(Shout Outs are collected throughout the week from members of the school and greater community.)
I went to the Grade 5 “Timeline of America Day” this week. It is evident that a huge amount of work and passion goes into this event! All our students did an amazing job and I want to Shout Out to two students in particular. Thank you Javriel Guzman from Ms. Connor’s class for sharing his new knowledge on the Negro Baseball League and Jackie Robinson. I loved our conversation and Javriel’s perspective on why Black Men had to create their own league. Joshua Halmen, from Ms. Valorz’s class, shared information on William Bradford and the Jamestown settlement. I was surprised to learn that Mr. Bradford had spent time in jail!
Our Softball and Baseball Teams are moving forward in the respective playoff runs! This is very exciting! Thank you to the coaches and parents for all they do to develop wonderful scholar athletes!
Our employees who won the “Over the Top” raffle last week are:
- Anne Goodwin
- Olivia Alford
- Donna Robbins
- Lisa Spencer
- MaryEllen Russell
Updates
Budget Updates. Below is an email I shared with staff Thursday morning prior to the budget presentation and I want to share it with the greater community.
Mr. Cassidy and I are presenting the School Year 2025 Budget to the School Committee and town tonight. Developing this budget was very challenging and the impact is significant. We worked diligently with the town and reduced the 2024 budget 1.5% which was half of what they initially told we needed to do. We reduced the staffing by approximately 25 positions (including the pre-failed override budget) which had a direct impact on 8 people’s full time positions and others in terms of stipend reductions.
We also reduced the budget by operational costs including Curriculum expenses which the town graciously worked with us to find an alternative funding source.
Here is some information that will be shared tonight.
This is the breakdown of positions being reduced in the new 2025 budget:
- 3 Administrators include the Secondary Special Ed Coordinator, Elementary Curriculum Coordinator and the food Service Director
- GEA Positions ( 11 previously cut ) 2 additional reductions include an Adjustment Counselor and a .8 Mandarin
- GEA Stipend positions include Dept, Heads, Lead Teachers and Guidance Director
- GESA Positions (2 previous ) including 2 Literacy Tutors, and 2 secretaries
- Other Positions include the part-time HR Generalist, a building substitute and an IT position
There is some movement in positions as well:
- Kate Donlin is currently the Elementary Curriculum Coordinator and will be an Assistant Principal at Penn Brook
- Hope Doran is an Assistant Principal at Penn Brook and will take the role of Assistant Principal at the Middle School.
We are continuing with the Lower and Upper elementary model, limiting shared staff at the Middle and High School with strengthening the middle school to create its own identity and the 9th grade Academy Model.
We are not reducing AP classes and, in fact, are adding AP Physics and bringing AP Biology back as an in-person class for the 2025 school year with an average class size of approximately 18.
As most of you are aware, student electives are fun each semester/year based on student interest. The HS Team is working with a master scheduler to include most, if not all, electives in the schedule for next year. The average class size of electives is also approximately 18.
No matter how thoughtful, deliberate and cautious we are in reducing the budget to the level needed, there is always an impact on our students and staff. Please know that none of the decisions that were made were easy or without considerable deliberation and thought. I have the full confidence that our teachers, administrators and support staff will work together to ensure that our students receive what they need to grow.
The budget is posted on the website if you would like to review it.