By Cate Lecuyer
Staff writer
April 10, 2008 09:36 am BEVERLY — Public criticism of his proposal to reorganize the school district prompted Superintendent James Hayes to lay out an alternative, which includes across-the-board cuts to staff and programs — including the elimination of athletics. He posted on the central office's Web site answers to many questions that have emerged in the community, and then responded to one of his own: If not this, then what? In order to come up with a balanced budget that preserves all six elementary schools and keeps class size limits between 25 and 30 students, Hayes' initial conversations with the School Committee included drastic cuts to programs. "We'd all go, 'Oh my God, no,' and he'd say, 'Well, what do you want me to do?'" said School Committee President Annemarie Cesa in an interview after last night's committee meeting. In Hayes' letter outlining the likely consequences of not adopting his redistricting plan, he said art, music, gym and library services would be eliminated in all the elementary schools. In addition, all five foreign languages taught at Briscoe Middle School would be slashed, and students would have more study halls and less classroom time. Athletics, which 33 percent of students participate in, would cease to exist. "This plan erodes at our basic level of programming, and it was discounted," Cesa said at last night's meeting. However, parents have already weighed in against Hayes' current proposal. That plan would cut 61 employees, including a team of teachers at Briscoe, and consolidate the city's six public elementary schools by turning Cove into an early childhood education center and McKeown into an alternative secondary school for special education students. Cove and McKeown's students would be scattered throughout the city's remaining elementary schools. Though the plan is unpopular, Hayes has said it, or a potentially less palatable alternative, is necessary in order to close a $2.6 million gap between spending and expected revenue in next year's school budget. If the redistricting plan is taken off the table, Hayes' recommendations include: r Cut all art, music, gym and library in the elementary schools. Would result in loss of a planning period for teachers, and the change in working conditions would affect bargaining with the teachers union. One way to address the loss in planning time is to have an early release of students one day a week. Savings: $1.2 million r Cut two technology teaching positions for $77,604 and five foreign language positions for $279,484 at Briscoe. Would result in shortened day, and students would spend more time in study halls. Savings: $357,088 r Cut seven teaching/administrative positions at the high school. Courses would be cut, class sizes would increase, and altering elements of graduation requirements would need to be considered. Savings: $350,000 r Eliminate all athletics. The district pays $485,613, but a private effort to fund athletics would cost $569,697. Savings: $485,613 r Cut additional staff and administration for district programs Savings: $303,463 Total savings: $2.6 million><p>
—
Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.