Support Danbury Public Schools - ADD YOUR NAME to the People’s Budget to be Sent to Danbury City Hall
Danbury Mayor and Danbury City Council
Danbury Public Schools struggle with overcrowding, lack of space, and lack of funding. We have close to 12,000 students and the lowest per-pupil spending in Connecticut. A strong public education system is key to a thriving society - and that’s why we need public education to be properly funded!
The Danbury Board of Education has listened to the concerns of Danbury parents, students, and residents and in February, they drafted and approved a budget that meets the needs of our students. Now, it's up to Danbury Mayor Esposito and Danbury City Council to align with the needs of the people - what we’re calling the “People’s Budget”.
But over the past 10 years, the Board Of Education approved budget requests for school funding have not been met by the City Council. This has resulted in a net loss of more than $48 million of requested funding, which has resulted in cuts to programs, understaffing, and fewer resources for our schools. Meanwhile, the needs of our schools are greater than ever. Our Danbury elected officials are not listening to the needs of our students - this must end! Our elected officials MUST prioritize our student’s education and well-being.
The Board of Education listened to the needs of the people, and now it's Mayor Esposito and City Council’s turn.
ADD YOUR NAME below in support of the “People’s Budget” and ask Danbury Mayor Esposito and Danbury City Council to support the needs of our students and fully fund the Board of Education Budget proposal for the 2022-2023 Danbury City Budget.
The Danbury City Council will vote on the CIty Budget on Tuesday, May 3rd. We will deliver these petitions to the Mayor and City Council on April 30th!
Sponsored by
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To:
Danbury Mayor and Danbury City Council
From:
[Your Name]
We are parents, students and supporters of the Danbury Public School system and we ask you to prioritize funding for public education in the Danbury City Budget for 2022-23 and fully fund the Board of Education budget request for the 2022-2023 school year. Financial support for Danbury Public Schools is an investment. Well-performing schools impact property values and tax revenues; they also help attract families and businesses to the area. Properly funded schools lead to better outcomes for our students and a stronger community overall. Well-educated graduates contribute to the economy and vitality of the city: as consumers, entrepreneurs, business owners, and civic leaders.
We ask that you fully fund Danbury Schools, and that means:
1) Passing a responsible budget that meets our students’ needs.
- Danbury struggles with overcrowding and lack of space. In order to learn, our students need adequate space. We're asking for thoughtful planning for the Career Academy which is already underway, and for new school buildings for the elementary and middle school levels (since only a small portion of the Career Academy will be for grades 6-8). We don't want classes that take place on the stage or common areas or tutoring that happens in closet spaces. We don’t want students not feeling comfortable using school bathrooms because of the overcrowding. So we’re requesting a plan to reduce overcrowding in 3 years.
- As students return to school in the middle of a pandemic, our students will have greater needs and require more support. We would like to see funding which allows the schools to hire more full time positions to address social and emotional support for both students and staff (social workers, guidance counselors), reading and math coaches, ELL instructions, and special education staff.
2) Commitment from the City to prioritize funding to Education:
- We would like to see the PILOT funds (Payment in lieu of taxes) that comes to Danbury every year be added to the Board of Education Operating Budget. Investing those funds in our school system would serve Danbury best in the long run and would demonstrate to our city’s students and residents that you value their future and their well-being.