First Cuts Hit High School Students

Barely two days after the Proposition 2 1/2 override was defeated by Belmont voters, the first reported cuts in school programs have been announced in a letter to parents of Belmont High School students from Principal Michael Harvey.

In his "Dear Parents" letter, Harvey said a lack of funding in the 2010 – 2011 school budget will now prevent the administration from adding classes to fill the demand from students for six elective classes.

As a result, six electives – Ceramics 1, Drawing and Painting 1, Photography 1, Sculpture 1, History of Popular Music and Music Workshop – will be reduced from full-year classes to a single semester, allowing the school to serve more students without adding sections and will now be able to schedule every student with at least five-and-a-half elective classes.

While far from ideal, it was deemed by school officials as better than the alternative of scheduling students with only five courses.

In addition, students with seven courses will be asked to choice which elective they prefer to keep while dropping one.

"From an equity perspective, it is not right for a select number of students to have the opportunity to take seven classes when many at the school will be limited to fewer than six," said Harvey.

"I definitely understand you will be frustrated and concerned about the potential effects these changes will have on your child's education," said Harvey.

"I think it is a fair assessment to say that we at the high school are experiencing similar emotions as we wrestle with the realities of the 2010-2011 budget and the loss of nineteen class sections over two years." He said. 

"Please understand that we are doing our best to meet the needs of all students in an equitable, consistent manner."