NORWALK, Conn. – There will fewer new computers for Norwalk school children than planned next year if Norwalk’s Board of Education agrees with a decision made by its Finance Committee on Wednesday night.
Expecting to receive less money than he requested in the 2013-2014 capital budget, interim schools Superintendent Tony Daddona suggested cutting the number of new computers that had been planned for purchase. The money would instead be used to begin to install WiFi at the schools, a necessity for the transition to Common Core state standards. The three BOE Finance Committee members present — Mike Barbis, Steven Colarossi and Jack Chiarmonte — voted unanimously to send that idea to the entire board.
The board requested $2.7 million in the capital budget for Fiscal Year 2014, but was only granted $2.1 million. So, instead of buying 712 new computers – with this year’s capital budget – Daddona and Chief Operating Officer Elio Longo recommended buying 203 computers. They also plan to take $178,202 in leftover capital funding from 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 to help make up the difference between what they asked for and what they’re getting.
Longo said that still doesn’t provide enough money — $770,000 — to install WiFi, but he’s confident he can find the additional $122,000 needed from a federal E-Rate grant.
Colarossi questioned installing WiFi if the students don’t have the equipment to use it, but Dadonna said there is a state deadline for the installation as part of the Common Core transition.
There are 4,000 computers for district children, with an average shelf life of five years, Daddona said.
“We will try our best to get a year of extra life out of our existing computers,” he said.
If the BOE approves that idea, it will then go back to city for final approval.
When it came to keeping students safe, the city sent mixed signals with its capital budget funding. Daddona said the city added $100,000 to the FY14 capital budget “at the last minute” to enhance school security. But Colarossi asked about other safety issues, such as the requests to replace flammable theater curtains, as well as paving and gym equipment, which were denied earlier in the process. Colarossi wanted to know if any explanation had been given.
“Did they give us a hint?” he asked. “Did they at least let us buy a vowel so we could guess?”
The answer was no.
Colarossi turned to Chiarmonte and had a suggestion for the paving. He said, “Maybe we could buy some hot patch?”
Committee member Rosa Murray was not present for the meeting.
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