The School Committee took two key steps, to deal with finances in the next fiscal year as well as the future of the new high school’s education.
At its March 15 meeting, the committee approved the high school plan and the superintendent’s budget for fiscal 2019 of $71,781,331.
Members also heard reports from Principal Matthew Janger about school discipline, Chief Financial Officer John Danizio about the state of the budget and Superintendent Kathleen Bodie on the reconfiguration of the Ottoson. The committee also approved two letters to President Trump on the Parkland shootings and the issue of school safety.
AHS educational plan allow for expansion?
Janger presented the second reading of the educational plan for the high school for submission to the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA). This submission, now 60 pages, incorporated the committee’s suggestions made at the March 1 meeting. Included in every section is “What we were asking for in terms of future configuration.” These included an adjacencies diagram, which shows how subjects will be physically grouped; use of outdoor space and a bigger central space for the library. See the plan >>
Janger announced that the plan include a 1,600-square-foot gym, a jogging track (as distinct from a running track) and a 900-seat auditorium. In every section, he commented on the constant tension between what the high school would need and what the MSBA specifications allow.
Committee member Kirsi Allison-Ampe expressed concern that his plan would not serve the needs of all the athletic teams, such as the gymnastics team. While the MSBA may not approve funding for additional athletic space, she contended that “town, community, parents, and students” would have interest in additional gym space to accommodate all the teams.
Allison-Ampe asked whether “We were looking beyond 1,750 students (the possibility of increased enrollment); are we going to meet students’ needs?” For the athletic program, she suggested that instead of a 1,600-square-foot gym, the town build a 1,200-square-foot gym (which would be financed by the state), and the additional 4,000 square feet (financed by the town) be applied to a new field house. The field house would be an additional expense but cost less per square foot to build. The committee was reminded that a field house would have to be considered as a separate request to the town and might not be approved by the voters.
Allison-Ampe wondered, “Are we looking far enough out?” Other features of the plan that concerned Allison-Ampe were lack of planning for the growth of the preschool and the LABB program in terms of space. Additionally, she speculated that one conference room for the use of special education might not be enough with future increased enrollment.
Chairman Jeff Thielman reminded the committee that the educational plan for the MSBA is understood as “a framework” used to create the architectural design of the school. He then called for a vote, and the committee passed the plan unanimously.
Budget priorities for FY19: Where should extra money go?
Bodie reiterated her report from February that additional money from Chapter 70 state funds could be in the range of $240,000. An exact amount will not be known until the state House Ways and Means determines what is to be allocated. Bodie thought it would be more than two weeks to learn what could be added to the AHS budget.
Meanwhile, as requested by the committee, Bodie compiled a list of priorities for funding based on the asks of principals and teachers. She read off first her “A” list in order of preference:
1.) a preschool teacher, 2.) a reserve teacher position, 3.) large-class teaching assistants, 4.) 1.5 elementary math coach and 5.) increase in summer professional-development funds.
In her “B” list were: 1.) additional assistant principals in the elementary schools, 2.) a 0.5 nurse to serve the high school and preschool housed in the high school, 3.) 0.5 guidance counselor for the seventh and eight grades at the Ottoson, 4.) two 0.5 positions for math coaching in the elementary schools and 5.) curriculum supplies and materials.
Member Cindy Starks asked about the current staffing of nurses at the high school. Bodie explained there is one full-time nurse but she could receive backup from the nurse serving the preschool who also had additional duties at the Menotomy Preschool. Starks replied that she considered that one nurse for 1,200 students “doesn’t seem enough.” She recommended that additional nursing staff be added because “A nurse is a much higher priority than the other stuff.”
Member Len Kardon requested more evidence about how the assistant principals have aided the management of the elementary schools. In the case of the Dallin, which has an assistant principal this year, he wanted to know, “what the principal has been able to achieve that he has not been able to achieve in prior years.”
Teaching assistants were most important to member Jennifer Susse, who stated that “large-class T.A.s should be a goal.” Following up on this problem, Allison-Ampe suggested giving parents the option to move their child to another school with a lower class size if the opportunity presented itself.
Kardon also reminded the committee that “procedure-wise,” they would have to wait until the final numbers for the extra money come in order to make final decisions. Bodie followed up, “Right now none of this has been voted on because we do not have the money.”
Concluding this part of the meeting, Thielman asked for a vote on the superintendent’s school budget for fiscal 2019 of $71,781,331. The town appropriation is $65,860,321. With grants and reimbursements, the total spending plan is $71,785,331.
The budget passed, 6-1, with Hayner dissenting. He explained that he thought the budget should have been more.
Discipline, Ottoson reconfiguration
In other business, Janger gave a follow-up on his earlier disciplinary report, Bodie reported on the reconfiguration of the Ottoson Middle School and Danizio gave the monthly financial report.
In his disciplinary update, Janger said that in former years the number of disciplinary problems remained steady, but the past year experienced a spike in them. He attributed this rise in suspensions and other measures to the legalization of marijuana, increase in hate speech nationwide and mental health challenges.
More surveillance also led to more reporting. He reported some success with the collaborative problem-solving approach. Bodie told the committee that there has been progress in working out the space issues in the Ottoson, planning for the seventh grade to move to the former sixth-grade wing and a new directed studies room. See the links to the report >>
Danizio announced that the school department is still within budget and anticipates no deficit at the end of the year. See his report >>
Letters to President Trump
At the end of the meeting, member Paul Schlichtman introduced a letter called Project Parkland to President Trump written by the Dover School Committee. Dover is circulating it among local school committees and asked them, including Arlington, to sign on to the letter. The committee voted to add its support to the letter, 7-0.
An additional letter, composed by Schlichtman and also addressed to President Trump, enumerates important gun-safety rules and is introduced by a description of Arlington’s history during the Revolutionary War and how the Second Amendment was formulated.
See the links to two letters >>
Susse asked for inclusion, as a friendly amendment, that the repeal of the Dickey Amendment, restricting federal funds to be used to study gun safety. It was accepted. However, she also objected to the historical introduction because she believed the Constitution is a living document and should be interpreted that way. Approval of the letter passed, 6-0-1, with Susse abstaining.
March 6, 2018: Draft education plan for future AHS draws committee questions
Feb. 14, 2018: More state school funds on horizon; snow-day plan remains vague
This news summary by YourArlington freelancer Jo Anne Preston was published Wednesday, March 21, 2018.
