IPSWICH — Last night, it was the Ipswich Finance Committee's turn to hear emotional parents urge it to lend its support to a $1.5 million school operating budget override.
That, however, was not on the agenda, though some of the well over 100 parents in the Performing Arts Center were allowed to speak their piece. Most of them also spoke up at an earlier School Committee hearing on next year's budget, and they came with scripted remarks.
One who didn't was Bailey Street resident Suzanne Benfield. One of the things the override would restore is the musical instrument instruction in the fourth grade at the town's two elementary schools, and Benfield said it was crucial.
She said she and her husband were fortunate enough to be able to provide private music lessons for their children, but understand not everyone can do that.
"I'm concerned about the erosion of the level playing field," Benfield said, "where only a select few will have the opportunity to explore other interests."
Broadway Avenue resident Mary Harmon is a high school teacher in the Manchester Essex school system. She said when she moved to Ipswich 11 years ago, "There was no question in my mind I choice my kids to Manchester Essex."
But as she got to know the Ipswich school system, she changed her mind and has been very happy to have her children enrolled in her new hometown. Until now, with program and teacher cuts and ever-growing fees for formerly free programs, Harmon said she's beginning to question her decision.
"What's next?" she asked. "Are we going to charge an entrance fee? This is supposed to be public education."
What was on last night's agenda was a public hearing on the fiscal 2009 budgets for Doyon and Winthrop Elementary schools. In comparison to some previous years, the school principals faced milder questioning from Finance Committee members.
There was only one testy moment. Committee member Michael Scharff wanted to know why the special education budget at Doyon is down slightly next year while the same budget at Winthrop is up significantly, about 15 percent.
Principal Sheila Smith-McAdams' answer, "We meet the needs of the students we have," didn't satisfy Scharff, so he pressed the issue.
As she came out from behind the podium, Smith-McAdams said she didn't want to dance around the question.
"Then stop dancing," Scharff said.
"I don't like to sort out special education because it doesn't make any difference," Smith-McAdams said, and if kids with special needs show up at the door, they'll be accommodated, whatever it takes.
Special Services Director Diana Minton said she had a one-word explanation.
"Autism," she said. When she began working, she anticipated dealing with one student with autism in her entire career.
"One in 150 people have autism today," Minton said.
Committee members voiced the most concern about fourth- and fifth-grade class sizes in both schools. Because of teacher layoffs that were necessary to balance next year's budget, Doyon Principal Ken Cooper is projecting there will be 24 to 25 students in each fourth-grade classroom and 26 in grade five.
Smith-McAdams is forecasting 27 to 28 kids in fourth-grade classes and 23 to 24 in fifth grade.
"The question I have is about the fourth-grade problem and what could be done about it," Finance Committee Chairman Rob White said. "There's probably not much that can be done about it"
"Support the override," was School Committee member Jeff Loeb's quick response, and it drew applause.
