Money saves 18 positions, many of them part time

The School Committee on Tuesday, June 8, voted to extend the Bridge the Gap fund-raising campaign for a week while seeking to restore a guidance position. The effort's online auction raised more than $33,000, and the unprecedented private drive has drawn $478,000 to date, money used to save 18 positions.

June 8: Total tops $433K as deadline passes for $1M effort

The goal was to raise $1 by June 8. A projected school deficit of $3.9 million would cut 40 to 46 positions, according to an estimate provide last week by Superintendent Kathleen Bodie. For more about the Gap Fund, see www.arlingtoneducationfoundationma.org/

Amy Speare of the Gap campaign reported June 9 that funds raised so far led the School Committee to vote June 8 to add back 18 positions. School Committee action followed a budget subcommittee meeting June 4 at which $483,500 of issues were proposed to be restored. The full committee supported that list, 6-1. 

She said the campaign has an opportunity to fund the next priority items by June 15. Restored were:

¦ Elementary physical education,

¦ Middle school guidance counselor and math support,

¦ Reduce planned increases in High School athletics fees. 

Positions to be restored are:

¦ Elementary art and music (to current levels) 

¦ Elementary school library staff (to current levels)

¦ One elementary school teacher and three teaching assistants

¦ Exploratory world languages program in sixth grade

¦ Part of the middle school ACE program

¦ Part of middle school reading support

¦ One aide to middle school physical education to help with large class sizes

¦ One part time high school art teacher 

¦ One English language arts paraprofessional at the high school

Parent Nancy Lowe spoke during public participation, urging restoration of the guidance position, as she did at the May 25 meeting. She expressed concern about the impact of having a counselor who now serves 400 students deal with 600.

During committee discussion, Secretary Cindy Starks suggested restoring the guidance position as an additional addback.

Committee Vice Chair Leba Heigham said that, given current Ottoson staffing, the guidance position should not trump the three addbacks already proposed, at the recommendation of the principals. The three were physical education at the elementary schools, math support and the reduction of athletic fees at Arlington High School for the next priority funding.

The committee backed Starks's amendment, 4-3, as Judson Pierce, Kirsi Allison-Ampe and Heigham voted no.

The committee also voted to adopt a schedule of fees, which included higher numbers for athletics.
Committee Member Joseph Curran, a coach in Woburn who has children in the Arlington public schools, was the one member to vote against the addback list. He also expressed concern over the higher fees for athletics, saying that many students won't be able to afford to play. He cited the $750 it will cost to play ice hockey.

Curran said he has supported past Proposition 2 1/2 override, but said the expectation has been that overrides might protect user fees. Instead, he said that once user fees are instituted, "All they do is go up."

See the full list of athletics fees here (PDF)

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What will your donations get schools? See list as on June 8

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Late aid: 'On Broadway' at Regent June 24

The Arlington Education Foundation (AEF) and the Arlington Regent Theatre have announced a benefit screening of the award-winning film "On Broadway." The special screening will benefit the Bridge the Gap Fund and will take place at the Regent on Thursday, June 24, at 7 p.m. Bridge the Gap was not able to schedule one fundraiser before the original June 7 deadline, but the AEF will still accept the proceeds from the event and apply it to the funds. 

May 28: School Committee thanks | Boston Globe, June 7: As schools cut back, parents open wallets