New London — A forum hosted by School Superintendent Manuel J. Rivera on Tuesday was aimed at parents interested in sharing their views on the future of the school district and the budget for the upcoming school year.

Just three of the dozen people in attendance in the New London High School library, however, were not school staff or school board members.

Despite the sparse attendance, Rivera shared some of his plans to “transform” the district by expanding partnerships with local businesses, providing pre-K education and finishing development of magnet school “pathways,” as the district becomes and all-magnet school district.

One of the focuses, Rivera said, will be the city’s ability to attract and retain “talented and passionate teachers.”

“We have one of the highest rates of turnover in the state,” Rivera said. “Last year, 21 percent of our teachers turned over … leaving to go across the river, or up Route 32 or elsewhere to take a job where they can earn $10,000, $15,000 more because we have not been able to keep pace with the salary structure. That is part of the dilemma we have.”

Rivera said that five previous years of flat funding is part of the cause.

Rivera showed a chart illustrating the percent increases expected for fixed costs such as staff salaries, health insurance, tuition and special education. Reductions in expenses will be needed, he said, to deliver a balanced budget. The current year’s budget is about $42.4 million, he said.

Magnet funds for out-of-district students will not be not determined until Oct. 1, 2016, when enrollment figures will be known, but Rivera said analysis shows a net gain, with the school district taking in about $9 million from the 450 out-of-district students.

The school district receives $7,085 from the state for each out-of-district student, between $2,700 and $3,000 in tuition and an additional $3,000 if the school maintains a population of at least 25 percent of out-of-district students.

Two of the three magnet schools in New London have met the threshold — Winthrop STEM Elementary Magnet School and the Science and Technology Magnet High School of Southeastern Connecticut. Nathan Hale Arts Magnet School, in its second year, is at about 20 percent, and has not yet met the criteria, Rivera said.

“The magnet funds we draw not only cover expenses for out of district but benefit all students,” he said.

Offsetting the $9 million from out-of-district students is the more than $6 million the school system pays for the roughly 1,200 New London students attending school out of district. More than half of the $6 million is for special education students.

Rivera said he will continue to reach out to the community in forums like Tuesday’s as part of effort to have an open dialogue with parents.

“Hopefully over time, I’m sure people will not only come out, but know they’ve been heard,” Rivera said.

The next forum will take place from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Winthrop STEM Elementary Magnet School.  

g.smith@theday.com

Twitter: @SmittyDay