School Committee avoids major classroom cuts
Published on June 17th, 1998
STONEHAM, MA - Although no one would have thought it possible, the School Committee was successful in saving nearly all of its educational staff while making cuts which did not cause a public outcry at its meeting last Thursday.
The School Committee, which finalized budget discussions after months of consideration, voted on line item appropriations totalling $16.7 million before a packed High School Library. Cut from the budget will be over $85,000 in transportation costs, meaning that only about 10 students will receive school-funded bussing to and from school next year; over $250,000 in supplies, five maintenance positions, some extracurricular activities in the Middle and High schools and two High School clerical positions.
"The problem that the School Committee and the administration has been dealing with is arriving at a budget of $16.7 million which means that $1.4 million had to come out of the budget somewhere," Acting Superintendent Robert Barbarisi said of the School Committee's original $18.09 million budget figure. "Obviously no one is really happy to have to propose these types of reductions."
The budget talks began with Barbarisi's proposal which included the following cuts from the original proposal: one high school teacher (from the four new teachers which will be hired for next year), the Middle School World Language teacher, .6 Middle School music teacher, middle school extracurricular activities, high school extra curricular activities, freshman athletics and intramurals.
School Committee member Paul Melkonian opposed several of these cuts and, originally, tried to save all but the intramurals. He proposed that this could be done by cutting an elementary library assistant, most of the budget for the director of special services, the $10,000 budget for the School Committee and about $64,000 in the special education budget.
Barbarisi warned the committee that a cut to the special education line item could prove devastating.
"I would want to caution the committee that, although it seems reasonable to cut the special education budget... because it's a large budget is not a good idea," he said. "The money that is in that is based on what we already know we will need next year."
Barbarisi and the committee eventually agreed to keep the .6 music teacher, Middle School extra curricular activities, most of the High School extra curricular activities and freshman athletics while cutting most of the director of special services position, School Committee allowance and some funding for heat and utilities. Barbarisi said he would search for monies in the budget which would allow the School Department to also keep the elementary library assistant.
"This meeting always becomes the five of us trying to say we've done our best," committee Vice Chairperson Jeanne Craigie said. "All of these things we need."
The large crowd in attendance for the meeting appeared understanding of the School Department's situation and, for the most part, did not voice objection to the proposed cuts. Relief was evident after Melkonian's alternate proposal.
One resident, Country Club Road resident Nicholas Capuano, did, however, offer a suggestion to the School Committee. He said that, if inventive revenue streams could be found, cuts such as these could be reduced.
He suggested that the committee look into alumni fundraising, carnivals and athletic field advertisements in the future which would give the committee a little more breathing room financially.
Another resident asked if his children, who are entering the high school in the near future, would receive a lesser education because of these and future cuts.
"The trend line tells me that my children, who are going to start entering the High School next year, will not receive the kind of education that the kids have here now," he said. "The quality education in this town is on a trend line down."
Melkonian said that he did not believe this is the case. In fact, he said, due to the state mandates on time and learning, it was likely that, educationally, the effect would be opposite.
"I'm fully convinced that we're doing a better job at the High School," he said.
The School Committee endorsed the budget by a vote of 3-1. Committee member Marie Christie voted against the proposal due to the proposed cuts of the library assistant and director of special services position, she said. Committee Chairman Stephen Gucciardi could not attend the meeting due to illness.
On a happier note, the committee voted in Joseph Connelly as the School Departments next superintendent unanimously at the meeting.
He will assume the role on August 1 and contract negotiations are said to be progressing smoothly.
"Today has been a day of mixed emotions," Connelly said when speaking about his attendance at a Tri-Town (Middleton, Boxford and Topsfield) teacher retirement dinner. "A phase in my life was ending and a new phase of my life was beginning.
"We have very strong roots in Stoneham (his mother, Irma, is a Gerry Court resident). To represent this town is actually an honor that I never expected to receive."
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