by STAFF | Jun 5, 2018 11:02 am

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Posted to: Ansonia, Ansonia Budget 2017-2019

Ansonia Public Schools could end the school year early because of a funding dispute with Mayor David Cassetti’s administration, according to a press release.

NBC Connecticut reports Superintendent Carol Merlone has scheduled a 4:30 p.m. press conference to talk about the issue.

A school board meeting has been scheduled for 7 p.m. at the high school’s lecture hall, followed by a public comment period in the high school auditorium.

The Ansonia Board of Education has a lawsuit pending in civil court against the city because the city took $600,000 from the school budget in January.

City officials, including the tax board and the Board of Aldermen, said the money was taken away because the school district received more state aid than expected.

School officials said the move was in violation of state rules regarding school funding.

A court hearing on the case is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. June 12 in Superior Court in Derby.

Last week The Valley Indy produced an “explainer” podcast on the lawsuit. Click play to listen. Story continues below.

On Tuesday morning a public relations firm representing the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents issued a statement saying Ansonia schools don’t have enough money to stay open for the full duration of this school year.

Parents on the Valley Indy Facebook page were immediately alarmed by the short notice.

From the press advisory:

“The Ansonia Board of Education is hosting a Special Board Meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday to discuss actions regarding the possible early closure of Ansonia Public Schools by Wednesday June 6, 2018 as a result of financial insolvency.

This would mean the school year will end than one week prior to the scheduled end of school date of June 18, 2018.

The closure is due to the fact that the district does not have the dollars to pay salaries and expenses beyond the June 6th date.

Additionally, this would mean the district would not meet the state mandated 180 days of school.”

The press advisory also contained a May 31 letter from the school board’s lawyer addressed to Connecticut Education Department Commissioner Dianna Wentzell.

The letter says the school district cannot make its payroll and “will be forced to close the Ansonia schools by Wednesday June 6 due to insolvency.”

The letter is embedded below.

ANSBd – Budget Reduc 2018 – Letter to Ed. Comm. 5-31-18 by The Valley Indy on Scribd