Upcoming meetings:
Advisory Committee Public
Hearing:
Wednesday, 2/8 at 7:00 pm at Wellesley
Free
Library.
On the Agenda: Public comment on Town-wide
Operating Budgets, including the school budget.
Attendance at this Hearing is critical to show
support
for the School budget.
School Committee:
Tuesday, 2/14 at 7:30 pm at WHS library. On the
agenda: FY07 Operating Budget review continues;
High School Project Plan; and Art, Library and
Music: The impact on
Curriculum of Dedicated Space
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| PUBLIC HEARING ON WEDNESDAY |
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ATTENDANCE IS CRITICAL TO DEMONSTRATE
SUPPORT OF THE WPS BUDGET. Even if you
do not plan to voice your opinion, your attendance
will speak volumes.
The Advisory Committee Public Hearing will
be on Wednesday, February 8th (7:00 - 8:00pm at
the
Wellesley Free Library). This is the point at which
the Advisory Committee opens the floor to residents
who want to make public comment about articles
currently listed for review at Town Meeting --- this is
our town government at it's best. The positions
taken by Advisory Committee are seriously
considered and respected by Town Meeting
Members.
Article 8 is the WPS Operating Budget.
Article 23 presents the modular classrooms
to be constructed at Fiske and Schofield. The
capacity constraints of the system are felt most
strongly in these two schools. To ensure curriculum
equity and to mitigate pressure across the system,
seven modular classrooms have been proposed.
We encourage you to attend and participate
in this forum of public opinion.
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| Budget Cuts: The Pressure is High |
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This evening, School Committee heard a
proposal from the Administration outlining $475,000 in
cuts to the FY07 operating budget.
This was in response to discussion at the
Interboard Working Group meeting last week at which
all town department budgets were reviewed. Due to
the magnitude of the budget overage this year (the
amount of expenses which exceeds the expected
revenue increases), there is intense pressure on all
boards to critically review expenses. All Town
Boards, including School Committee, were asked to
scrutinize budgets for potential cuts. To this end,
School Committee requested that the WPS
administration prioritize items for potential cuts.
After much discussion at the meeting
tonight, School Committee segregated the proposed
cuts into two general categories:
Willing to consider
(vote to be next week):
- Asst. Librarian (elementary)
- Library books (all schools)
- Partial reduction of labs (WHS)
- Attendance clerk (WHS)
- Professional development
- Custodian (WHS)
- Increased athletic fees (to $150 per season per
sport)
- Increased parking fees ($180 to $250)
Reluctant to cut:
- WHS Industrial Arts program
- Grade 6 teacher
- WHS Librarian
Further, there is a reduction in the
anticipated utility expense amounting to $113,000 for
the coming year.
Lastly, the School Committee plans to
review the Capital Budget to identify potential items
for deferral.
The current budget conditions force a
rigorous review of expenses. While doing so, School
Committee has stood by its stated position
of "drawing the line at [cuts impacting] class size
and programming."
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| WHS - Project Plan in Progress |
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Also on the agenda this evening: The High School
Project.
School Committee reviewed the status
including: the process to date, the FAC
recommendations, community concerns and
comments identified at the Community Forums, an
update on MSBA (state-reimbursement), and the
proposed action plan.
School Committee is currently planning to
vote on a High School Building Option on either
February 14th or 28th.
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Committee for Education in the 21st
Century
