Math Academy Saved After Parent Outcry; BOE Budget Reduced By $2M

FAIRFIELD, CT — Fairfield officials reduced the school district budget Tuesday by $2 million, but not before debating for hours whether to fund the fourth-grade math academy in the coming year.

The school board voted by a narrow margin to include the $100,000 program in the district’s 2021-22 spending plan, after parents, students and board members made their case for the academy.

The academy for fourth- and fifth-grade students was originally set to be phased out in the next school year, but it was restored following an outcry from parents. Students in the academy share the same full-day class at Holland Hill Elementary School, where they learn three years of math curriculum over the course of two years.

“Until the Board of Education can figure out a clear systemic path to create a program like this throughout the elementary schools, please do not end a program that is wildly successful,” said Rebecca Kern, one of several parents to address the board.

Kern argued the math academy should be considered a special needs program. Two academy students also spoke in favor of the program, with one saying every student in the class signed a petition to support the academy.

“One of the best parts of the math academy is being with kids I feel comfortable learning with,” Alex Fuchs said. “We push each other to do the best we possibly can.”

About 40 students are identified for the academy each year, although the program has a cap of 25, according to Superintendent Mike Cummings, who said the district has never had more than 25 eligible students opt in to the program. Some board members questioned whether a centralized gifted program at only one school was accessible to all qualifying students.

“This seems unfairly punitive to those families who can’t opt in due to transportation or dual parent households,” member Bonnie Rotelli said.

Decentralizing the program could create logistical and staffing issues, according to Cummings, who noted students do have another opportunity to test into a more challenging math option in sixth grade.

“I think you have to be really careful when we are separating children out like that,” Rotelli said, adding some of the emails she received about the math academy were divisive or elitist.

Board member Jennifer Maxon-Kennelly defended the program.

“These children will be underserved if we try to act in haste” she said, noting some academy students carpool in order to attend the program at Holland Hill. “Families are finding a way to make this work for themselves.”

The board considered a variety of budget adjustment options during the math academy discussion, such as spending about $96,000 to restore the district’s full art curriculum instead, or funding both the math academy and additional art instruction by increasing revenue. Proposed revenue sources included a cut to contracted services, as well as money associated with allowing more open choice students to attend school in the district, specifically possible funds related to incoming open choice students who require special education services.

In the end, the board approved the $2 million in adjustments as recommended by Cummings, with the academy intact, but no additional funding for art. Rotelli voted against the motion, as did board members Trisha Pytko, Jeff Peterson and Vice Chairman Nick Aysseh.

The adjustments were necessary after the board’s request for a $9.5 million year-over-year budget increase was reduced to a $7.5 million increase by other town bodies.

Also included in the adjustments were a nearly $1 million reduction in health insurance costs, as well as savings generated by various grants and awards, and an additional 26 open choice students. The equivalent of three full-time high school staffers was cut through attrition and enrollment changes, saving $300,000. A $64,000 secretary position was also eliminated.