WOODSTOCK — The 2016/2017 Fiscal Plan of The Woodstock Academy includes a complete remodel of the Alumni Field House, hiring an alumni director and enhancing some academic curriculum areas.
The plan is aligned with the Academy’s motto, “Look to the Future.”
“As an independent school, it is crucial that The Academy maintains its cutting edge and continues to provide a state-of-the-art educational experience. It is important that, prior to discussions of future investments, we examine the results of past investments,” said Headmaster Chris Sandford. “We are very proud of the successes of our students and staff. The Academy’s variety and strength of programs and opportunities for our students makes us one of the top educational options available. Additionally, The Academy transitioned to a 1-to-1 environment this past year, providing each student with an iPad. This transition transformed the educational experience of our students.”
The three premises, the foundation of the 2016/2017 fiscal plan, provide a tuition rate well below the per pupil expenditures of other communities, yet provide an educational experience which is second to none in the area. The per pupil expenditure of The Academy was the 6th lowest in the state, as provided in data from a 2014/2015 report by the CT State Department of Education, the most recent report available.
In addition to our low per pupil rate, as a private school, The Academy also has the ability to raise funds and undertake projects which do not impact the overall tuition rate. The continued efforts of The Woodstock Academy Foundation has, over the last two years, allowed The Academy to build a state-of-the-art Culinary Lab and two chemistry labs, all of which has had no impact on the overall tuition rate.
In the 2016/2017 year, the total cost of the Alumni Field House remodel, will be approximately $340,000. Only $84,000 of the cost of the project will be from tuition dollars; the largest amount is coming from The Woodstock Academy Foundation.
As with most fiscal plans, the majority of the budget is for staff. The staff is the foundation of The Academy, and the most crucial component of our program. The success of our students is directly attributable to our dedicated, experienced, and supportive staff. For our 2016/2017 Fiscal Plan, approximately 88 percent of the budget covers the cost of staff, Sandford said.
The overall operating budget has only increased a total of $58,134 over the last seven years. In 2009/2010, the operating fiscal plan was $13,473,696; in 2016/2017, the fiscal plan will be $13,531,830. Furthermore, those towns with a contract have seen a significant decrease in the percentage of their portion of the operating budget. In 2009/2010, the sending towns covered 99% of the total operating budget; in 2016/2017, that percentage has fallen to 88 percent, a decrease of over 1.2 million dollars.
Sandford has presented the budget to the town of Woodstock, and would be more than willing to present The Academy budget to any community groups. Please contact him directly at 860-928-6575, extension 1111, or via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
The following charges were listed in the Putnam Police Department logs. The people charged are innocent until proven guilty in court. The Town Crier will publish dispositions of cases at the request of the accused. The dispositions must be accompanied by the proper documentation. The Putnam Police Department confidential Tip Line is 963-0000.
March 8
Keith Daggett, 64, Harrison Street, Putnam; disorderly conduct.
March 9
Fleming Barrows, 62, Burrell Street, Roxbury, Mass.; evading responsibility, failure to maintain proper lane.
March 13
Tonope Phensinh, 32, Park Street, Putnam; operating under the influence, operating under suspension.
March 14
Albert Bruso III, 20, Fremont Street, Putnam; disorderly conduct.
Ricardo Reyes, 31, Franklin Street, Putnam; insufficient insurance, failure to obey traffic control.
March 17
Hillary Derosier, 23, Putnam Pike, Chepachet; operating under the influence, failure to drive right.
March 18
Dennis Gilbert, 58, Harrison Street, Putnam; sixth-degree larceny, disorderly conduct.
March 19
Seth Kupstas, 20, Farrow Street, Putnam; speeding.
POMFRET — David May, an eighth grader from Pomfret Community School, has qualified to compete in the state level competition of the National Geographic Bee. The contest will be held April 1.
This is the second level of the National Geographic Bee competition, which is now in its 28th year. School Bees were held in schools with fourth-through eighth-grade students throughout the state to determine each school champion. School champions then took an online qualifying test. The National Geographic Society has invited up to 100 of the top-scoring students in each of the 50 states, District of Columbia, Department of Defense Dependents Schools and U.S. territories to compete in the state bees.
Each state champion will receive $100, the National Geographic book “The National Parks: An Illustrated History” and a medal, and will journey to Washington, D.C., to represent their state in the National Geographic Bee Championship at National Geographic Society headquarters, May 22-25.
The national champion will receive a $50,000 college scholarship and lifetime membership in the National Geographic Society.
POMFRET — On April 12 the Eastern Connecticut Conservation District (ECCD), in partnership with the Pomfret Conservation Commission, will be host a free workshop on Septic System Care and Maintenance at 7 p.m. April 12 at the Connecticut Audubon Society Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road.
At this workshop, you will learn about common avoidable causes of system failures, what the signs of a system failure are and, if your system is in need of replacement, what funding options are available to help with this cost.
A free septic system record keeping file folder will be given to workshop participants that print, complete and turn in an ECCD Septic System Survey. You can download a copy of this survey by visiting the ECCD website at http://www.ConserveCT.org/Eastern, then click on Current Projects and then the Mashamoquet Septic Upgrades tab. The survey requires no site specific information, but will help us to better understand local opinions regarding septic tank maintenance and upkeep.
Also, at this workshop, you will learn about septic system replacement rebates of $2000 available for homeowners in special priority areas along Mashamoquet and Abington Brooks in Pomfret and White Brook in Pomfret and Brooklyn, where higher than allowable levels of fecal bacteria were found during an earlier water quality investigation. Is your home in a priority area? Visit the ECCD website http://www.ConserveCT.org/Eastern and click on Current Projects followed by the Mashamoquet Septic Upgrades tab.
For more information about this project or the workshop, feel free to contact Jean Pillo at 860-928-4948 ex 605, or you can email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
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