Malloy Proposes Deep Cuts in School Funding, With 28 Districts Losing All Money

Hartford Courant ^

[matt04]

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's proposal this week to eliminate education cost-sharing grants for 28 of the state's wealthiest school districts and to reduce funding significantly for many others was intensely criticized Wednesday by some school officials and key legislators.

Malloy's plan calls for protecting the education funds in the state's 30 lowest-performing school districts.

"To take a district like mine … and completely eliminate the funding is entirely irresponsible," Madison Superintendent Thomas Scarice said. The district stands to lose $1.57 million.

Taken together with the state's "countless unfunded mandates" for districts, Scarice said, Malloy's proposal is "nothing less than unspeakable."

The slashing of education funding was part of a revised budget proposal from Malloy in an effort to close a $922 million deficit projected for the next fiscal year.

Rep. Andy Fleischmann, D-West Hartford and co-chairman of the legislature's education committee, said Malloy's plan for education funding is "not bold or smart" and is a proposal "that no one would ever vote for."

[Col Frank Slade]

I hear you.

I am trapped due to family, but will flee as soon as my son has left the nest.

[matt04]

Voter fraud in Bridgeport assisted by the state also helps.