[CabotCommunity] Budget , Long Range Planning, and Class size News

[auvpto at aol.com]

Hello fellow Cabot parents, as we head into summer, I am writing to you to bring you updates regarding the following:


 

·        The city and school budget

·        Long-range facilities planning

·        Class size at Cabot

·        Room parent opportunities 

·        Summer coffees with our new principal 

 

Budget Update: As of Tuesday, June 17, Mayor David Cohen’s current budget will be the city’s budget beginning July 1, 2008. This budget includes a reduction of nearly 80 positions from the schools; 16 positions from the police department; the closing of branch libraries; and reduction in Sunday hours at the main library. 

 

The School Committee has identified three areas of particular concern with this budget: energy costs; maintenance of school buildings; and special education spending. In view of this, the superintendent has urged each principal to strive for creative use of remaining staff in an attempt to achieve as much as possible for the children despite substantial cuts in staff.  The School Committee has acknowledged the budget difficulties and has urged the community to stress to the children how much we have rather than what we have lost in terms of staff at schools. 

  

Long-range facilities planning: The School Committee will vote on a Long-Range Facilities Master Plan at today's meeting (Monday, June 23, 7:30 p.m., Room 210 at the Education Center).  The architects are recommending adoption of “Option 3,” which includes replacement of four elementary school buildings:  Angier, Cabot, Ward, and Zervas. For information on the different options, click here:  http://www.newton.k12.ma.us/schoolcommittee/_documentsFY08/facilities_report_03_24_08.pdf. 

 

If you are interested, please feel free to attend the meeting. If you have any questions, please contact Sarah Ecker, Isabelle Thacker, or Sue Covitz regarding Cabot's status under the long-range facility plans of the city.  They are Cabot's liaisons to the School Committee and have worked very hard to keep us up-to-date as to all the developments that affect Cabot. They are also good resources for anyone who wants to contact city officials with concerns or questions.

 

Class Size at Cabot:  Due to budget constraints, class size at Cabot and most of Newton’s schools will increase next fall.  Historically, all enrollment numbers change throughout the summer.  As of May 30, at Cabot we expect the following enrollment:

 

K                       70

1st                          61

2nd                         75

3rd                          85

4th                          73

5th                          61

 

Of particular concern to many parents is the potential of having 28 students in each of our 3rd grade classes.  We expect to have three 3rd grade teachers: Ms. Bergande, Mr. Velluto and a newly hired teacher. As far as classroom aides are concerned, I am told that there will be 4 class room aides in the 3rd grade.   We believe that the school budget includes only one “reserve” teacher city-wide and that this position will be assigned to a school later this summer.  Cabot is not alone in having more students than desired in some of our classrooms.  We assure you that as soon as we know of any changes with respect to assignment of teachers we will let you know.

 

We will also convey to our new principal, Mr. Jim Swaim, that parents are willing and ready, as always, to help our teachers. We will work with Mr. Swaim and the teachers throughout the summer to organize a suitable way for parents to help out in the classrooms, making sure that we don’t unwittingly jeopardize the delivery of quality education. We have to be mindful that, as Dr. Quarcoo pointed out, having too many adults in the class is neither ideal nor desirable for teachers as well as students.

 

 

Room captains and room parents: Cabot has two room captains--Lori Knowles for k through 2nd grade; and Chris Kjellson for grades 3rd to 5th.  Lori and Chris help recruit room parents for each class.  The room parents provide an interface between the teachers and the parents for helping in the classrooms.  We encourage everyone to stay involved in the school.  One way is through communication with the room captains.  If you are interested in becoming a room parent for your class, please contact Lori or Chris.

 

Coffee with our new principal:  We will be arranging some coffees at parents’ homes over the summer to give us an opportunity to get to know Mr. Swaim and have a dialogue before he is inundated with school work in the fall.  If you would like to host a coffee at your home, please let us know.  We will try to get some dates in July and early August.

 

Cabot has a very involved, vibrant, and supportive parent community. We have a reputation for collaborating with the school department and respecting the fact that they are responsible for meeting the needs of all 21 Newton public schools.  We hope that we are able to maintain that reputation as we enter a challenging time of bigger classrooms, a search for a new principal next year, and long-term planning for replacing the Cabot building.  

 

I assure you that Sally and I are available to you for support. Please let us know how we can help you.  We will do our best to keep the community informed of new throughout the summer. 



 Archana Vahalia
Cabot PTO Co-President
auvpto at aol.com
617-244-1435

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