Mattapoisett School Committee Chairman James Higgins said March 9 that he will not budge on his opposition to offering further school choice slots, even saying that he would be disappointed and upset if the committee were to offer slots for next year, especially at the kindergarten level.
After a lengthy discussion that went back and forth between both sides, it appears Higgins is outnumbered by other committee members hoping to offer two slots. With a vote withheld until next month, it is unclear at which grade levels the committee would offer the slots, if they do at all.
Superintendent Doug White had hoped the committee would take action that evening in order to hold the lottery earlier in the school year and alert parents sooner, since late announcements in the past have resulted in some of the school choice slots not being filled. Currently, three of the six slots previously offered are filled with students from other towns.
White said his recommendation was to offer two slots at the kindergarten level so students could enjoy the benefit of seven full years of the Mattapoisett curriculum. Administration projects an enrollment of 60 kindergarten students for the 2015-2016 school year, although White said that was just their best ‘guesstimate.’
But with three teachers assigned to the kindergarten level, Higgins said his concern was increased class sizes during what he considers vital years in education.
“I believe our number one priority is the education of the children of Mattapoisett,” said Higgins. He said too many students in a kindergarten classroom “… doesn’t seem to be providing the ideal education, the ultimate education.”
Higgins suggested asking the Town to consider allowing a fourth kindergarten teacher into the fiscal year 2016 budget to bring class sizes down, since there are currently four teachers in all the other grades in the district.
“I would vote against adding any new … students in order to ensure that each Mattapoisett student is ensured the best and most attention, quality education that we could do,” said Higgins. “It’s our primary role and responsibility.”
School Committee member James Muse “respectfully disagreed.”
“It’s a positive program overall,” said Muse. He asked Higgins to look at the big picture, consider the revenue it generates for the district, and appreciate the diversity it brings to the student body. “I’d really like to see two students come in,” said Muse.
School Committee member Charles Motta agreed with Muse, as did member Patrick Leclair.
They weighed the options: one student in kindergarten and one in first grade? Two slots for first grade? Higgins said that class size was not his only concern, but also the additional support school choice students might require. He also alluded to other issues such as behavioral issues saying, “The potential for a negative impact that a student can bring with whatever needs they have…. We own that whole ball of wax.” He added, “They (school choice students) might not be included socially.”
Higgins further stated that the first-class reading program Mattapoisett schools offers might attract those struggling students, and they might pull valuable resources away from Mattapoisett students.
“There are a lot of ‘mights’ in there,” Muse told Higgins. Muse said you could never have the guarantee that will not happen, but he had faith in the district’s staff and told Higgins, “We are adding a little extra mix to say, ‘hey, we don’t live in a vacuum.’”
Higgins said, “If it affects one kid, then it’s not worth it.”
The chairman conceded that neither he nor Muse were going to change their minds between this meeting and next month’s meeting, but committee members agreed to hold off on taking action so they could consider it further and gather more data if it becomes available.
White asked if he should move forward with the idea of approaching the Town to fund a fourth kindergarten teacher.
“I’d like to push the Town,” said Higgins. “Ask nicely, politely,” Higgins corrected himself. “If class sizes dip low, then that’s a good thing. We may not get it … [but] if we could convince them to get a fourth section … we wouldn’t have to come back and worry about variables next year.”
Also during the meeting, Principal Rose Bowman and the superintendent presented the FY16 budget totaled at $6,331,625, which reflects a $129,679, or 2.1 percent, increase from FY15.
White said he was concerned about the governor’s budget just released that could potentially cut funding for the recently established full-day kindergarten program. He said the reasoning behind the cut is the increased Chapter 70 funding towns receive as a result of the full-day kindergarten. According to White, cuts in kindergarten reimbursement could change how the district funds the program.
“We are certainly hoping that they do not withdraw this grant,” said Assistant Superintendent Elise Frangos, adding that she has also seen some cuts to grants she secured during previous years. “And they are kind of foreshadowing that they might not be offering the full-day kindergarten funding next year.”
Frangos said they do not know that it is “game over” for the district at this time, but the school districts should consider the possibility when building budgets.
The next meeting of the Mattapoisett School Committee is scheduled for April 13 at 7:00 pm in the Center School cafeteria.
By Jean Perry
