SchoolCom talks budget
Published on December 10th, 2003
STONEHAM, MA - A preliminary fiscal 2005 School Department budget was expected to reach the Town Administrator's desk by last Friday, but School Superintendent Dr. Joseph Connelly said it would be one that he would not support.
Per request of Town Administrator David Berry, all town departments were to submit preliminary FY2005 budgets last week demonstrating a five percent reduction over the current year. This request came as a result of forecasts that project a $4 to 5 million town budget shortfall for next year.
Connelly said that the School Department is already looking at an increase of nearly $1 million in uncontrollable costs next year in areas such as health insurance, contractual salary increases, step increases, special education tuition and transportation, as well as heat and utilities. For the School Department to compound that problem with a five percent cut to current year numbers would result in about $2 million in cuts to salary accounts, or the equivalent of 50 to 60 teaching positions.
"A $2 million reduction is just an undoable and unthinkable occurrence," Connelly said.
To put this into a context that illustrates the magnitude of cutting 50 to 60 positions, Connelly advised the School Committee that in the four elementary schools combined, there is a total of 51 teachers, although he admitted the numbers are "very preliminary" at this point.
"That gives you a sense of what that would do to the school system."
School Committee Chairman Marc Grimaldi said he disagreed with an across-the-board reduction to the budget. While the town has asked departments to submit a working budget for FY2005, the five percent reduction to the school budget "effectively makes us a non-working school department."
"I don't see how we can approve or accept anything like this even in the theoretical concept...This is devastating...Five percent is unacceptable...It is virtually a financial impossibility."
Connelly agreed but explained that the numbers to be presented will meet Berry's request. At the suggestion of committee member Cheryl Walsh, a cover letter will accompany the preliminary budget figures stating that the School Committee does not back the submission.
"There is no way I would ever support cutting our budget five percent," said Committee member Marie Christie who reminded the audience that 22 positions were cut last year. She did say, however, that she could see where the town was coming from.
"They want to see how devastating a year it's going to be."
"Now is the time to maintain the investment in this School Department and afford the parents of Stoneham, the taxpayers, a solid education for these children," Grimaldi maintained.
MCAS
Part of that investment includes Stoneham's commitment to improving MCAS scores and the town is getting good results for its efforts.
Assistant Superintendent Dr. Joseph Casey presented to the School Committee last week MCAS scores from the tests taken last spring and related information as to what it all means.
In summary, Casey's now familiar mantra that "the longer a student is with us, the better he or she does," appears to be ringing true according to test data that shows Stoneham's outperformance of state averages and improvements from past years on the state mandated test, particularly in the upper grades.
Upward trends in scores are largely due to the detailed data analysis that takes place in Stoneham once test results return to the district.
This analysis continues to target improvement areas for teachers and administrators. Item data analysis helps identify if the content of each question is being taught in Stoneham or if it is being taught at the appropriate time of the school year. The data also enables teachers to look at individual student performance. Teachers are able to tailor instruction based on this data.
Detailed action plans by subject area and grade were also presented to the School Committee.
"We make advances because we take time to dissect the data," Casey said.
Students must pass the grade 10 MCAS Math and English Language Arts in order to graduate. Those who do not pass in grade 10, have another opportunity in grade 11 and again in grade 12.
"If you don't get it in grade 10, we don't give up. You can do it if you work with us." Help is available through the MCAS academy that provides help to students at risk for not passing and therefore not graduating, though funding for this remedial area has been threatened like all other areas.
"Your staff, administrators, and teachers put a lot of thought and effort into what is best for your child."
"It is very heartening to see how our kids are improving," Christie said.. "We have made such tremendous strides."
Walsh stressed that parents can get individual assessments for their children and can approach the teachers regarding their children's MCAS performance.
More information on MCAS is also available through www.doe.mass.edu/.mcas/.
Policy Changes
The School Committee approved suspending two of its policies for specific situations last week. The first involved the policy that prohibits hiring a relative of an employee responsible for the supervision or evaluation of that new hire.
According to Connelly, the request comes on the heels of a regarding a recent hiring situation, and while the hiring in question would not violate the policy, the appearance of a violation is likely and thus he recommended waiving the policy in this instance.
The hiring of Stoneham High Assistant Hockey Coach Craig Seabury could result in the perception of a conflict of interest, Connelly said, since head coach Bill Seabury is Craig's father. However, what the community may not know is that Athletic Director Mike Lahiff is responsible for the supervision and evaluation of all coaches and therefore there would be no conflict with Craig coaching with the senior Seabury.
"Although I see no conflict...I do recommend that the School Committee suspend policy 8-3 just based on the perception that it could potentially be a conflict," Connelly said.
He added that Craig Seabury is well qualified for the job and was the number one candidate of the search committee.
While the School Committee does not take action on personnel, it did vote in favor of suspending its policy in this instance.
"I think basically we're not violating our own policy but perception is reality and to an outsider...it would seem that we would be violating our own policy," Christie said.
The second policy concerned the rental of school facilities to nonpublic organizations.
According to Connelly, Stoneham resident Paul McCarthy submitted a letter requesting that the School Committee vote to not charge St. Patrick School Girls and Boys Basketball teams rental fees for use of school gyms.
Policy 5-23 reads that rental fees be applied to use of facilities by Stoneham nonpublic organizations and nonresidents.
While St. Patrick School is technically a nonpublic organization, McCarthy pointed out that the assessed fees would be a financial hardship on the basketball program.
"I strongly support that these are our Stoneham children. I think we all agree that our schools are here for the betterment of the youth of the community. I do not believe it sets a precedent," Connelly said.
The Committee agreed and voted in to suspend the policy that would require a fee be assessed on St. Patrick School basketball teams.
"I think when we wrote our policy, we did not even think of the other private schools in town," Christie said, calling that an oversight.
"The parents of these children are paying the taxes to this town. They're the ones that helped us build our new facilities and they're paying for the new facilities. These children are all Stoneham children so why shouldn't they in our facilities like the public school children."
Walsh suggested that at a future meeting, the committee consider revising this policy.
RCN
Since coming to town recently, RCN has been busy getting to know the community.
The School Committee voted to accept a generous donation from the telecommunications company in the amount of $750 as it partners with Stoneham High School in the Adopt-A-School program. According to RCN Marketing Manager Gina Gentile, RCN "takes great pride in our commitment to the community."
Stoneham High School Principal Tom Ryan told the School Committee last week that RCN approached the High School to see how it could help out financially. The funds will go toward sponsorship of the three athletic banquets. The banquets are held in the auditorium where RCN's generosity will be visible to a large number of people. In addition, talks have also suggested the possibility of RCN sponsorship of a basketball tournament in the future..
Middle School Principal Jim Andreottola also reminded the School Committee that RCN has donated $500 to help fund Middle School extracurricular activities previously cut from the budget.
"We appreciate that forged relationship in these economic times," said Grimaldi. "It's even more needed now that ever."
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