Music and Budget Cuts at Botelle

We, the members of the Norfolk Board of Education, are so grateful for the recent community conversation regarding the tightening school budget. Our goal is to provide the highest level and most well-rounded education possible to the children of Norfolk.

For years our budget has been flat funded. Over the past three years, the Board of Finance has cut our budget $95,000. We have persevered despite the rising costs of education, e.g., contractual salary increases, special education mandates, utility and insurance increases, etc.

We have always kept budget sacrifices as far away from the students as possible. However, as the vast majority of our costs are fixed, we were forced to look towards non-mandated programming to make the cuts required. This is what led to a decrease in the compensated time for our music teacher. We were extremely disappointed in the situation, but, as we cannot cut state-mandated academic instruction, our options were incredibly limited. We made the decision to reduce the music instruction budget line because our students progress to Northwestern Regional #7 after sixth grade, and strings are not part of the music programs offered at NWR7.

Despite this disappointing loss, we are extremely proud of the music program that remains at Botelle School. All of the students receive weekly music instruction and starting in fourth grade the children have the option of joining chorus, band or both, and over 70% of our students do. Many of our students move on to NWR7 and excel in instrumental and vocal performance, in advanced Wind Symphony, regional and state music festivals, and musical theater. Much of their success is due to the wonderful instruction they have received at Botelle and the dedication of our instrumental and music teachers.

As a board, we highly value the arts and are fully aware of the benefits of a well-rounded quality arts education. We have, and will continue to, protect our visual and musical arts education for as long as possible. However, in the current financial climate, we fear it will get more and more difficult to protect these programs.

We are buoyed by the support and concern of our community. We hope that this support translates into communication to the Board of Finance during budget planning and meetings.

The Norfolk Board of Education
Sally Carr, Chairman

Saving Crissey Place

At noon on Saturday, Oct. 20, Crissey Place, the venerable, grand edifice with the mansard roof on the southeast corner of the village green, will be auctioned off.

After several years of being unoccupied, the once-proud building, parts of which date back to the 18th century, is suffering from prolonged neglect. Led by Tony Kiser, a group of concerned Norfolk residents has been trying to come up with a way to save Crissey Place from the wrecking ball. Everything from turning it into an arts center or a writer’s retreat, an inn or a restaurant has been considered.

Through the generosity the Greve Foundation, which Mr. Kiser administers, a team of contractors recently conducted a structural assessment of what needs to be done to shore up the building and make it viable. Estimates came in at at least $1 million.

Simultaneously, Barry Webber, executive director of the Norfolk Historical Society, has been exploring the availability of state and federal grants for which the property, as it is a significant cultural landmark and may be eligible.

The die is now cast. Interested parties must show up at the auction with a bank check for $25,000 just to participate in the bidding.

Hanging in the balance is the dreaded possibility that a building which harbors within its walls over 200 years of Norfolk history and a wealth of visceral memories as Cora Brown’s homey inn and restaurant may soon be lost forever.

Michael Cummings Kelly