No Increased Funding for Avon Schools in Malloy's Plan

Within a comprehensive package of education proposals released Wednesday, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy announced that he wants to increase the state's share of school funding by $50 million.

However that did not include an increase in Educational Cost Sharing for the town of Avon.

"I was disappointed to see there wouldn't be added ECS monies provided to the town," Avon Superintendent of Schools Gary Mala said Wednesday evening.

Most of the added $50 million in the governor's education reform package would go to the towns with the 30 lowest-performing school districts in the state. Avon, on the other hand, should see Educational Cost Sharing funded again at the current level.

"We have held towns harmless. No one is losing ECS funding," Malloy said in a news release.

That "sends a clear signal to our children that we will make the investment and deliver on our promise of high-quality education for every student in Connecticut," he further stated.

And for that, Mala is grateful after past buzz that the state would pull back on the funding.

"I'm glad it wasn't reduced," Mala said.

Educational Cost Sharing money is accounted for in the town's total revenue sources.The impact of no increase remains to be seen.

Town Manager Brandon Robertson is scheduled to recommend a 2012-13 budget to the Avon Town Council Saturday. The budget workshop starts in at 8 a.m.

In November, Mala recommended a for the school district that will be incorporated into Robertson's discussions with the Town Council this weekend.