It is not a level service budget per se, if you compare it to last fiscal year, but the FY16 ‘better school budget’ could be considered level service if one takes into account the growing student body at ORR.

With class size already a concern of the Old Rochester Regional School Committee, the projected increase in student population at the high school next year is expected to exceed 800 for the first time, further driving up class sizes and pushing some teachers beyond their contractual maximum student caseload.

“Seven-hundred has always been considered healthy,” said ORRHS Principal Mike Devoll on March 3. “Eight-hundred scares me.”

In the current 2014-2015 school year, according to Devoll, the average class size is 24.9; “extremely large,” as Devoll described it.

Since 2008, student population has increased steadily by 16.2%, while teaching staff has been reduced by 9.9%. The average caseload for teachers is 119, and the high school currently has 32 classes with 28 or more students enrolled.

“Ultimately,” said Devoll, “something has to give.”

The FY16 budget proposes adding two new English teachers for two additional sections of English to keep class sizes, currently at 23.6 students per class, steady at 22.4.

During the last joint meeting of the School Committees, committee members favored Devoll’s proposed addition of two new intervention skill-based math classes to help bridge the gap created by the transition from junior to high school, which has had a negative impact on MCAS scores.

“You can’t run those classes with class sizes the way they are now,” said Devoll.

Also proposed are one additional health class and a 0.4 teaching position for American Sign Language, which has been added to the foreign language curriculum as the school phases out French. Devoll said 41 students who otherwise would not fulfill the two-year foreign language college entry requirement have expressed interest in taking sign language.

In addition, two sections of physical education are included in the budget while specialist courses remain at level service.

The student population at the junior high is predicted to decrease slightly, as long as the committee votes to forego school choice slots a second year in a row. Last year, committee members voted not to offer any school choice slots out of concern for class sizes that climbed to an average of 28.

This budget proposes two new seventh-grade teaching positions and the addition of a new seventh-grade “mini-team” alongside the red and blue teams, to reduce class size to an average of 22.

Superintendent Doug White said lower class sizes in both schools would provide “more airtime” for students and a better chance for teachers to monitor and facilitate students’ progress.

“There’s a big difference between teaching 18 students and … 24, 25 students,” said White.

The only change in the specialist category is an increase in the library position from a 0.6 to a 1.0 position. White said the librarian could be available to more students as she takes on more of a media and technology teaching role.

A 35% increase in the demand for supplies funding also reflects the increased needs of a growing student body.

The cutting back of school choice, said White, has the potential to affect the budget over the next two years because of the loss of revenue to the tune of $120,000. The School Committee has not yet voted on whether or not to offer school choice slots to seventh grade for next year.

Total town assessment with this proposed budget of $17,269,113 – less transportation reimbursement and revenue – is at $13,993,254 and is broken down as follows: Marion – $4,230,738; Mattapoisett – $5,056,460; and Rochester – $4,706,056.

The Old Rochester Regional School Committee met again on March 11, after The Wanderer went to print, in order to vote on school choice.

By Jean Perry

Despite winter weather, senior spring traditions have begun at Tabor Academy. On Monday, March 2, Tabor seniors attended the annual 100 Days Dinner, which marks the beginning of the countdown to graduation.

Although its name tells otherwise, the seniors celebrated the beginning of the end of their time at Tabor with even less than 100 days to go due to the convenience of having this dinner on the 2^nd.

The event was one that the seniors had been looking forward to for some time. This annual dinner is a bit different every year, in that it is personalized to each senior class. The students voted earlier in the year on the theme of this dinner, which involved unique decorations and costumes. This year, a luau theme was chosen and the seniors dressed in leis, Hawaiian shirts, sunglasses, flip-flops, and other luau-themed costumes.

Parents decorated the room and played music to suit the theme. The meal was inspired by this theme as well, including many fruity ingredients. More parents volunteered to provide food and raffle prizes. In this raffle, some lucky seniors won gift cards to local establishments and restaurants.

Senior Samantha Benedict especially enjoyed this theme.

