WEATHERSFIELD Cuts affect Halloween band event

The savings from some planned cuts are being calculated.
By MARY SMITH
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
MINERAL RIDGE -- The cuts announced by the Weathersfield School District this week will include not busing the high school marching band to the district's annual Halloween parade Oct. 25 at Seaborn Elementary.
The outing falls into the category of school field trips, an item cut by the administration to start saving money to offset the $621,000 deficit this year, and a projected $1.2 million deficit next year.
The anticipated red ink is the result of a reduction in personal property taxes paid to the district from RMI Titanium.
The cost-cutting plan is designed to save about $300,000.
Specific cuts
Superintendent Rocco Adduci has outlined some individual savings. They include:
U$170,270 by holding the district's 79 teachers to a wage freeze for one year when their three-year contract expires June 30.
U$22,271 by holding the 30 classified personal to a wage freeze for one year when their three-year contract expires in July 16.
U$17,201 through a wage freeze for 12 administrative and nonunion employees.
U$35,239 in overtime for custodians.
U$868 in secretarial overtime.
U$32,751 in field trip costs.
U$11,120 by changing class times at Seaborn Elementary to save on bus drivers' wages and benefits.
$5,472 by eliminating the $80-per-meeting pay of each of the five board members.
Other savings are expected by switching gasoline suppliers, eliminating administrative mileage reimbursement, eliminating professional days for teachers unless they are paid for by grant money and reducing the number of bus routes for vocational school students.
Other measures are being looked at, treasurer Angela Lewis said Thursday, including supplies and not replacing staff who retire.