Of Finance

Dr. Wallace [center] at a recent Board of Ed meeting. He is flanked by school board chairman Linda Bunyan and board member John Armato.

April 16 -- The Board of Finance tonight passed the Board of Education Budget, sending the $40 million-plus spending plan for 1999-2000 on to the upcoming Annual Town and Budget Meeting, and ultimately a townwide referendum. In what many saw as a vote of confidence in the new School Superintendent, Dr. Ralph Wallace, the finance board gave the schools virtually all of the $2.3 million increase Wallace had requested. Dr. Wallace, in an exclusive Internet interview with www.ridgefielddems.org, credited the fact that he had submitted a "strict needs budget, with no 'cushion.'"

The school board had requested $41,801,000, a 6% increase over this year's funding. The finance board's action tonight sets next year's school budget at $41,706,375, an amount just $95,000 less than the BOE request. The school board will have to carve a total of approximately $215,000 from its spending plans - the $95,000 cut tonight, plus $120,000 to fund the Parks and Recreation Department to maintain the school fields next year. The Parks & Rec funding was not included in the Board's budget request, although Parks & Rec itself has built in anticipated revenue of $148,000 from the BOE for the work to be done. The $120,000 figure was a compromise worked out between the school board and Parks & Rec last week.

Dr. Wallace presented the FY2000 at a recent Board of Finance meeting. Typically, he is using technology, in this case a multimedia presentation, to enhance Ridgefield's educational programs.

Dr. Wallace's hands-on style was clearly reflected in the FY2000 budget process. Throughout the budget cycle, he personally has articulated the detailed planning and goals underlying the budget increase. At the key Board of Finance meeting in March (photo, right), Dr. Wallace gave an excellent presentation on the educational vision, goals, and programs for the coming year. He systematically demonstrated that the new budget, while including a slightly larger increase than in recent years, was very much in line with other Conecticut towns situated similarly to Ridgefield. In an interview, he stated, "behind every major budget presentation such as this is a quality staff, and I cannot say enough about the incredibly efficient office staff which supports my work." Crediting the Ridgefield school board, he noted "I would be remiss if I did not also pay respect to my Board members who helped in the presentation process."

On the substance of the $40 million-plus budget, the freshman Superintendent noted: "Two major reasons why I think the budget may have fared well with the BOF (and I hope the BOF agrees) are:

1. Development of a strict needs budget with no "cushion" built in - in other words, an honest budget, not a "negotiated" budget, and
2. a corporate "wall chart" presentation format which shows where the money is going and, equally important, what results we are getting for our tax dollar and how these results compare witrh the best school systems in the state."

Bob Opotzner at a recent school board meeting.

Democratic school board member Bob Opotzner, attending tonight's meeting, said, "I believe that the Board of Finance treated the BOE very fairly during its deliberations and ultimately in its vote. Although I believe that the original proposed budget calling for a 5.99% increase was fully justified educationally and fiscally, I can accept the Board of Finance decision and feel comfortable that the Ridgefield educational system will remain as one of the great systems in the state of Connecticut."

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