Tolland Slated to Receive Additional $106,780 in Education Funds

Tolland will receive an increase of $106,780 in Educational Cost Sharing funds from the $50 million sum Governor Dannel Malloy is planning to give to towns as part of his educational reform proposal, according to a press release from the governor's office.

By 2013-2014, 130 towns will have an increase in ECS funds, and no town will have a decrease in funding from the 2011-2012 levels, according to the release.

Tolland is listed as receiving a .99 percent increase.

"It's better than where we've been the last several years," said Superintendent William Guzman. "He's making an attempt to increase the ECS, which is a lot better than flat-funded."

Around $40 million is dedicated for the state's "alliance districts," a group of 30 school districts that are the lowest-performing in the state, according to the release.

“I strongly believe that every child in our state deserves the opportunity to get a quality education, regardless of where they live. That is why one of our first priorities after taking office was to fully fund the ECS for all towns, and that is why we are making this targeted investment - to give that equal chance to children who happen to attend an under-performing school,” said Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman in the press release.

The $106,780 will be given to the town of Tolland, as opposed to the schools. Guzman said he is waiting to see how the proposal is received in the General Assembly.

"This is the governor's proposal; where it's going to be when the General Assembly is done is anybody's guess," he said.

The school board has not yet approved next year's school district budget. Guzman proposed a .