Sue Flicop

School Committee Budget Meeting
March 11, 2010

Special Education: Eight changes in the FY11 budget were discussed tonight:

• Continue the alternative high school (Central High)
• Add 5 more integrated classrooms at 4 elementary schools (Memorial-Spaulding, Bowen, Mason-Rice, Countryside)
• Add two Special Educators at Bigelow Middle School to more fully integrate classes in all three grades
• Fund 2.5 social workers in the elementary schools (since the grant that funded the current 3 social workers runs out this year)
• Add a reading specialist
• Add two board certified Behavior Analysts
• Add two more SPED interns from Lesley College
• Reduce the number of aides

ELL (English Language Learners): The ELL budget proposal shows a 4.6% increase (approximately $110K). This reflects the increased number of ELL students, particularly at the elementary level, which has increased by 15% since 2008. If the numbers continue to grow (especially at the K-2 level), staff might be shifted from the middle and high schools to the elementary schools. Overall, there is no substantial change in this program.

Career and Tech Ed: The budget proposal shows a .7% increase with very little change in the program.

Curriculum and Instruction/Professional Development: While overall, this area is level funded, there are several changes in the budget book, including: the addition of 3 math coaches to complete coverage at the remaining elementary schools and the middle schools; the reduction in the Creative Arts & Sciences Director position to a .2 FTE; the reduction of theatre stipends at the high schools by $10,000; and the reduction of professional development expenses for high school department chairs and curriculum coordinators.

According to the discussion, these changes focus on building capacity to provide professional development (PD) within the system. This type of PD is site-based, sustained over time, and job-embedded. Examples include math coaches and literacy specialists.

The reductions were aimed at maintaining class size, which currently represents the best balance according to the presenters. An increase in class size to increase the PD budget would mean “backtracking” on class size at the elementary level; teachers teaching outside their subject at the middle school level; and a reduction in class offerings at the high school level.

The cuts that the presenters felt could be sustained without completely impacting the programs were in travel and conference expenses for department heads and curriculum coordinators, the mentoring program, and the Creative Arts & Sciences program.