Enfield Public Schools face severe budget challenges

Dec. 8, 2017 | G. Michael Dobbs
news@thereminder.com

ENFIELD, CT – School Superintendent Christopher Drezek said that having funding cuts from the state at this time of year actually doubles their effect because part of that money has already been spent.

The town of Enfield received more funding cuts from Gov. Daniel Malloy than any other community in the state in his effort to achieve a balanced budget. Drezek said that that amount combined with others cuts has resulted in an almost $3 million reduction for the school district with an almost $6 million impact.

Drezek said that school and town officials anticipated an additional spending cut and worked to install austerity measures in early September including a spending freeze and any other measure to control costs.

What Drezek said has made the process in Enfield more difficult is the changes that state has made in the amount to be cut.

What has been his goal is to make cuts that do not affect the classroom.

“That’s the last place – anything that makes an impact on the kids,” he said.

He said that he hopes these are the only cuts he will have to face this year, but expressed concerns about the coming fiscal year as revenue projections have not been encouraging.

“I’m holding my breath because we are not out of the woods,” he said.

What is also puzzling to Drezek is why Enfield had the greatest amount of reductions of any community. He added there have been no explanations.

He said part of the difficulty in making reductions in the school budget is that it’s 80 percent personnel.

Share this: