As federal pandemic-era funds expire, school districts across 黑料吃瓜网 are being forced to make painful budget cuts that impact students directly.
The shortfalls are sparking widespread concern and, in many communities, voter backlash, according to Fran Rabinowitz, executive director of the 黑料吃瓜网 Association of Public School Superintendents. In towns like Redding and Regional School District No. 20, out of a reluctance to raise property tax mill rates to address school funding gaps.
鈥淚 have never seen so many referendums fail,鈥� Rabinowitz told 黑料吃瓜网 Radio. 鈥淪uperintendents are beside themselves with having to really cut positions and services that are of direct benefit to students.鈥�
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many municipalities kept local education funding increases minimal, leaning instead on federal ARPA funds to cover shortfalls. Now that those funds have run out, districts are feeling the full weight of their budget challenges.
鈥淭he general budget is suffering greatly,鈥� Rabinowitz said.
Low-income and small districts most affected
The pain isn鈥檛 being felt equally. Rabinowitz said the greatest struggles are happening in lower-income districts like Hartford and Bridgeport, but also in the eastern part of the state among smaller school systems.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e going to see larger class sizes. You鈥檙e losing librarians. You鈥檙e losing tutoring and after-school programs,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd what is very alarming is in many districts, you鈥檙e losing counselors and social workers, which we can hardly stand to do.鈥�
Despite the hardships, Rabinowitz said she鈥檚 heartened by the pushback from parents.
鈥淚鈥檓 happy that parents are out there really pushing and saying, 鈥榃e need this for our children.鈥欌��
Legislature trying, but more is needed
Rabinowitz acknowledged that lawmakers in Hartford are attempting to help, especially with more but she believes those efforts still fall short.
鈥淭he state is trying very hard,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just not enough for us to provide the level of services that we need for all students.鈥�
Time to adjust the guardrails?
黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 fiscal 鈥済uardrails鈥濃�� budgetary rules that limit spending despite a surplus 鈥� have been credited with keeping the state on sound financial footing. But as school needs grow, some legislators, especially Democrats, are calling for those rules to be loosened.
Rabinowitz agrees.
鈥淚鈥檓 happy that 黑料吃瓜网 is in a surplus, but at this point in time, we have great needs in the schools and we have needs in nonprofits,鈥� she said. 鈥淢any of our children are getting mental health services from nonprofits. Yes, I would like to see the guardrails adjusted a bit.鈥�
Special education spending surging
One of the most urgent funding concerns is special education. Rabinowitz said some districts are struggling to maintain quality and consistency of services.
鈥淭he staff just isn鈥檛 there,鈥� she said. 鈥淎s much as 25% to 30% of the budget is now being allocated to special ed.鈥�
She emphasized her belief in every child鈥檚 right to support, but questioned whether the current trajectory of special education enrollment and spending is sustainable.
鈥淚鈥檇 like to take a look at why our numbers 10 years ago were at 11.5% and are now at 18.5%,鈥� Rabinowitz said.
Revisiting district consolidation
For decades, 黑料吃瓜网 communities have resisted the idea of consolidating school districts. But the ongoing financial crisis may be softening that opposition, at least in part.
Rabinowitz believes there鈥檚 a path forward, but said earlier efforts to promote regionalization were flawed.
鈥淚 just don鈥檛 think we went about it the right way a few years ago,鈥� she said. 鈥淭here has to be incentives.鈥�
She pointed to examples in eastern 黑料吃瓜网 where one superintendent and one special education director are managing two districts without formal consolidation.
鈥淚 do think there needs to be more incentives to make that happen,鈥� Rabinowitz said.