“It was nice to get away from all the snow for a little bit, and it got us ready for spring break,” said Benedict.

Class President Caroline Shaunessy is excited that this event “is the first of a bunch of stuff that is going to happen for the seniors.”

Shaunessy found the class dinner to be successful because it helped make the “class closer and more cohesive,” which sets the tone for the remainder of the school year.

The dinner ended with a slideshow created by senior Francesca Ward, with photos of students together throughout their time at Tabor.

In the coming months, seniors will have more rites of passage, such as prom and, of course, graduation. Twenty-eight of the seniors will begin senior projects after they return from break, dedicating much of their school day to a unique personal endeavor that they will work on for the final quarter of school.

Senior breakfast is an event that is new this year and will be another senior tradition. This will be another opportunity after spring break for the seniors to spend time together as a class.

For Gwen McCain, the dinner was, “a great time to reflect on all of the fun we’ve had in the past four years.”

By Julia O’Rourke

Starting on April 9, the ORR Drama Club will be putting on their final production of the year – an adaptation of the classic musical Sweeney Todd, based on the famous urban legend. The play runs through Sunday, April 12, and as always, is directed by Paul Sardinha.

Juniors Kyle Costa and Emily Faulkner play the lead roles of Sweeney Todd and his accomplice, Mrs. Lovett. The play also stars juniors Victor Morrison, Lexi Melloni, and Holly Frink, and seniors Michael Amato and Isaiah Kidney.

For Costa, Sweeney Todd will be a production he will always remember.

“This is one of my favorite plays,” said Costa. “It’s so cool taking on the lead role, and it’s different than anything I’ve ever done in drama.”

The role is truly different, one of the most unique that Drama Club audiences will be treated to this year. Kyle describes his role as “a man charged for a crime he didn’t commit, who escapes prison, and becomes a murderer.”

The best thing about Sweeney Todd, in his opinion, is the play’s genre.

“[The best thing about the play is] the fact that it’s a dark comedy,” said Costa. “Without spoiling anything, there’s moments when you’ll be laughing, and there’s moments when you’ll be gripping your seat.”

Fellow star Emily Faulkner has a special connection to the play.

“This is really special to me, because I’m playing the lead role in my dad and grandmother’s favorite show,” Faulkner said.

When asked if her role as Mrs. Lovett was one of her favorites, she said, “It’s the most fun I’ve had with a character, but also the most trying.”

Mrs. Lovett is the lead character in the play, opposite Sweeney Todd. According to Emily, “She is in love with Mr. Todd, and is willing to do anything for him, including feeding into his psychotic killing spree.”

Like Costa, Faulkner received the part she auditioned for, and it seems that both actors are adjusting well into their demanding roles.

Evan Roznoy is used to being one the Drama Club’s main on-stage talents. The junior has a penchant for acting, but for the production of Sweeney Todd, he’ll be trying his hand at something new.

“I’m working as a follow spot,” Roznoy explained. “I’ll be operating the spotlights and following the actors around onstage.” Roznoy saw the opportunity to be on the crew as a great way to experience a new part of the Drama Club.

“In my decision to be a stagehand, I really just wanted to try something new,” said Roznoy. “Being a lead can sometimes be overwhelming, but I wanted to be involved in Drama Club in any way possible,” he said.

He is excited to see the action unfold on stage, however, as he commended the selection of Sweeney Todd for the Spring Musical.

“It’s got a really dark atmosphere, so we had to get it approved and do a toned-down version,” Roznoy said. “It has lighter elements, but it’s definitely not a feel-good play.”

As far as this school year goes, Roznoy’s best memories were made during the winter production of It’s A Wonderful Life. He played the lead role of Mr. Potter in that production, and he commented that it was “great to see the audience’s reaction to such an empowering character.”

Coming on the heels of the Drama Club’s teaser performance at the Winter Pep Rally, anticipation is building for Sweeney Todd. The cast is really gelling, the crew is working hard, and the play should be another entry in a long line of successes for the Drama Club. Be sure to catch Sweeney Todd in the ORRHS auditorium when it opens on April 9.

By Patrick Briand