By Sue Kiesewetter
Enquirer contributor

FAIRFIELD - A 42-year tradition that brings thousands of people to Fairfield Senior High School each spring has fallen to budget cuts.

Cancellation of the May 2 Fine Arts Fair was one of several cost-saving measures announced at Thursday's board of education meeting by Superintendent Robert Farrell after voters on Tuesday rejected a 6.9-mill operating levy.

The levy would have brought in $9.1 million a year and raised taxes $211 annually on a $100,000 house.

"That was showing the best and brightest of our district," parent Nick Dadabo said of the festival. "That is the shining star of the school district. That music department is my extended family."

Board member Anne Crone said she anticipates a negative reaction to some of the cuts.

"Now we're going to be beaten up because we have to cut," Crone said.

"The impact never stops hurting your heart," she said.

Each year artwork from every school in the district was displayed in the hallways throughout the senior high school and some classrooms. Every choral and music group in grades 5-12 performed during part of the festival. Farrell said he is hoping to find a different way to showcase students' fine art projects.

Faced with a $3 million deficit at the end of the upcoming school year and a $9 million deficit the following year, Farrell said cuts have to begin immediately.

"We have to make cuts now," Farrell said. "There's no way we can cut $9 million in one year.''

He said administrators are still calculating the savings from the cuts planned for the rest of the school year.

Thursday's cuts are in addition to $3 million announced last December should the levy fail. Among those cuts that will take effect next fall are high school busing, all sports and after-school activities. The district has already imposed hiring and salary freezes.

Besides the fine arts fair, all field trips will be canceled and the community theater group will not be able to use the senior high school - or any other school building - for this summer's planned production of The Sound of Music.

The annual fishing trip for special education students won't be taken, although Farrell said he would find a way to have a special day for the students.

"We'll do that in a different way - a cookout or some other activity that won't be off site," Farrell said.

No school or community group that is not already on the district's master calendar will be able to meet in any of the school buildings after hours, Farrell said. The annual summer drum and bugle competition won't be canceled because the district has a contractual obligation.

"I'm not saying shut down the buildings tomorrow," Farrell said. "We have to balance our budget whether we have levy money or not."

Treasurer Scott Gooding said last year the district dipped into reserves to make up the $2.4 million difference between revenues and expenses. This year the amount is $4.4 million.