School Committee Passes on Pursuing Caruolo

The Portsmouth School Committee decided on Tuesday night that they would not pursue a Caruolo action.

The action was being considered as an alternative if the proposed 1.5 percent increase for the budget referendum does not pass. On Oct. 5, the town will vote for either retaining the school department budget at $35,527,720, or increasing the budget 1.5 percent for an additional $765,301.

Committee members in attendance were Michael Buddemeyer, Richard Carpender, Cynthia Perrotti, Marilyn King, Marjorie Levesque and Angela Volpicelli.

Vice Chair Sylvia Wedge was not in attendance due to out-of-town business. Also present was Superintendent Dr. Susan F. Lusi, Assistant Superintendent Colleen B. Jermain and Director of Finance and Administration Mark V. Dunham.

School Committee Chairman Carpender requested the discussion for the Caruolo Act and presented a prepared statement to the board and public present. The full text of his statement is available at right.

In his statement, he emphasized the importance of the voters saying "yes" to the 1.5 percent increase.

 "If the budget referendum is not passed the result on the school department's budget will be immediate and will have long-term lasting effects on budgets to come," Carpender said.

Carpender said that he believed, having supported the petition drafted by a group of citizens to create this special election for the referendum, that it would be "hypocritical for this committee to pursue a Caruolo action should the budget referendum fail."

The motion to abide by the outcome of the referendum and not file for a Caruolo Act was seconded by committee member Levesque.

Throughout the evening meeting in the Portsmouth High School library, the details of the budget and potential cuts were scrutinized, explained and explored.

One question was not only would the requirements for accreditation from the state be met due to budget cuts, but if the schools would meet the higher standards that many in the town expect.

During the meeting, Superintendent Lusi explained some of the potential cuts. Refering to the Portsmouth BEP, Lusi said that standards would still be met if the potential cuts went into effect.

Already in effect, art and music have switched from a full year to a half year for students.

Assistant Superintendent Jermain presented reports from both the art and music teachers on the switch from full to half year. Jermain said that while both teachers assured they would meet the breadth of knowledge they were required to cover, they were concerned as to whether they could cover the depth in only a half year. 

Summarizing the reports, Jermain said students "won't have time for deeper understanding." Also of concern, was the learning that could be lost over the almost nine-month period from winter to fall for students that have art or music in the fall semester.

Jermain made her own aside to the reports, calling the arts a "valued gem" for many in the community, contributing to the long-term prestige and success of Portsmouth students.

Besides the loss of full year arts and music, potential contract negotiations and cuts in teachers and certain classes, and interscholastic sports teams are also at risk. Lusi said she cannot fully outline what would happen if the increase does not pass.

"Our system is eroded and will be eroded further if we do not have the 1.5 percent increase in budget," Lusi said.

Voters will head once again to the polls on Oct. 5 for the special referendum election.