Connelly is keeping tabs on school issues
Published on September 2nd, 1998
STONEHAM, MA - Wednesday's school openings began what Superintendent of Schools Joseph Connelly hopes will be a new era in Stoneham public education.
With the recent budgetary difficulties, uproar over the Visiting Nurse Association's continued occupation of the East School, pending warrant article proposing the purchase of the Mann Chemical site, and the start of the elementary school renovation/building project just weeks away, Connelly has a full plate in front of him in his first year as superintendent in Stoneham.
"This will be a very challenging school year for us for a number of reasons," he told The Independent.
In terms of the $16.7 million budget which was endorsed by Town Meeting voters in June, Connelly explained that money will be extremely tight in the coming school year.
"The $16.7 million budget is a significant challenge," he said. "We're going to have to try to manage the budget extremely well this year so that we don't get into a deficit."
He explained that the cut in busing for nearly all students in the 1998-99 school year has created a great disturbance amongst parents - one that school administrators are continually attempting to address.
"We certainly have a number of parents that are very concerned about the elimination of busing," Connelly said.
The School Department held a readiness meeting last week at the Stoneham Public Library which was attended by personnel from the various schools and other town bodies. It was intended to find added ways to ensure the safety of students who will walk to school on a regular basis. In addition to the upgrade in crossing guards, Connelly said, a police detail will be placed near the Central School on the first two days of school to help with the flow of pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
"It was a very productive meeting," he said. "I think we've put everything in place to have a very safe opening."
The largest problem for the School Department in recent weeks has been first grade enrollment which jumped by 16 students over the summer months. Average classroom size skyrocketed to 28 students in the first grade, Connelly said, a number which was deemed "totally unacceptable."
Connelly and his administrative team decided to make the Finance & Advisory Board aware of the problem and eventually came to the realization that another teacher would be necessary in order to maintain the quality of education in the grade.
The number of first grade classes was increased from nine to 10 and an additional teacher was hired, reducing class size significantly.
"It was a big step to really provide an extra teacher in the first grade and get the funding to do that," Connelly said. "We now, I am pleased to say, have class sizes in the 23 to 25 student range."
The beginning of the four-phase elementary school renovation/rebuilding project is due to get under way in the fall, he said, starting with the demolition of the South School. Connelly and other school staff held the final walk-through of the building in recent days in an attempt to salvage any items of value and are now looking forward to getting the ball rolling.
Another issue which is sure to raise some eyebrows and some debate on the town meeting floor is the School Committee's second attempt to purchase the Mann Chemical property adjacent to the Middle School. An article was presented to and voted down by voters last year and, according to Connelly, another will be presented to the town in October.
"It appears that there will definitely be an article on the Special Town Meeting warrant," he said. "It (the property) would clearly be a benefit to the school system to get that additional two acres."
Connelly also detailed the School Department's plans for the future of the East School - a site which has caused much controversy in recent years with regards to the VNA and increased traffic on Beacon Street.
On August 19, the School Committee sent a letter to the VNA explaining that, due to the pending building project and increased enrollment, the East School would again be needed for school purposes. Although the VNA will be allowed to remain at the site until March 31, 1999, the committee said rent would be increased from the present $300 per month to $2,800 per month and also asked for a detailed list of improvements made to the building over the VNA's 15 years of occupation.
According to Connelly, the School Committee is very serious about taking the school back.
"We're dealing with a desperate need for additional school space, and to have the East School available to us next year, will give us the opportunity to relocate classrooms and administration," he said. "I'm optimistic that that can be accomplished so that we have access to that school property next year.
"We do look forward to a final termination of the lease."
In addition to these focus areas, Connelly said that school staff will also attempt to keep on top of the continued implementation of the Education Reform Act, MCAS testing, teacher recertification and professional development.
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