On the question of the 2013-14 Newtown education budget:
Yes: 3259
No: 2078
On the question, "Was the budget too low?"
Yes: 1816
No: 3290
The Newtown education budget has passed on its third referendum, setting a $71 million tone for a number of projects the district hopes to pursue in the coming year. The passage was seen as a success for education officials, and some cheers came from the crowd when the numbers were announced.
"I'm thrilled!" said Board of Education chair Debbie Leidlein, who said the high voter turnout in this referendum was "awesome."
"I think there were a lot more education supporters voicing their support for the budget, especially the private citizens who were very vocal this time," she said.
PTA members campaigned hard on the third referendum with advertisements, public announcements and social media.
"It's good for our town, and good for [Superintendent Reed], and now it's time for us to get to work," said Board of Education member Laura Roche, who joined some PTA members in publicly advocating for the budget by holding signs Tuesday outside Reed Intermediate School.
"I know there are lots of people involved," she said. "Everyone's engaged ... I think it made a difference. I think a combination of, maybe, the right number for taxpayers to take on and handle, and hopefully we can get certain things passed and do what we need to do in education ... I'm very excited it passed."
Voters shot down the budget on the first and, narrowly, second referendum, in which the budget failed by 52 votes. When legislators cut $300,000 from the price tag before the third vote, Superintendent John Reed said long-desired full-day kindergarten could already be in jeopardy.
Roche said she was "optimistic" about a future for full-day kindergarten in the coming year.
"We as a board have to meet to talk about it," she said. "I think we all strongly want it to happen, it's just a matter of what we can do with the number given to us by the taxpayers."
The school board will meet Thursday night, with a discussion on full-day kindergarten listed on the agenda.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
