School Officials Concerned About Budget Cuts

Schools officials in Lynnfield are concerned about programming cuts if town officials fail to raise the district’s budget by 5.6 percent—following the recommendation of Superintendent Robert Hassett.

The Board of Selectmen asked the School Committee for an increase of no more than 2 percent. Hassett’s proposal sits at a 5.6 percent increase, about $993,000 more than this year’s budget.

The superintendent said the increases in his proposal would include $60,000 for staffing technology, $54,000 for a math position to lessen overcrowding in the middle school and a $64,000 item for a special education teacher and aid at the middle school.

Last week, Hassett told the School Committee about some potential reduction ideas that he and his leadership team have gathered.

“There will also be significant challenges in the working conditions of teachers,” he said. “I would expect that some of these items that are on here might potentially lead to impact bargaining.”  

Lynnfield High School Principal Robert Cleary and Middle School Principal Stephen Ralston spoke about the successes and challenges facing their respective schools.

Cleary said interscholastic athletics serve as a positive outlet for many students and that budget cuts could negatively affect that experience for students. He spoke proudly about several LHS teachers who participate in professional development workshops.

“One of the pluses for us at the high school [is] a lot of the Salem State [University] collaborative portions are brought here at the high school,” he said.

A 2 percent increase in the budget would be a dollar amount of $356,000 over last year’s budget, Hassett said. “That is a a difference of $637,000 dollars from where we’re at right now,” he added/

Ralston informed the committee that enrollment in the Middle School is expected to increase for next school year. Currently, the Middle School has 775 students; this number is expected to increase in the fall. “Anything we do to decrease class size is a step in the right direction,” Ralston added. 

“Next year we are looking to enhance our foreign language instruction and incorporating some culture and geography into the units,” Ralston added.

Summer Street School Principal Jane Tremblay and Huckleberry Hill School Principal Brian Bemiss presented joint presentations regarding the elementary schools. Tremblay spoke about the importance of having teacher’s aids in the classroom and explained that co-teaching is helpful with assessment practices. The elementary school principals spoke about the usefulness of art and music as a creative outlet for elementary age students.

Additionally, Presser informed the committee and the audience about two education conferences that she attended recently in Washington, D.C. During one conference U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan spoke. Presser also met an LHS grad Shay Fitzpatrick, who is an aid for U.S. Senator Scott Brown.

The next School Committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 8, 7 p.m. at the High School Media Center. 

Download the movie