To address increasing enrollment, the School Committee has approved adding three elementary classes, at Brackett, Dallin and Stratton.
Earlier, two reserve positions in the budget had been used to add a kindergarten at both Dallin and Stratton. In total, the Arlington public schools have added five elementary classrooms this summer because of larger-than-expected elementary enrollments, Superintendent Kathleen Bodie wrote in an email Monday, Aug. 5.
“Our elementary enrollment has increased by 150 students since last October,” Bodie wrote, “which represents close to a 6-percent increase (October 1 numbers are our official numbers for enrollment).
The official elementary enrollment for 2013-2014 determined next Oct. 1 may be larger or smaller than the total student population of 2,719 as students continue to register or withdraw.
She wrote that the increases in the elementary population have been “relatively modest over the last three years” — about 60 students.
The School Committee vote for the increases was made at a special meeting Wednesday, July 31. The committee rarely meets in midsummer.
The reaction from at least one principal was immediate.
In an email to parents Aug. 1, Stratton Principal Michael Hanna wrote:
“Last night, Dr. Bodie proposed and the School Committee approved increased general education staffing around the district in response to unanticipated increased enrollment. This included a third, 3rd grade class at Stratton School.
“We have already begun adjusting logistically. We plan to interview on the 12th and 13th, a meeting to generate new class lists will happen next Tuesday, specialist schedules are being adjusted, and classroom furniture is being inventoried.
“I know we’re all appreciative of the conversation that led to this increased staffing, including the advocacy of families and the responsiveness of the superintendent and school committee.”
In an email to parents Monday, Aug. 5, related to staffing at Stratton, Hanna wrote that Mrs. Gaffey, a fifth-grade job-share teacher, will take a one-year assignment in 2013-14 as a districtwide math instructional leader.
Next year, Mrs. Ricciuti will partner with Mrs. Delaney as the fifth-grade job share. Those students who were assigned to Ricciuti/Smart will now be in Ricciuti/Delaney. The second fifth-grade classroom will now be a single teacher. Those students originally assigned to Gaffey/Delaney will be in this new teacher’s classroom.
Stoneman, Chandler contract
On July 31, the School Committee also went into closed session. The stated reasons were to:
• Conduct strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with nonunion personnel or to conduct collective-bargaining sessions or contract negotiations with nonunion personnel. The specific focus was to discuss potential renewal of the administration’s contract with Stoneham, Chandler & Miller, which has represented the schools since the early 1970s.
• Discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining or litigation if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining or litigating position of the public body and the chair so declares.
In October 2010, the School Committee voted to continue using Stoneman Chandler & Miller for some legal services, but with a different attorney than it has long used, and decided to employ a separate lawyer as labor counsel, one who already advises the superintendent.
This story was published Thursday, Aug. 8, 2013.
