UPDATED, April 6: The School Committee approved next year’s calendar and felt continued enrollment pressure, learning about higher numbers for incoming kindergartners and hearing a pitch to add a fourth-grade teacher at Thompson.
Three fourth-grade Thompson parents read an exchange with Superintendent Kathleen Bodie during public comment at the Thursday, March 29, meeting. In their March 5 letter to the superintendent, read aloud, they argued that as of last September, the three fourth grades at the Thompson (with 25, 26 and 26 students) were the largest of the fourth grades in the district (others ranged from 16 to 25). With enrollment increases, the Thompson fourth-grade classes currently number 26, 26 and 27.
The parents requested that Bodie assign one more teacher to the Thompson School starting in September to address these overcrowded classrooms. With one more teacher, all grades at the Thompson will have four classes. Now, only the fourth grade at the Thompson has three classes. The new addition has one room not used as a classroom, so one more class could be accommodated, they said.
Bodie’s view of the issue
In response, Bodie reminded the parents that she had assigned a large-classroom teaching assistant to the three fourth-grade classes. She then discussed the situation with reserve teachers provided for in the fiscal 2019 budget: Of the three positions allocated, one must be used for an additional kindergarten, and the two others have to cover any potential needs in all the elementary schools, the middle schools and the high school.
“The priorities for this money are another preschool position and two reserve teaching positions.”
— Superintendent Bodie
Bodie held out the possibility of more reserve teachers if the school department receives additional Chapter 70 funds from the state. “The priorities for this money,” she told the parents “are another preschool position and two reserve teaching positions.”
Read The Globe’s April 2 report about state aid >>
In a written reply, the parents informed Bodie that, despite the few positions available, they had a strong case for one additional teacher for the Thompson. They wrote that the Thompson had “a dynamic and diverse population,” with the largest number of students (31.5%) classified as “high needs.” This caused Thompson teachers, according to the parents, to have “more time spent in behavior management.”
Furthermore, the parents understood that “the temporary fourth-grade classroom T.A. was only a temporary solution.” The classrooms “are not equipped for more than 25 or 26 students,” they wrote, adding there will not be even enough cubbies or hooks as the classes grow beyond 26.
The Thompson parents presenting at public participation were Diana Trudell, Sarah Wilkinson and Larry Slotnick.
By policy, the School Committee does not discuss and takes no immediate action on comments received at public participation, but an issue may be put on a future agenda.
School calendar OK’d: Opening day on primary election
As to the school calendar, Bodie said she consulted with teachers and principals and they told her that having the first day of school on the primary election would not be a problem. Consequently, she announced, the kindergarten open house would be on the day after Labor Day.
Because snow days after April 1 are not counted against the state-required 180 days of openings in a school year, the last day of school will be Monday, June 25, and it will be a half-day.
The committee voted unanimously to approve the calendar with this change. See the calendar here >>
Kindergarten March enrollment higher than 2016
Bodie announced that kindergarten enrollment is at 433 so far, with letters sent to parents of 180 children of kindergarten age who have not yet registered. Statistics on kindergarten enrollment show that kindergarten enrollment is greater this March than in March 2016 (398).
In addition to those 180 students (identified by the census) whose parents are receiving letters, it is likely there are more potential kindergarten students not captured by the current census data, and there will be even more who will move into town over the summer.
Enrollment figures for 2016-17 provided to YourArlington by the administration show that the kindergarten total for all elementary schools was 567 students in September 2017 as compared to 558 in September 2016. The data from 2016-17 show a steady increase in enrollment from March to September: 3/25/16 = 435; 5/10/16 = 484; 8/14/16 = 534; September opening 2016 = 558.
Updated numbers, some history
YourArlington looked into the numbers following its initial report and learned that the 180 letters were sent Friday, March 30. As of 4 p.m. Thursday, April 5, 42 have said they were not enrolling a child in kindergarten for next September. As of that time, parents have enrolled another 45 children for kindergarten, raising the total to 478 children registered for the Arlington kindergartens.
Marilyn Salvas, the statistician in the school department’s registration office, provided kindergarten enrollment statistics showing increases between March 2016 and 2018:
March 22, 2016: 398
March 22, 2017: 414 +16
March 28, 2018: 433 +19
September opening
2016: 551
2017: 522, a decrease of 29 kindergarten students on first day, but students continued to be in enrolled all fall.
All of these numbers include SLC kindergarten students. The letters stand for Supported Learning Center.
Bodie’s goals
Combining a discussion of her goals with her biweekly report, Bodie began with planning for the Gibbs. She has presented progress about the Gibbs in the past few meetings, and curriculum has taken the most attention. The aim is to design a transitional program by “putting three things together”: the regular sixth-grade curriculum, social-and-emotional learning programs and project-based learning. She suggested that the prospective Gibbs principal, Kristin DeFrancisco, present the curriculum at an April or May School Committee meeting.
Bodie said that her goal of visiting all of the schools has been hampered by the large number of work commitments related to multiple building projects. Committee member Susse suggested the superintendent submit written statements about what had been achieved so far on the goals
No public funds for Gibbs library; benefit planned
Returning to the Gibbs, Bodie said no money has been budgeted to buy books for the library. Fortunately, she announced, David Whitford of Community Education has arranged for his brother Bradley, who had starred in films as well as in the TV series “West Wing,” to provide a public conversation, with all proceeds going to fund the library. The event is set for 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 11, in Lowe Auditorium, Arlington High.
In other business, Chief Financial Officer John Danizio gave reports comparing staffing of the Gibbs and Ottoson Middle School.
Read the numbers here >> He followed with the monthly financial report. See those numbers here >>
He informed the committee that he anticipates no deficit for the 2018 school year.
Starks’s nine years of service celebrated
Member Cindy Starks, at left, who did not seek reelection and attended her last meeting after nine years, was honored. Reading proclamations were state Rep. Sean Garballey and state Sen. Cindy Friedman. Chairman Jeff Thielman awarded her a traditional departing gift, an actual School Committee chair, and each committee member plus the superintendent offered reminiscences.
Following the celebration, the committee voted to appoint Starks to the Vision 2020 Standing Committee.
The committee adjourned for executive session at 8:30 p.m.
This news summary by YourArlington freelancer Jo Anne Preston was published Wednesday, April 4, 2018, and updated April 6, to correct the current kindergarten enrollment number and add background.
