As overall September enrollment had its downs and ups, the School Committee discussed the issue’s impact and attempted to address the size of Bishop’s second grade.
While predicted enrollment declined by “around 30 students,” as the school department found children who have moved out of the district over the summer, Superintendent Kathy Bodie told the School Committee that overall enrollment has grown by a least 220 from last year.
As of the Thursday, Sept. 27, the official numbers for enrollment were not yet known, but preliminary ones were, and you can see them here >>
District enrollment is based on the official Oct. 1 numbers, which are expected to be sent to the state in mid-November.
As of the Sept. 13 School Committee meeting, the public schools had seen an increase of 206 students over last year, as total opening-day enrollment stood at 5,684 students.
Back to Sept. 27, Bodie said the class sizes at the Bishop “are a little bit higher” than they should be. “We are looking at how we can get more support there.”
Morgan: What’s trigger point?
Noting the challenge, she cited the problem in hiring additional teaching assistants as “a lot of” such positions remain unfilled. She was not more specific.
Committee member Jane Morgan asked what was the trigger point leading to hiring an additional teaching assistant at Bishop. Bodie responded: “When starting getting to 26 [the number in one Bishop second grade], that is definitely a trigger.”
As to Bishop, Bodie added there could not be a teaching assistant for every classroom, and she was “not sure we can do that but for that grade.” There would be two adults in each classroom at all times, she said.
Morgan responded by pointing out special-education teaching assistants should not be counted, as they will be busy addressing the needs of a specific child. She asked that teaching assistants in the classroom be general education. Bodie offered that the building teaching assistant was often in second- grade classrooms.
More space?
Committee member Bill Hayner commented that “having a T.A. assigned to three classrooms was not the same as having a full-time teacher.” He recommended the superintendent look into the possibility of more space for a classroom.
Morgan emphasized the need for planning. She asked: “If we need to add another classroom, where is it going to go? What is the space plan for each school?” Bodie replied, “If we need more space at the Bishop, we would take the music or art room, probably the music room.”
In the meantime, committee member Len Kardon said he also would want an additional classroom teaching assistant for the Bishop second grade. Chair Kirsi Allison-Ampe closed the discussion: “We are past the study point for the Bishop second grade and are in the action point.” No motion was offered.
Building updates: Gibbs open house, AHS rebuild
Bodie reported that the renovated Gibbs School will be open for a ribbon-cutting ceremony and an open house for the community from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21. Details here >>
So far, she said, the building has been without issues, save some water in the vestibule, which was quickly remedied.
Committee member Jeff Thielman reported on the September 24th forum on the high school building project. Costs and the elimination of the front lawn were among the most frequent concerns. He explained the budget was yet to be finalized but the addition of administrative offices in the high school explains some of the additional cost. As for the lawn, he reported that the committee was “looking for ways to have a front lawn.”
Bodie responded that the projected $308 million cost was “the high water mark.” The actual cost will not be known until the design is finished.
Committee member Thielman announced that the next forum about the Arlington High School project, 7 p.m. Oct. 24 at Town Hall, will focus on design, including the facade. Details >>
He also said there would be a tour of the high school in December for Town Meeting members. At the moment, he forecast that the final townwide, public vote on the high school would be in June. At the same time, he cautioned, “In the final design, not everyone is going to get everything they want.”
In other business, the committee heard reports on summer building maintenance and capital-planning requests.
Change of meeting night discussed
They also discussed district goals and the possible change of the School Committee meeting night, from Thursday to Tuesday.
The matter was raised at the Sept. 13 session. Hayner suggested Tuesday because the school department arranges parent meetings and other school functions on Thursdays.
Still, Hayner stated the school department could schedule these meetings around the biweekly School Committee meetings and was concerned that it does not. Chair Allison-Ampe pointed out that two School Committee members are on the Arlington High School rebuild committee, which meets on Tuesday nights. Changing the night to Tuesday would not be possible for the foreseeable future, she pointed out.
The School Committee met for years on Tuesday nights until it changed its meeting policy in 2014.
School meals
They also discussed issues involving school meals. Kardon brought up the new state requirement that the meal-charge policy needs to be accessible to the public by Oct. 1. The policy includes a stipulation that if a student does not have money in his or her account, the student can still get a full lunch.
The committee voted unanimously to place the policy on the website for now and refer the current school-lunch policy to the policy subcommittee for further discussion.
The committee adjourned for a closed session to conduct strategy with union and nonunion personnel at 8:40 p.m.
Sept. 25, 2018: AHS rebuild update: Some urge more green; $308M called top cost
Sept. 19, 2018: With enrollment ‘exploding,’ committee moves to update 2015 report
June 13, 2018: Growing enrollment pushes Bodie to add classrooms
This news summary by YourArlington freelancer Jo Anne Preston was published Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2018.
