Norwich - Rebuffing a request by city leaders that the school budget be kept to a 1 percent increase, the Board of Education budget committee will recommend that the full board adopt a nearly $76 million budget that calls for a 6 percent spending increase including a middle school instrumental music program and world language programs that were both cut several years ago.

Board member John LeVangie called it "absolutely insane" that Norwich schools do not offer instrumental music and world languages, when other towns that send students to Norwich Free Academy are able to step into high school classes better prepared.

Norwich school Curriculum Director Joe Stefon complained that the lack of programs in the public school system leaves incoming Norwich ninth graders at a disadvantage in enrolling in advanced placement world language classes and music programs.

Board member Dennis Slopak said he would ask the full board at tonight's meeting to support adding two world language teachers and one music teacher to the budget. The board meets at 5:30 p.m. at Kelly Middle School.

Superintendent Abby Dolliver relayed that Acting City Manager John Bilda and Comptroller Josh Pothier have requested the board submit a budget with a 1 percent or $716,000 increase instead of the more than $4 million hike the budget committee is recommending. The current budget stands at $71.6 million.

The board's contract dispute with NFA, aired at the budget committee meeting a week ago, resurfaced Monday. The board received a letter from NFA Monday saying the academy would not negotiate a separate partner town agreement with Norwich. The academy recently reached an agreement with a coalition of NFA sending towns on a uniform contract to start July 1.

But Norwich officials said last week they would not sign the proposed contract and want to negotiate a better contract for the host city.

NFA did recently agree to extend the city's $100 per student host-town tuition discount to the Sachem transitional program, which includes tuition for 65 Norwich students originally not included in the discount.

NFA costs - $21.6 million for tuition and another $2 million the city spends for special education support staff at NFA for Norwich students - make up about one-third of the total public school budget.

The $1.6 million overall tuition increase and the $1.96 million in salary increases make up nearly all of the total $4 million budget increase. The three new proposed positions have yet to be tallied in the budget.

Mayor Deberey Hinchey attended the school budget hearing and the budget expenditure committee meeting Monday and admitted the board faces tough challenges in providing quality programs at fixed costs.

c.bessette@theday.com

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