Ledyard - At a budget forum Tuesday, Camie Lozier held back tears as she addressed Board of Education members, pleading with them to find another place to cut the proposed 2012-13 budget - any place but the program that has helped her daughters learn to read.

"My oldest daughter would not be reading right now if it wasn't for this program," Lozier said. "My second daughter is in the program and reads at a first-grade level. This program helps her because it teaches her how to read in different ways. I believe that if this program stays in place, she will learn how to read."

Lozier was referring to a remedial reading program at Gallup Hill School. The program's tutors may be cut to help close a more than $1 million gap in the budget proposal. The board wants to achieve a zero percent increase, holding next year's spending to this year's total - $29.6 million. To do that, it must cut $1,041,445 from its plan.

The budget forum was attended by more than 100 residents, town and school officials and students who tried to persuade the board to save not only the reading tutors, but the instrumental music and Project Oceanology programs as well.

The board must adopt its budget at a special meeting Feb. 22 and submit it to Mayor John Rodolico on Feb. 27.

The board's regular meeting Feb. 15 will be the last chance for the public to comment on the proposed cuts, but only during the public comment period. The rest of the meeting will be a discussion of the cuts based on the feedback the board heard Tuesday night.

As the budget stands, $243,444 in cuts would come from the textbook and energy accounts, benefits, district software, Project O and transportation.

A cut of $17,984 would eliminate a football assistant, an assistant senior advisor, an assistant band director, a yearbook director and a business club adviser.

Salary reductions total $248,975. About 70 percent of the district's paraprofessionals agreed to a zero percent wage increase, and district administrators and staff agreed to a zero percent contractual increase.

As part of the $424,750 in teacher reductions, two special education teachers and one middle school health teacher would be laid off. An instrumental music teacher position would be eliminated and an after-school music program for fifth- and sixth-graders would replace the full-time program.

The district estimates it will save $237,045 in turnover or retirement savings.

If taxpayers agree to fill the hole left by a one-time, $703,430 federal EduJobs grant that the district used this year to help pay salaries but is not available next year, they can expect a three-quarters of a mill tax increase.

j.hanckel@theday.com