[CabotCommunity] Updated Newton School Budget information & Cabot Community Conversations

[marykathf at aol.com]

February 19, 2008

Dear Cabot Community,

 

In a memo dated January 31, 2008, the Cabot Political Issues Committee summarized this year’s budget process for our community.  As they stated, Superintendent Young has presented two budgets to the School Committee, the override budget and the allocation budget.  The override budget is the proposed budget that would be in place if the citizens of Newton vote to approve an override this May.  The allocation budget is the proposed budget that would be in place if the citizens of Newton vote against an override in May.

 

Further deliberations have taken place since the last memo was sent (the original email is attached to this email for your reference).  The allocation budget was modified based upon feedback the School Committee received from the Community via letters, emails, and phone calls and at the Public Hearing held on February 6, 2008.  

 

The adjustments made to the allocation budget include:

Þ    Reduction of an additional 4 elementary teachers, in addition to the 13 already lost in the original allocation budget.  

Þ    Loss of a Fine Arts Coordinator, a World Languages Coordinator, and a  Reading Specialist Coordinator

Þ     The loss of 12.3 elementary class size aides 

 

These additional reductions were made to put back :

Þ    14.5 elementary literary specialists and early literary aides, which still will not restore the current level of these specialists

Þ    3 elementary math coaches (none at Cabot)

Þ    3 middle school teachers

Þ    1.6 middle school multi-team teacher

Þ    5 SPED/pupil Services positions

 

What does this mean specifically at Cabot?  It means if the override budget is not passed, Cabot will see a reduction of 3 classrooms, from the current 21 classrooms to 18 classrooms, with a slight increase in students, projected from 424 this year up to 430 for next year.  These figures suggest that certain classes at Cabot may be as high as 28 students, especially in grades 2, 3, and 4 where consolidation of these grades are likely with the current numbers and projections.  Although final class configuration decisions are left to the Principal, total classroom teachers assigned to a particular school will be based upon these numbers. 

 

On the evening of February 11, 2008, the School Committee approved both the allocation budget and the override budget.  It was clear that both Superintendent Jeff Young and the School Committee were unhappy with the allocation budget, but felt that it was as good as it could be given the limited amount of money they were allocated.

 

 To see all the budget details, go to:

http://www.newton.k12.ma.us/schoolcommittee/_documentsFY08/FY09_Override_Budget_01_14_08.pdf

 

http://www.newton.k12.ma.us/schoolcommittee/_documentsFY08/fy09_allocation_budget.pdf 

 

To see the Superindent’s comments and specifics about the ‘revised allocation budget’, go to:

http://www.newton.k12.ma.us/pdf/FY09%20Allocation%20Budget%201-28-08.pdf

 

 

As citizens of Newton, as parents and guardians, we urge you to get involved in this process and consider what type of education you want for your children in the Newton Public Schools.   

 

Questions and comments about this and other issues will be welcome at our evening round table discussion. Please join us for:

 

Cabot Community Conversations

February 28, 2008

Cabot Gymnasium

7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

 

A Round Table Discussion on:

 


FY ’08 -‘09 School Budget – Override vs. Allocation, and how this is not part of the Newton North Construction Project;

Facilities Planning – Current and Long Term; 

Strategic Vision Planning  – Newton Public Schools of 2020.


 

In an open forum format, you will be able to ask questions, and hear more about the above topics from a host of people, such as:

 


Principal, Dr. Marilynne Quarcoo;

School Committee Members, including Reenie Murphy and Geoff Epstein

Move Newton Forward Representatives, including Cabot parent Sarah Ecker; and 

Newton Strategic Planning Committee Members, including Cabot parent Lisa Prior. 


 

We welcome you to be part of the future of education for our children and Newton schools!!  Hope to see you all.



Mary Kathryn Fallon
Cabot PTO Co-President
marykathf at aol.com
617-244-1821

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