Meriden school budget well meaning, but unrealistic

I respect the Meriden school board’s right to recommend a 5.9 percent increase for the next fiscal year, but fear the approach is going to hurt students in the long run. By sending City Hall an unrealistic request they have passed the buck to the city manager and city council. I’m sure City Manager Larry Kendzior would like the school system to get everything it wants. Ditto for the city council. This year, however, the revenue is not there. It would be cruel for the council to raise taxes substantially in the midst of a recession. I’m afraid all the school board and school administration has done with this request is tick off Kendzior and the council, which isn’t going to help kids.
I’m also afraid that the hard feelings that developed during last year’s school budget process have not subsided. Why else would the school board put the city manager and city council in an impossible situation? This year former Mayor Mark Benigni is not around to mediate the dispute. I’m sure current Mayor Mike Rohde will try, but even Benigni (an educator himself) was not very successful last year and it appears the situation may have worsened.
I’d suggest that Kendzior, Rohde, a council representative and school board president Mark Hughes meet and discuss the situation. If after that meeting, the board wants to stick with the 5.9 percent increase, fine. Perhaps a compromise will emerge. One thing is certain. The school board is not going to get anything close to 5.9 percent. Let me know what you think.