Parents Raise Concerns Over Working School Budget

About 50 residents, mostly parents of school-aged children and teenagers, came out Tuesday night to voice concerns over a working budget that would cut approximately 60 teaching, administrative and support staff positions in order to control costs.

Parents, as well as administrators andmembers, said they feared the budget would increase class sizes to unacceptable levels and reduce too many important programs, like arts and electives.

“For people who don’t have kids in the schools, it’s not just fraying around the edges,” said Josh Lobel, a parent of high school and college student. “It’s really reaching the critical point where we’re not doing what we’re trying to do at all.”

At the public hearing in the high school auditorium, School Committee chairman Joseph Curro explained that to preserve the same level of services in fiscal year 2012, next school year, the district would need a budget of about $46.5 million. However, at the current time, the expected funding only allows for a budget of about $43.7 million.

“As I think you all know, we’re facing unbelievable challenges in this coming year,” he said.

The district has already cut into many other areas in recent years instead of personnel, according to Superintendent Kathleen Bodie. This year, the personnel cuts were unavoidable, she said.

The approximate reduction of 30 elementary school positions would raise the average class size to 28 and leave some classes with as many as 33 students, according to documents provided at the meeting. The cuts would also mean that elementary school students would only receive half the district’s traditional level of art and music and only have physical education one day a week, the state minimum.

The approximate reduction of 30 positions at the high school and middle school would raise the average class size to 35, as well as reduce certain programs.

Class sizes have already increased at the high school in recent years, according to one student in attendance, and the larger classes have led to a rowdier atmosphere and less one-on-one instruction, he said.

Parents worried that the large class sizes would mean some kids would get left behind.

Two teachers also spoke out on what the cuts would mean.

“There’s no MCAS for passion, for entrepreneurship, for compassion,” said David Moore, an art teacher at the high school. “Our system is so test driven, we loose sight of what we’re really here for, the connection we make with students.”

Moore said the high school needs more adult supervision, not less. He said administrators should look to reduce teacher stipends in order to save positions.

“I’d gladly give up my stipend to preserve someone’s job,” he said.

Annette Brubaker, a fourth grade teacher at , said she is already busy trying to juggle the needs of 22 students with diverse needs. The thought of 28 to 33 students seemed unimaginable, she said.

“I physically can’t fit that many desks in my room,” she said.

The hearing was part of an ongoing budgeting process. On Tuesday, March 1, the School Committee will raise concerns to administrators, and on Tuesday, March 8, there will be a final budget discussion before it’s moved to the town’s Finance Committee.

The Finance Committee will review the budget on Wednesday, March 16.

At the meeting, parents did say they had been happy with their children’s education thus far.

One parent also looked on the bright side.

“I guess the good news is I walked into this meeting feeling really depressed about the state of the schools, and I’m not feeling any worse,” said Alex Hoffinger.