The Wilton BOF will hold a special meeting on April 27th to discuss a proposal from the First Selectwoman and the BOE Chair for funding for an alternative school.
At the April 16th Board of Finance (BOF) Meeting, First Selectwoman Lynne Vanderslice and Board of Education (BOE) Chair Christine Finkelstein presented a proposal to fund a new alternative school program on a one-year trial basis. The proposal would have the BOF make a commitment to fund the program with FY2020 Charter Authority and thus not change the mill rate.
The program was a component of the BOE’s requested FY2020 budget, but is likely to be eliminated in response to the reduction in their request by the Board of Finance.
First Selectwoman Vanderslice stated she contacted the BOE Chair out of concern that a decision by the Board of Education to pass on the program meant they were assuming budgetary risk for the cost of outplacing students; students who might otherwise have attended the alternative school. That risk, which appeared to have a high degree of certainty, would likely result in taxpayers paying more to educate those students in FY2020 and in future years.
In her remarks to the BOF she stated, “I believe you have an opportunity as a Board of Finance to do something that is both good for the town and our students and their parents, and will reduce or avoid costs next year and in the future”.
BOE Chair Finkelstein shared that “students in the alternative school program would remain in Wilton, and receive individualized services from a team of dedicated and highly-trained teachers and mental health professionals. The Alternative School would operate out of Trackside which, given its close proximity to Middlebrook and the high school, will allow students the option to participate in extra-curricular activities, and attend school events”.
She indicated there is demand for this program, sharing there are 17 students who are currently outplaced who fit the profile of an Alternative School student.
The Wilton Public Schools already have a similar proven model. The Community Steps Program with six young adults has a cost of $275,000. Those students otherwise would have been out placed at a total cost that would have ranged from one and a half to two and a half times the $275,000, depending on where each individual young adult might have otherwise been placed. The Community Steps Program is housed at Comstock, allowing the students to remain in Wilton and be a part of the greater community.
The BOF agreed to hold a special meeting on Tuesday, April 23rd to consider the proposal.