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| $4.5m in proposed school reductions would cut 74 jobs |
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The Arlington School Committee on Tuesday, Feb. 9, heard a series proposed reductions totaling $4,485,000 and involving the loss of 74 positions. The numbers, far from final, are based on the latest best estimates for school revenue as the fiscal 2011 budget takes shape. Proposed cuts would eliminate traffic supervisors, the ACE program and sixth-grade world language classes. Cuts would hit textbooks, professional development, special education and custodians. The committee also approved the school calendar for 2010-2011. See it here >> The proposed reductions break out this way, in general: $710,000: Districtwide services, including administration and teaching assistants $600,000: Special education $1,545,000: Elementary schools $825,000: Ottoson $805,000: Arlington High School Here are the reductions in detail and what the impact of each might be: FY 2011 POSSIBLE BUDGET REDUCTIONS -- DistrictwideTeaching Assistants (approximately seven TAs at all levels including elementary libraries): $100,000 IMPACT: Districtwide, noncore instructional support staff reduction affects libraries, which may be closed or managed by volunteers. Administration: $130,000 IMPACT: Administrative support is already very lean across the district, but all cost centers must share in the reductions which will impact curriculum and instruction and professional development. Traffic Supervisors: $230,000 Traffic supervisors are noncore instructional staff that provide a needed service in safeguarding children as they travel between home and school. Parents will need to walk/drive children to school. Textbooks: $80,000 ($25,000 would remain for books for enrollment growth only) IMPACT: Science, world language and social studies will not be able to order needed textbooks. Professional Development: $70,000 IMPACT: This is a 50% cut. With only $70,000 remaining, there will be fewer opportunities for teachers for professional development, such as summer curriculum work, study groups, out-of-district programs (i.e. Teachers as Scholars, EDCO workshops, conferences). Title 2A can supplement some professional development expenses. Custodians IMPACT: $100,000 Reduction of one custodian, noncore instructional staff, and change second shift which will reduce overtime. Impact will be on lunch coverage and further strain our ability to maintain our buildings TOTAL districtwide: $710,000FY 2011 POSSIBLE BUDGET REDUCTIONS -- Special educationSpecial-education administration, 1 full-time equivalent employee: $75,000 IMPACT: K-12 restructuring of special education management/supervision; shared compliance oversight from building administrators; negative impact on program planning and implementation Preschool-kindergarten special education, 1 full-time equivalent employee: $50,000 IMPACT: Reduction of a team chair; coordinator and teachers will take over role Elementary special education, 2.5 full-time equivalent employees: $125,000 IMPACT: Reorganization of elementary service delivery design Secondary, 2.5 full-time equivalent employees: $125,000 IMPACT: Larger Ottoson and AHS caseloads; change in service-delivery model Specialists, 4.25 full-time equivalent employees: $225,000 IMPACT: Larger caseloads; change in service-delivery model TOTAL: 11.25 full-time equivalent employees: $600,000FY 2011 POSSIBLE BUDGET REDUCTIONS -- elementary schools (Tier I)11 elementary full-time equivalent employees: $550,000 IMPACT: Reduction in personnel, which represents 72% of the budget, is necessary due to magnitude of revenue loss. The range of class sizes K-5 will be 22-30 students with approximately 8 multi-age classrooms across the district to equalize class sizes. Specialist (art, music, physical education), planning periods for grades K-5, 2.7 full-time equivalents: $135,000 IMPACT: Assumes reduction of 11 classroom teachers and does not affect art, music, PE programs Elementary Administrative Assistants (15 hours/week), noninstructional staff: $70,000 IMPACT: Support to principals reduced to just one instructional building secretary ACE, 1.4 full-time equivalent employees: $90,000 IMPACT: Pullout services and support to classroom teachers for advanced and gifted students eliminated Specialist (art and music) planning periods for K (20 classes), one full-time equivalent employee: $50,000 IMPACT: K teaching assistants could provide planning periods for K teachers and planning periods for kindergarten and students do not have formal art & music (1/2) K-5 physical education program, three full-time equivalent employees: $150,000 IMPACT: Required by law to provide physical education one time per week, so reduces PE to one time per week. (1/2) art and music for grades 1-5 IMPACT: Preserves the art and music programs, but students would have a reduced program in each. Remaining (1/2) art and music for grades 1-5, 2.5 full-time equivalent employees: $125,000 IMPACT: Preserves class size, but students would not have art and music but rather TAs covering 1 period a day for teacher preps. Tier II
Classroom Teachers, five full-time equivalent employees: $250,000 IMPACT: Class sizes would be in the range of 24-32, with additional multi-age classrooms. TOTAL: 29.1 full-time equivalents: $1,545,000FY 2011 POSSIBLE BUDGET REDUCTIONS -- Ottoson (Tier I)Cluster Teachers, four full-time equivalent employees: $200,000 IMPACT: Reduction of 6th-grade clusters from 4 to 3. Class sizes 25-30. World Language Teachers, 2.5 full-time equivalent employees: $125,000 IMPACT: No world language in grade 6 Elective Teachers, six full-time equivalent employees: $300,000 IMPACT: Reduced elective offerings in FACS, PE, art, music, ACE tech engineering in grade 8 only. Students will have directed study. Teachers: Library and drama, six full-time equivalent employees: $100,000 IMPACT: Elimination of drama and library program Math Support, one full-time equivalent employee: $50,000 IMPACT: Reduction of one reading teacher. MIDDLE SCHOOL TOTAL: 16.5 full-time equivalent employees: $825,000FY 2011 POSSIBLE BUDGET REDUCTIONS -- High School (Tier I)Teachers (English, science, math, social studies, arts, FACS, automotive, library), 12.5 full-time equivalent employees: $575,000IMPACT: Class sizes will increase to 30 students in many classes. Reduced elective courses. Secretarial/CIerical, two full-time equivalent employees: $80,000 IMPACT: Noncore instructional Guidance, one full-time equivalent employee: $50,000 IMPACT: Greater wait time to meet with guidance counselors Teachers, 1.5 full-time equivalent employees: $75,000 IMPACT: Reduced elective courses Stipends, Club advisors: $25,000 IMPACT: Reduced after-school activities HIGH SCHOOL TOTAL: 17 full-time equivalent employees: $805,000
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| Last Updated ( Wednesday, 10 March 2010 16:16 ) |
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