The Mattapoisett School Committee proposed its 2017 budget on March 14. The fiscal year 2016 approved budget was $6,385,750, and the proposed budget increase of $396,485 will set the 2017 proposed budget at $6,782,235. The initial budget increase had been $522,374; however, the committee was able to pare it down by such methods as cutting one kindergarten teacher position.
“We’ve studied the numbers of kindergarten enrollees and found that only three positions are needed,” said School Committee member Carter Hunt.
“On the other hand,” said Center School Principal Rosemary Bowman, “it looks as if we have a sizeable number of first graders and may need an extra teacher in that grade level. However,” she continued, “it will be possible for us to move a teacher already in the school into the first grade instead of hiring someone new.”
School Committee member James Muse asked from where the proposed first grade teacher would be allocated.
“We would look at the other grades and decide which grade would have the smallest classes if we took one teacher away,” Bowman explained.
A sticking point for the next school year calendar emerged during the academic calendar update for 2017.
This year, the draft school calendar for 2016/2017 again proposes to keep Good Friday as a regular school day for a third year in a row.
“I understand that there were quite a few students absent that day,” said School Committee member James Higgins as the committee mulled returning the day to a day off. “We can’t test on that day anyway, because the School Board won’t allow us to, and with so many students absent….”
Hunt offered a different view. “The students can take the day as a religious holiday as their prerogative, but I don’t support taking it off just because we can’t test that day. There are 179 other days for testing during the year.”
Muse added, “I look at it as a day of quality learning. Do we take that day off and add another day at the end of the year, or do we leave that day?”
The committee was unable to come up with a good solution to the issue and moved on to other topics.
Lastly, Bowman reported during her Principal’s Report on the new “Breakfast Program” that began at Center School on February 23. After a four-day trial run, the breakfast was such a hit that the program became a permanent feature effective February 29. The breakfast, which offers such healthy options as cereal, smoothies and fruit, hosts an average of 34 students per day.
The next meeting of the Mattapoisett School Committee is scheduled for April 11 at 7:00 pm in the Center School cafeteria.
By Andrea Ray