WOODBURY — Every spring, the towns of Woodbury and Bethlehem vote on the Region 14 budget, which is prepared by the superintendent of schools and accepted by the Board of Education.
This year’s proposed school budget includes maintaining literacy and math interventionist positions in the district along with after-school intervention help, implementing more rigorous graduation requirements at Nonnewaug, and increasing enrollment in courses for college credit.
Region 14 is in the top 27% of all school districts in Connecticut in the accountability index, a measurement that factors in elements such as graduation rates, student enrollment in college-level courses, and student attendance. When the school loses the budget vote, these numbers could directly be affected.
Students at Nonnewaug High School who are registered to vote have the opportunity to be a part of the budget vote. It is a matter of if it is a priority to them.
“Of course voting for the budget matters,” said Kelly Nichols, a local resident and member of NHS’ English Department. “It’s participating in the process that allows us as teachers to provide services to students, and we want you to have the best experience you can in high school.”
Echoing Nichols’ sentiment, Nonnewaug principal Mykal Kuslis believes that voting for the school budget is important for Region 14.
“I mean, from a historical perspective and as somebody in the military, people have died for your right to vote,” said Kuslis, noting how critical it is for the public to have a say in public matters. “Even if the vote is something as simple as a budget. I always say that when you don’t vote, you’re giving everybody else who does more power. The less votes that are there, those people have more power, right?”
One of the items that’s under consideration for budget cuts is pay for play, which would force student-athletes to pay to participate in school sports.
“I think it’s ridiculous,” Nesim Iljazi, a member of the varsity soccer team who understands the gravity of the pay-for-play proposal. “I don’t expect myself to be a professional athlete, so when I’m just doing high school sports for fun it adds another burden on top of a list of other things. Kids who are on the fence about exploring a new sport or kids who don’t get playing time likely won’t play at all considering they’d need to now pay in order to play. It’s a waste of their money.”
The next round of budget cuts will be discussed during the Board of Education meeting June 2.
“It’s important for all voters to get out and get educated,” said Kuslis. “Regardless if it’s yes or no, it’s better to have more people vote and know what’s going on in their town.”
