Arlington School Board Prepares Its FY2012 Budget

The Arlington School Board met on Thursday, March 24 to finalize its budget proposal prior to a work session with the County Board on April 4. There will be a public hearing on the school budget on April 7. Superintendent Patrick Murphy's proposed budget is $469.8 million -- an increase of $27.8 million over last year. Salary and benefits make up 78.5 percent of the total budget. A sizable portion of the $27.8 million increase is attributable to additional staff needed to accommodate the expected increase of almost 1,000 new students in the Arlington Public School (APS) system. Additional money is needed to cover increases in health care costs and fuel and electricity costs.

Prior to the budget deliberations, parents expressed concerns about the increasing number of students in APS and the capacity of the schools to handle those children. In one of the three amendments proposed by board members, the board addressed those concerns with a $697,603 increase to the Capital Projects Fund to investigate capacity needs ahead of the 2012 Capital Improvement Plan. That amendment passed unanimously. Two other amendments addressed an increased scholarship program for assistants looking to become teachers and a special projects position at Hoffman-Boston; both of these amendments passed 3-2.

The board also approved the final design for Wakefield High School and heard a presentation by Miriam Hughey-Guy, the principal of Barcroft Elementary School. Barcroft's “da Vinci Project” has been a multi-year effort to reshape the school calendar and educational process. Barcroft uses a modified school calendar with shorter breaks and longer hours, which has led to a significant increase in test scores and additional educational opportunities for the students. The program addresses the learning loss that many students exhibit after a long summer away from school, as well as a nutrition loss in children who may receive a substantial portion of their nutrition from school lunches. Barcroft has focused on smaller classes and building rapport between students and teachers.

 For more information on the Arlington School Board, go to:http://www.apsva.us/15401083104356923/site/default.asp