 With division hidden behind the realities of educational underfunding, the School Committee took less an hour March 11 to agree to add back teaching positions while raising a variety of fees in supporting the fiscal 2009 budget $37.8 million. The agreement was not unanimous, as the 5-2 vote shows, with Denise Burns and Joe Curran opposed.
Latest fiscal 2009 school budget information
Town local-aid numbers
The adopted budget was a balance between what the superintendent had proposed and an alternative plan based on feedback from residents who made clear Feb. 26 they would rather pay higher fees than see teachers cut.
Member Ron Spangler moved the School Committee adopt as its new budget the draft proposal submitted Superintendent Nate Levinson on Feb. 12, with changes described in the “second priority” category of draft 2 of a March 6 plan based on comments from taxpayers. Spangler said he wanted the motion to say that "these changes reflect Arlington’s priorities as a community that values its children."
Voting in favor were In favor Sue Sheffler, Jeff Thielman, Sean Garballey, Susan Lovelace and Spangler.
Here is the impact that the motion, approved 5-2, has on the 2009 budget:
Teachers/support 1. Restores five elementary teachers at Brackett, Hardy, Stratton, Thompson and Bishop; adds one elementary teacher at Dallin; and adds one new kindergarten teacher, at an as-yet unnamed school, based on projected enrollment.
2. Restores one English teacher and 0.4 math teacher at Arlington High School.
3. Restores one-half of the cuts to professional development for teachers, which Spangler called our “R&D investment” in the future success of our district.
4. Restores one-half of the data analyst position, to continue making data easier for teachers to use to improve student learning.
5. Restores one-half of the support for principals.
These changes include the following fee increases,in addition to the across-the-board 5-percent inflation adjustment factored into the Feb. 12 draft proposal. Spangler said: "These increases are in line with the community input we’ve received, and they distribute the burden equitably."
Fees
1. A 30% increase in the lunch fee to, for example, $3 at the elementary level.
2. An increase in the full-day-kindergarten fee to $2,400.
3. An increase in the elementary instrumental music fee to $425.
4. An increase in the high school athletics fee of $25 for each of the first two sports.
Along with these changes, the per-family cap on fees -- exclusive of lunch, full-day kindergarten, and the Bishop bus -- are raised to $850.
Spangler added: "The School Committee remains firmly committed to our policy that no student will ever be denied access to programs or activities because of an inability to pay."
Hints of differences among members were evident before the vote. Curran said he thought there should be further cuts in administation as well as a two-week delay in the vote. Sheffler sharply objected.
"I'm insulted," she said. "We have been talkign for months. We need to move on minority hiring .... You were on the budget subcommittee," which agreed last November to the voting timeline. She said Curran, a coach, was not being a team player.
For Burns's part, she moved to amend Spangler's motion to include addbacks under teachers/support of No. 1 and No. 2 and that the approximately $78,000 not added back. Further, the money for half or professional development, half a data analyst position and half the principal support be put into reserve for the next fiscal year.
"If we do this this year, we have a one-time-only fix," Burns said. "We will have to raise fees again next year."
After some discussion, Burns accepted a friendly amendment from Garballey to include the half of the data analyst as part of her amendment. That motion failed 3-4.
After the budget was adopted, Curran reflected the committee's desire to move beyond its differences over the last 11 months. He said he knew he asked questions that caused concern, adding that he "did it for the kids."
BREAKDOWN OF ADDBACKS, FEES
Addbacks: $456,500
K-5 teachers: 69%
AHS teachers: 14%
Data Analyst: 8%
Principal Support: 5%
Professional Development: 4%
Fee Increases: $457,000
Lunch: 46%
Full Day Kindergarten: 37%
Elem. Instr. Music: 12%
HS Athletics: 5%
The impact of the fee cap and waivers is included in the $457,000 estimate above. (Note that for FY08 about 100 waivers have been granted for the athletics programs alone.)
|
Enuma Elish
performs "Metropolis" Thursday, Nov. 20, at 8 p.m. at the Regent
Theater. General admission...
