A confirmed case of swine flu, or H1N1 flu, in a Middlefield child is big news for a small town. Big enough for major news networks and print media to attend a community-wide forum on the topic with representatives from the Connecticut Department of Health (DPH), Board of Education, personnel from the school district and town health officials.

Only the Board of Education and a few members of the public were present to hear District 13 Superintendent Susan Viccaro present the smallest increase in the school budget in a very long time – a mere 2.91 percent for a net bottom line of $31,948,410.