It's Not Official, But Reading Looking At $4.8 Million Override

After two nights of PowerPoint budget presentations at RMHS, emotions and frustrations took center stage Thursday as Reading teachers filled the Schettini Library to protest cuts that were again threatening their schools. Almost 20 teachers, parents, and students spoke before the School Committee, some pleading, some demanding, and some just explaining what the cuts would mean to them.

But after the teachers left, the numbers returned in the form of the Superintendent John Doherty's override budget. After presenting a balanced budget Monday, Doherty's override budget asked for an additional $2,949,250, which included restoring the middle school language program, the grade 6 literacy block, and seven middle school teachers. It also restored six high school teachers, four elementary teachers and one elementary tutor, and included $360,000 in district-wide salary adjustments. The School Committee will have its say on the budget before coming to a final vote on Jan. 22.

On Tuesday, Town Manager Bob LeLacheur presented 30 positions/items he wished to add beyond the balanced budget, totaling $1,711,375. Add to that figure capital debt and retired employee health benefits and the figure will grow slightly. The bottom line is an override of approximately 3 million for schools, 1.8 million for the town. The Board of Selectmen have the final word on the override amount and will vote on it at their Jan. 30 meeting.

But Monday's numbers generated Thursday's turnout of frustrated teachers, led by Eric Goldstein, President of the Reading Teachers Association.

"The teachers of Reading are resolved to stand up for our students, our schools, and ourselves," said Goldstein, a sixth grade teacher at the Parker Middle School. "We are asking the community to stand with us and pass the override to save our schools from these damaging budget cuts."

He wasn't alone. Teachers like Heidi Murray, Julie Merrill, Jeff Ryan, and Leah Cristi all spoke emotionally about their students and hardship the cuts would bring.

"We can't continue having cuts like we've had the last five years and expect to do more with less," said Merrill.

Ryan, a teacher at RMHS for 21 years, stood before the crowd and said, "My intent is not to be a prophet of doom," but then explained how college admissions will be hurt by the loss of teachers, explaining the day will come when he'll have to say no when a student asks him to write a letter of recommendation because staff cuts have left him with no time. "I implore you to do everything you can to make sure my dire predictions don't come true."

Cristi, one of the middle school spanish teachers whose job was in jeopardy said she's, "excited to see her students finding their voice in another language," but then said a middle school without language, "does not sit right with me and it should not sit right with you."

And RMHS Director of Guidance Lynna Williams said, "as a guidance counselor I cannot comprehend not having a foreign language program in the middle schools."

With the Friday school bell hours away, many of the teachers didn't hear Doherty's presentation of the override budget. Doherty, who started in 1987 as a Coolidge science teacher, explained the override budget was "an opportunity to not just put things back but also to change the way we do things for our students." He explained his renewed vision for the school system which included being more proactive, and less reactive.

In total, 19 positions were restored, two were created, and 3.4 positions centered around the RISE program, elementary assistant principals, and special education team chairs were restructured. The two new positions were K-8 district wide curriculum coordinators. In addition, the override budget includes the restoration of non-league games for the athletic department. Doherty, along with Assistant Superintendent for Learning and Teaching Craig Martin and Director of Student Services Carolyn Wilson each repeatedly talked about the need to support teachers. If transparency was the theme of the town's budget process, teacher support was the theme of the presentation for their renewed vision for Reading schools.

But with the dust settled, at least for a few days, the question is simple: would Reading voters approve an override of close to $5 million, assuming that's where the figure lands? If you believe the Selectmen's summer survey, $5 million is a dangerous asking price, one that could trigger the same result as October 2016 when the override was $7.5 million. And at this point, nobody who was at RMHS Thursday wants to consider what would happen if the override fails again.

Photo by Bob Holmes