Norwich — The Board of Education will consider eliminating two school resource officers along with restructuring the two middle schools and cutting teaching and support staff and equipment, but those proposed reductions still would leave the board with another $1 million to cut to reach the city manager’s proposed 1 percent school budget increase.

The Board of Education had requested a 6 percent increase in this year’s $71.6 million budget to a total of $75.8 million. But Acting City Manager John Bilda proposed a 1 percent increase to $72.3 million.

The Board of Education Budget Expenditure Committee discussed the pending cuts during an emotional and at times heated debate Wednesday, but delayed recommendations until the City Council makes budget decisions in May or early June.

Board members argued over whether to ask school labor unions for concessions. Superintendent Abby Dolliver said the contract already includes much higher co-payments by school union members than amounts paid by their city counterparts. And city employees are not being asked for concessions. She said teachers are working with administrators to try to find cuts.

Board member Dennis Slopak, who was part of the board’s negotiating team on the last teacher contract, said he thinks the board has to ask the unions to come to a meeting “to talk.”

Dolliver said she did ask staff if anyone plans to retire to let her know as soon as possible to potentially reduce layoffs.

Member Jesshua Ballaro said she would not support a budget that called for dramatic increases in class sizes and asked school officials to “cut something else.”

“The only way I can get to $3.5 million is with people,” Dolliver responded. “You can’t do it with pencils.”

Board Chairwoman Yvette Jacaruso said if the board cut principals, it wouldn’t save that salary, and the principal would “bump” into a teaching position at the same salary.

Dolliver and school Business Administrator Athena Nagel outlined nearly $2.7 million in potential cuts for the committee, including converting Kelly Middle School into a “junior high school” for all city seventh and eighth graders and sending all sixth graders to Teachers’ Memorial Middle School.

The middle school moves and cutting seven elementary school teachers would save an estimated $660,000, and cutting 15 para-educator positions would save another $450,000. Eliminating the two middle school resource police officers would save another $150,000.

Dolliver also proposed reducing projected special education costs by $1.4 million, a potential gamble, Dolliver said.

Dolliver said if the City Council does increase the budget, her recommended top priority would be to restore elementary school teaching positions to reduce class sizes projected to be in the high 20s with the proposed cuts. That would keep the proposed middle school changes intact.

The City Council will hold its next meeting May 4, and the next budget public hearing will be May 11.

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