BOE Approves and Adopts Operating Budget for 2016-2017
By Editor at June 30, 2024 | 6:15 pm | Print
On June 21, the New Britain Board of Education approved and adopted the
Consolidated School District of New Britain Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2016-2017.
Together with the Finance Department, Board of Education, Central Office Administrators and School Principals, Superintendent Nancy Sarra led an initiative to take a zero-based budgeting approach. This approach builds from the bottom instead of cutting from the top, thus allowing for a budget that takes into account not only the coming year, but future years as well.
“While our focus was on building a budget based on our needs for the 2016-2017 school year, staffing decisions made this year will also allow us to recognize efficiencies and increase building support for future years. For example, with the addition of a Transportation Manager, this up-front cost will recognize a cost savings to the district in the next two years. I am extremely proud of this collaborative budget and look forward to everything that we have planned for this coming school year.”
A significant boost to the budget was because the Board of Education received an additional $2.5 million from the New Britain Common Council for the upcoming fiscal year.
Sharon Beloin-Saavedra, president of the Board, said that without this extra money, the district would have been forced to make cuts. Another boost to
the budget was the work that was done over the past few months, including numerous workshops and meetings with principals to understand what each school in the district truly needs.
“The Board and Superintendent have been reviewing and discussing budget scenarios for months. We have had honest conversations about financial restrictions, the need to maximize existing resources through the reallocation and reorganization of staff, and the prioritization of funds for high leverage strategies,” Beloin-Saavedra said. “This budget was tackled as a new document looking at data and student needs’ by location. Our adoption process has been one of reconstruction. This objective was met due in large
part to our new Superintendent’s vision and her acute understanding of our kids, their needs and the ability of our staff. Additionally, the support we received this year from our Mayor and Common Council was a tremendous help. “
Over the next several months, Sarra plans to reorganize and shift resources at Central Office to improve efficiencies and efforts to provide quality student-centered supports to the schools. In addition, she looks forward to continuing her collaborative work with City Hall, which she describes as a partnership that is at an all-time high.
“Several months ago, Mayor Stewart and I met to discuss the needs of the school district while also keeping in mind the financial situation the city is in due to various factors, including the reduction of funds from the state. I am thankful for Mayor Stewart’s support as well as the Council Members who voted to approve the additional $2.5 million to CSDNB. Without it, we wouldn’t have been able to get to where we need to be for
this school year and in future years.”
Beloin-Saavedra echoed Sarra’s thoughts and is grateful for the revitalized relationship between City Hall and the Consolidated School District of New Britain.
“Having an open and positive relationship between City Hall and the Board of Education/Superintendent has significantly changed the tone of discussions and improved our mutual ability to trust one another.”
The budget for Fiscal Year 2016-2017 will go into effect July 1, 2024 and will end on June 30, 2017. The vote to approve the budget was a unanimous one from those Board of Education members in attendance. To view the
budget, please visit www.csdnb.org.
