The Very Real Effects of the School Budget Cuts

A  preview of the agenda for tonight's Board of Education shows the impact of what the school system is facing with the proposed budget cuts.

Cutting eleven full day kindergarten will result in in a loss of 7,260 hours of instructional time and enrichment activities

 Cutting the textbook budget from $250,00 to $50,000 means no new textbooks for anyone except to cover lost or damaged books and class sets instead of individual books in some classes. Textbooks provided for students who do not own computers.

 Elimination of Technology Education and elimination of French, both only at the middle school level, will mean that fewer students in 7th and 8th grade will have access to World Language and that approximately 6o% of 7th graders will spend an additional marking period in study halls. Approximately 57% of 8th graders will spend an additional marking period in study halls, 6th grade study halls will double from 22 days to 44 days per year and class sizes in 6th grade specials (Media, Guidance, Art, etc) will increase from 25 to 30 students.

 There will also be less common planning for teachers, reduced time to meet with parents during the school day and less time to discuss student needs and teaching strategies.

 Elimination of three teaching positions at the high school in special education and elective areas means reduced service for special needs students, less elective options for students, and increases the number of study halls.

 Elimination of two guidance counselors at the middle school level will change the ratio of students to counselor from 366/1 to 457/1. At the high school level, the student to counselor ratio is currentl 275/1 but will increase to over 300/1, but will still retain all of the college admissions support requirements.

 The elimination of the following administrative positions of Assistant Superintendent, Curriculum Administrator for Fine and Applied Arts, and Administrator for the Reach and Endeavor Programs will result in significantly less day-to-day supervision and support for the district’s technology program and multimillion dollar technological infrastructure.

 There will be less ongoing supervision of special education services and programs, less supervision and guidance for art, music, business education, family and consumer science, health, physical education, guidance and counseling and alternative programs for expelled and administratively placed students. There will also be less art/music, psychological and support services for elementary students.

 By cutting Professional Development from $130,000 to $34,000 all offsite conference attendance and workshop participation will be eliminated. There will be reduced training and development and research materials will be reduced to emergency materials only.

 Class size guidelines of 22 for Kindergarten/First Grade and 25 for Second Grade through Fifth Grade may have to increase depending on the percent of increase in the overall student population and some courses at the high school level will not be offered if they require additional staffing or if they have limited enrollment.