The Marion School District is seeking to adjust two staffing positions at Sippican School, Principal Lyn Rivet told the Marion School Committee during the fiscal year 2016 budget public hearing on March 4.

The proposed budget – totaling $5,774,987 and up by $166,722 or 2.97% from FY15 – includes an increase in the vice principal position from part-time to full-time, as well as an increase in enrichment instruction that would bring the position back up to a 1.0 position after it was reduced in FY15.

According to Rivet, a full-time assistant principal is vital as a role in assisting with the new teacher evaluation system, and would reinforce school and student safety.

“And enrichment,” said Rivet. “It’s that opportunity to service our top learners … and bring that flex wheel back to our students who need to be stretched.”

The rest of the budget remains level service, reflecting increases in areas such as professional staff, up $51,400, with the assistant principal contributing $46,000.

Also driving the budget are contractual agreements, increased utility rates, and an increase in special education services. Special education is up $150,479, an 8.4% increase from FY15.

Superintendent Doug White said the total FY16 budget increase could prove more palatable to the Marion Finance Committee if the district could receive special education circuit breaker funds from the State to offset some of those anticipated costs. White also added that the district has a revolving account that it could dip into if it had to.

“I believe that number to the Town will be reduced once we come up with a reasonable circuit breaker to reduce those costs,” White said.

Also during the meeting, Chairman Joseph Scott and committee member Jay Pateakos announced they would not be seeking reelection this year.

“We definitely would like some new blood on the committee … and keep us moving in the right direction,” said Scott.

Assistant Superintendent Dr. Elise Frangos congratulated White on completing his dissertation that week, saying, “I know how challenging it can be…. It’s a huge accomplishment, so I’m delighted to call him Dr. White.”

“Well, I’m still calling him Doug,” Scott said, eliciting laughter.

The next meeting of the Marion School Committee is scheduled for April 1 at 6:30 pm at the Marion Town House.

By Jean Perry

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

A property owner looking to divide his property into three lots under an eventual Approval Not Required application first met with the Rochester Planning Board on Tuesday, March 10 seeking guidance on roadway alterations and safety.

Bill Goodman of 70 Parlowtown Road, a continuing gravel road at the end of Dexter Road, wants to divide his roughly 12 acres into three lots, leaving his residence with seven acres and creating two buildable lots of about two acres each.

Goodman said his 15-foot gravel drive is an ‘ancient way,’ which would be exempt from the Town’s bylaw regulating dead end roads.

Goodman’s plan includes widening the gravel way that continues after his house to accommodate the two new lots and adding a hammerhead turnaround at the end.

“The thought is that … keeping it a gravel road,” said Goodman, “would keep that backwoods-type feeling of the area. It’s very wooded and reserved back there.”

Planning Board Chairman Arnold Johnson said Goodman would essentially need documentation that the drive is, in fact, an ancient way and proof of the formation of a homeowners association to assign responsibility of the private road’s maintenance to the homeowners.

Goodman’s plan will also require a nod from the Fire Department for safety before the ANR application is granted. Johnson said lately the Fire Department has favored an 18-foot drive over Goodman’s existing 15-foot drive.

Johnson said he would check with town counsel as to how Goodman should proceed with a maintenance agreement for the private way so Goodman could advance in the application process.

Also during the meeting, Town Planner Mary Crain updated the board on her recent site plan technical review with Blue Wave Capital Solar for its plan to build a solar energy facility off Braley Hill Road.

Crain said a concern over rear access behind the proposed solar arrays is sending the engineers back to the drawing board to rework the plan to make improvements for emergency and fire access.

“And of course this has to go before the ZBA for change of use,” said Johnson. “They can run that application concurrently with ours as they’ve done in the past.”

The matter will not appear before the Planning Board until the snow melts for flagging of the wetlands and other aspects of Blue Wave Capital Solar’s plan.

In other matters, Crain said the mailing to invite residents living within and near the Limited Commercial District to a public forum to discuss the proposed bylaw amendments is about ready to be mailed out.

The board has set the date for Saturday, March 28. In addition to the mailing, the forum notice will be posted and publically announced in a press release in local publications.

Before adjourning, the board briefly discussed a 166-acre property on Snipatuit Road for sale with areas of the property subject to regulations under the Mattapoisett River Valley District, the Rochester Groundwater Protection District, and the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program.

The Town of Rochester has the right of first refusal on the land, which prompted Planning Board member Susan Teal to suggest forwarding the matter to the Rochester Lands Trust for consideration. The Town has 120 days to consider purchasing the land for conservation.

The next meeting of the Rochester Planning Board is scheduled for March 23 at 7:00 pm at the Rochester Town Hall.

By Jean Perry