WEATHERSFIELD SCHOOLS Superintendent reports on rise in funds from open enrollment

The treasurer isn't sure how long the district can avoid using levy proceeds.
By MARY SMITH
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
MINERAL RIDGE -- Weathersfield School District's open-enrollment pupils have boosted the district's income by $947,000 as of this school year.
An additional 24 pupils began attending classes here this fall, bringing the open-enrollment total to 190 pupils.
Superintendent Rocco Adduci told the school board Wednesday night that open enrollment brings in $5,100 per pupil from in-state funding, as opposed to the $2,300 the district receives per pupil for those living in the district.
Adduci said the extra income has been a plus in helping the district financially, as it faces a Nov. 4 vote on a five-year, 9.5-mill emergency levy that would generate $919,360 annually.
Adduci said one school district criticized Weathersfield for going into the other school district to pick up open-enrollment pupils by bus, but state law permits districts to do so.
New academic standards
Adduci also announced the state has established a new set of academic content standards, and there will be early dismissals at all three schools to permit teachers to attend a meeting with a county representative about the standards.
Booklets have been distributed to kindergarten through eighth-grade pupils to take home, explaining what parents can do throughout the school year to help. The superintendent said the board will not be asked to act on adopting the new standards until about November.
Adduci also said that as the result of a part-time summer reading tutor program for third- and fourth-graders, 19 of 27 pupils tutored showed improvement in reading-test scores.
He wants the board to approve increasing use of tutors.
Treasurer's report
Meanwhile, in her annual report to the board, treasurer Angela Lewis said the district has not touched the proceeds of its five-year, 4.7-mill operating levy for general operations.
& quot;A lot of cost cutting & quot; has enabled the district to avoid using the money to cover normal operating expenses, despite the fact that it's under state fiscal watch.
Last passed in 2000, the levy generated $418,000 in fiscal 2003.
& quot;I don't know how much longer we can hold off having to touch the money for the general fund, & quot; she said.
In the fiscal year that ended June 30, levy funds totaling $582,224 were used. Some of the big ticket items were:
U$198,583 for salaries and benefits for a school nurse, a half-time high school social studies teacher, a half-time high school science teacher, an elementary guidance counselor and the technology director.
U$182,152 for replacement of reading and language textbooks.
U$11,736 for technology upgrades.
U$54,333 for a new bus.
U$93,013 payment on a 15-year loan for the heating and air conditioning project at the high school.
U$33,490 for repairs to buildings and grounds.