Million-dollar question: What will your donations get our schools? See the complete list

Facing a projected deficit of $3.9 million in the next school year, the Arlington School Department expects to cut 40 teaching positions, 14 other staff positions, and all crossing guards. 

To address this, the Arlington FY11 Group and the Arlington Education Foundation (AEF) have worked together to create the FY11 School Gap Fund, a one-year emergency fundraiser to help bridge the deficit gap. The goal of the fund is to raise $1 million to preserve the investment Arlington has made in its teachers and prevent overcrowded classrooms.

These cuts will affect every student by increasing class sizes in every grade, reducing the frequency of elementary art, music and physical education classes, downsizing middle school languages and eliminating many high school electives. 

For the last several years, the Arlington School Department has cut funds for core budget items with minimal impact to the students. This was necessary because the state cut local aid and backed out of its commitment to help pay for special education costs as a result of the economic downturn. At the same time, the cost of utilities, healthcare and special education rose dramatically. 

“Every student in Arlington will feel these cuts. If the FY11 School Gap Fund reaches its goal, it will help our school district preserve some of our valuable programs such as art, music, drama, gifted programs, world languages, electives and school libraries.” said Alan Brown, principal of Stratton Elementary School.

“Arlington’s commitment to education is strong and the needs of our students’ great. We created the FY11 School Gap Fund as a one year measure to give the town time to find longer term solutions to our budget problems.” said Marie Meteer, an AEF Board Member and Chair of the FY11 School Gap Fund. 

In order for parents and teachers to know what FY11 programs will be cut before the current school year ends, the campaign will close on June 7, 2010. All donations are tax-deductible. For more information or to donate to the Fund, visit www.arlingtoneducationfoundationma.org/ 

The AEF is a nonprofit 501c3 organization that works to support and advance public education in Arlington, MA. AEF funds systemwide initiatives and creative new projects to enhance the educational experiences of Arlington’s teachers and students.

The Arlington FY11 Group is an active group of concerned citizens and parents who advocate for the schools in Arlington. The group’s focus is to find solutions to the fiscal year 2011 school budget deficit to minimize the effect on students. To join the group, visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ArlingtonFY11/