WEATHERSFIELD Schools put levy on ballot

The cost of a special election is about $6,000 for the district.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
MINERAL RIDGE -- Busing won't be reinstated for this school year, but Weathersfield voters will likely have another chance to pass a levy this summer. Superintendent Rocco Adduci said the school board took the first step at a meeting Wednesday to place a levy on the August special election ballot. The five-year levy, which would raise $538,168 annually, will be about 5.5 mills.
Board members voted unanimously to place the issue on the ballot. A special election would cost the district about $6,000, but that cost could be split with another entity if another issue is on the August ballot.
Voters in November rejected a 9.5-mill emergency levy that would have generated more than $900,000. That followed voters' refusal in May 2003 to pass a 1-percent income tax for the district. Adduci hopes the lower millage is more successful.
"We wanted to put something on the ballot that would definitely pass," he said. "It's not going to get us out of debt forever, but we felt we needed at least a Band-Aid approach -- something to stop the bleeding."
If the August levy doesn't pass, the district will likely face fiscal emergency. Cuts already made will keep the district operating in the black through the next year.
After the November levy failed, the district cut busing for all pupils except those in kindergarten through eighth grade who live more than two miles from school. The change was effective Jan. 5, when pupils returned to school after Christmas break.
Busing cuts followed several other reductions by the district.
Board members also rejected a proposal Wednesday to reinstate busing for kindergarten through eighth-graders within two miles of school and for vocational students who travel to Trumbull County Career and Technical Center. Board member Fred McCandless was the only member to vote in favor of the proposal.
Elimination of the majority of the busing saves the district about $150,000, the superintendent said.
Adduci said the busing change caused congestion and confusion the first few days but since then the process is working more smoothly as people grow accustomed to transporting their children to school.
He acknowledged that some parents still aren't happy about the change. "My heart goes out to the people whose lives have been disrupted by the change," Adduci said.
denise.dick@vindy.com