Four Teachers, Second-Grade Strings Cut

The Board of Education cut five positions from its budget Saturday morning to reduce its proposed operating budget by $450,000 and its capital expenditures by $40,000, as required by the Town Council.

Throughout the budget process, the board has reduced its proposed budget by $1.4 million - carefully, to keep students from being directly impacted by the loss of teachers and programs. Saturday, making an additional $450,000 in cuts, that was no longer possible, Superintendent Kathleen Greider said.

“These are deep and very difficult cuts,” she said. “We are now changing the school district once more after several years [of cuts] and it will change outcomes.”

Bill Beckert echoed Town Council members’ sentiments, saying the defeat of the referendum and the low voter turnout indicate the town is asking for a change.

“The Board of Ed itself has not changed the school district,” Beckert said. The people who vote have decided what they want the school district to look like."

The changes will include the loss of the second-grade strings program across all elementary schools, affecting 300 students. The program was reduced last year, causing scheduling problems. Next year’s total elimination will result in the loss of the teacher.

During the public comment period, parent and Friends of Music President Pam Fisher urged the board not to cut the program, citing research indicating that music training promotes brain development, I.Q., math, science and social skills. Several board members objected and three voted against the motion.

One fifth-grade teacher and one sixth-grade teacher position at West Woods Upper Elementary School were eliminated, causing class sizes to be increased. The board had made a similar move a few years ago and later restored the position. Fisher, whose son had been at West Woods during the change said it was difficult but manageable.

A French teacher position at Farmington High School was eliminated. The reduction of one of the 11 foreign language teachers means students who already study Spanish will not be able to take French as an elective. It is also expected to increase class sizes for French students. Though Greider said it’s only a small number of students who opt to begin French study at the high school, it again cuts the number of electives offered.

“We’ve taken the electives away over the last three years … and increased the number of students sitting in study halls and leaving early. That has crept up to an uncomfortable level for a district like Farmington, that wants their students in class, engaged and learning,” she said.

The board rejected an increase in pay-to-participate fees, but did reduce the Irving Robbins late bus by one day. Chairman Mary Grace Reed said the administration would look at what day should be eliminated and try to realign afterschool programs to days when the bus would be available.

A retirement in the custodial staff will allow the board to reduce one position without making a layoff. In the Board of Education central office, a receptionist’s hours will be reduced.

Finally, Greider said the district would be able to save a few thousand dollars by filling the director of special services and IAR principal positions at slightly lower salaries.

Business Administrator Mike Ryan was also able to save the district an additional $22,761 through a regional contract for copier services.

At the beginning of the meeting, Greider had compiled a list of options for the board to cut, totaling $679,000. The board moved to eliminate many of the items on her list and added a few.

Melanie Meehan made a motion to reduce the professional development budget by $20,000 for this year only, which was approved 4-3.

Money allotted for technology improvements totaling $150,000 was shifted over to the capital expenditures. To meet the mandated cut to capital, the board decided to push back completion of its wireless plan for another year. The improvements include replacement of 8 – 12-year-old computers.

“We’re left with nothing left but to make these cuts and pray that this budget passes,” Beckert said. “We are at level three cuts, this is it. The next round, God forbid, is certainly catastrophic.”

The Board of Education will be at the second Annual Town Meeting Monday at 7 p.m. at Farmington High School to answer questions on the budget.