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While no one can know for certain what the future holds, we do know with certainty in whose hands the future rests. On Tuesday, March 25th, the Town Council adopted its proposed budget for the Town and Board of Education for the 2003-04 fiscal year. This budget proposal will be formally presented to the community on April 3rd at the Town Hearing and, allowing for possible adjustments following the Hearing, will be subject to approval or rejection by the community on April 29th during a day-long referendum. In the weeks preceding the April 29th referendum, Berlin residents will no doubt be subject to a variety of arguments and justifications of why this budget is necessary and why the concerns of the Board of Education should be ignored or discounted. But once the words and rhetoric are put aside, one simple truth emerges from this budget proposal. Despite Berlin schools receiving one of the lowest budget increases in the state last year, despite Berlin’s per pupil spending being among the lowest in the state, despite a very large incoming Kindergarten class, and despite the fact that Berlin’s schools lack many programs that other towns enjoy – despite all of this, the Council has determined that it is wise and appropriate to actually reduce the Board of Education budget from this year’s budget of $27,353,170 to $27,023,483, a decrease of $330,000. The Board of Education has met to discuss the ramifications of this proposed budget on our school system. Simply put, if adopted as is, this budget would require over $1.8 million in cuts to existing accounts, programs, and personnel. These potential cuts have been outlined by the superintendent in great detail, and that information is available at the Board of Education offices as well as at each of our schools. While none of these cuts have been formally adopted by the Board of Education, they illustrate the potential losses to our school system if the Council’s proposed budget is adopted. Some will argue that to publicize this information is to “incite” parents and students. We respectfully disagree. Not only is the Board of Education entitled to release this information but, as elected representatives of the community, we are obligated to provide accurate and specific information to the public so that their ultimate decision is an informed one. The scope and breadth of these possible cuts is staggering. There is not an aspect of our school system that would be left unscathed. We face cuts in textbook purchases, supply accounts, equipment replacement, custodial accounts, and utility usage. Eighteen positions face elimination, including a reading consultant, two art teachers, a music teacher, a physical education teacher, three elementary classroom teachers, a librarian, and a world language teacher. In addition, many programs currently offered to our students would also be eliminated, including grade 4 instrumental music, the summer adventures program, McGee co-curricular offerings, the elementary school co-curricular programs, a 50% reduction in Berlin High School’s co-curricular programs, and the elimination of the world language program at McGee. Finally, additional measures would also need to be taken to reduce costs, such as raising cafeteria prices and closing all schools at dismissal. While not a complete listing, the above paragraph offers some idea of the crisis that our school system is facing. It is no exaggeration to state that if all of these cuts become necessary, then our school system will have been dealt a devastating blow from which it will take years to recover. Over the next four weeks, make an effort to become informed about the proposed Town budget and the ramifications of its adoption. Documentation and other information are available for interested individuals. Board members are available to speak to groups and answer questions. And the Educational Resources committee is holding a public forum on the proposed Board of Education budget on April 10th at 7:00 at the Willard Elementary School Cafeteria to present information and answer questions, and all citizens, parents, and students are invited to attend. Become informed, get involved, have your voices heard, attend the Town Hearing, and vote on the referendum on April 29th. More than ever before, the fate of Berlin’s schools rests with the citizens of Berlin. Joe Annunziata James Baranowski Gary Brochu Kevin Murphy Tony Recck John Richards Janice Zaccardo.