School Committee Budget Meeting
March 28, 2011
The next School Committee meeting on Thursday, March 31, will start with a public comment section, so parents can make statements to the SC regarding the proposed cuts at the high schools. It will take place at the Education Center in Newtonville.
Both NNHS and NSHS principals presented their proposed changes in order to reduce their staff by 9.8 FTEs (full-time equivalent). Newton South has greater reductions than North, in order to adjust staffing resources to meet the population shift toward Newton North. The principals presented:
What is preserved:
Þ Breadth of program (although at reduced levels)
Þ Counseling departments
Þ Library staffing
Þ Physical Education, Health and Wellness (PEHW) staffing [NOTE: This was actually increased at South and maintained at North, in order to meet state mandates]
Context for decisions:
Þ The numbers are still fluid, as some 8th grade information is still being received and the number of students who arrive over the summer and from private schools is unknown.
Þ Course requests drive the process—some classes are cut because of low enrollment, as in previous years.
Þ Decisions may change.
Þ Collaborative decision-making
Þ Creative problem solving
Trends:
Þ Increasing number of classes greater than 25
Þ Reduced elective options, including some 1st choices
Þ Challenges at both ends—both beginning and ending of courses in a sequence (specific mention was made of certain language programs)
Þ Some class sizes will be capped
Þ Some class sizes greater than 30
Þ Curriculum I class sizes are concerning
| Newton South | Newton North | |||
| Math | -1.25 FTE | Math | Maintain | |
| English | -.75 FTE | English | Maintain | |
| Science | -1.25 FTE | Science | -.125 FTE | |
| History | -.75 FTE | History | -.25 FTE | |
| World Language | -1.25 FTE | World Language | -.75 FTE | |
| Tech Ed | -.5 FTE | Tech Engineering | -.2 FTE | |
| Art | -.5 FTE | Art | Maintain | |
| Music | -.35 FTE | Music | Maintain | |
| Theatre | Maintain | Theatre | Maintain | |
| Wellness | Increase | Wellness | Maintain | |
| Family | Small decrease | ELL | +.2 FTE | |
| Business | -.1 FTE | Business | -.3 FTE | |
| Technology | -.22 FTE | Green Engineering | +.25 FTE | |
| Guidance | Maintain | Guidance | Maintain | |
NOTE: NNHS will also cut .8 FTE in aides, mainly in the language labs and in other areas.
While much of what these cuts mean was discussed at such a quick pace I couldn’t catch it, there was discussion about the proposed cut of Latin 1 from Newton South, and what that means for the program in light of the cuts at the middle schools next year. Enrollment was low this year—only 9 students—and while this will create a gap in the program, it is possible that Latin 1 would be offered in future years if there is the demand.
Overall, class sizes will be quite large, with many in the upper 20s.