Norwich Superintendent Abby Dolliver stated this year’s budget “absolutely needs a 9 percent increase to continue.” Last year around this time Dolliver stated, “It was not the time to ask for givebacks” from the teachers' union. With a gap of 7 percent between what the city manager purposes and what Dolliver wants, it seems now might be the time. An assistant principal and principal in Norwich combined make about quarter of a million dollars a year so it seems there is room for giving back.

Maybe it’s time Norwich Free Academy gives back as well. Their foundation has over $70 million in the bank, so if they just donated half the yearly interest/investment profits back to the general education budget that would go a long well to lowering the tax burden on working-class families. NFA is an aesthetically pleasing oasis in the middle of the impoverished streets that surround it, but in terms of pure education results they are middle of the road at best. And the only real way to improve its ranking is not to beautify within its pristine gates but to improve the quality of education outside of them.

They certainly have the cash to do it. 

Philip Brose

Norwich