[Apshpe] FW: School Budget Letter to Parents

[High Plain Elementary School Mailing List]

ANDOVER PUBLIC SCHOOLS

 

36 Bartlet Street

Andover, MA 01810

(978) 623-8501

FAX (978) 623-8505

 

 

 

 

 

SCHOOL COMMITTEE:

Arthur H. Barber, Ed.D., Chair  

Debra Rahmin Silberstein, Esq., Secretary

Richard J. Collins

Anthony H. James, Ph.D.

David S. Samuels, DMD

 

Claudia L. Bach, Ed.D

Superintendent of Schools

cbach at aps1.net

 

March 13, 2008

 

 

Dear Parents,

 

Many of you have been hearing a lot about the school budget in recent
weeks.  In particular, you may have heard about the possible elimination
of the high school athletics program, and of cuts to our teaching staff
that would result in significantly increased class sizes next year.  I
want to speak to you directly about where we are in the annual budget
process, and to explain some of the tough choices we now must face.
Though I have tried to make this letter as brief as possible, the
situation is complex and requires some detail.  In these important weeks
before Town Meeting, I urge you to take the time to understand the
situation so you can make the best voting decision for your family in
April.

 

In 2003-04, like so many other towns across the Commonwealth, Andover
had to control spending significantly due to a dramatic decrease that
year in the amount of state fiscal aid available to towns.  As a result,
I had to work together with our principals to identify where we could
make a large number of reductions.  It was an excruciating process, and
as many of you remember, the losses were substantial.  Among them,
physical education at the elementary level was cut in half; health and
music programs were lost; supply budgets were stripped bare; and the
equivalent of over 40 full time staff positions were eliminated
district-wide. Schools lost assistant principals, custodians, and
program advisors, and in 2004, the high school was cited by the state
for failing to meet its Time on Learning requirement. This was also
when, for the first time, parents began to pay costly fees for services
such as bus transportation and athletics.  

 

Since then, we have worked very hard to restore a small amount of what
was lost.  However, relative to what we had prior to 2003, our staffing
remains inadequate.  The majority of new jobs added since then have been
positions mandated by the federal government's No Child Left Behind Laws
and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.  Meanwhile, parents
continue to pay expensive fees, programs have not been restored, and our
high school remains, to this day, on warning from the New England
Association of Schools and Colleges specifically because we cannot
demonstrate an adequate level of financial commitment from our
community.

 

All of this begs the question: if our school budget has been inadequate,
why do we continue to rank among the very top school districts in
Massachusetts?  There are several reasons.  First and foremost, it is a
credit to our school principals, whose efforts to do more with less have
been nothing short of heroic.  Second, we have worked hard to reduce
expenses in innovative ways.  For instance, we continue to create
specialized classrooms that can provide services for children with
significant special needs, reducing the need to transport these children
out of district, and creating significant savings.  Third, we have been
able to add some new programming to our curriculum-virtually all of it
funded privately through gifts and grants.  Finally, we have a
tremendously supportive community of parents who contribute thousands of
dollars to our schools each year-money that allows us to buy such basic
supplies as paper, soap, and paper towels that would otherwise run out
mid-year. 

 

This brings us to 2008.  Like many other towns, Andover is now faced
with a situation in which certain rising costs that affect all employers
(e.g. health insurance premiums and utilities) have simply outstripped
our revenues.  In addition, we must continue to adhere to staffing
guidelines set forth by the federal government, the costs of which have
risen dramatically.  In order to meet the Town Manager's recommended
budget numbers, I have been asked to remove over $2 million from the
schools.  If the community chooses to fund the budget at this
recommended level, I will have to place the entire high school athletics
program and over 40 elementary teacher and assistant positions on a list
of cuts to be made.

 

Many of you have asked me how I could even consider eliminating jobs
that will affect our young learners so profoundly, or how I could
possibly do away with our truly outstanding athletics program.  Others
have wondered whether this decision is just a scare tactic meant to
galvanize support for the schools.  I can only wish this were the case.
The reality is that there is simply no equitable and sustainable way to
remove over $2 million from the school budget without affecting large
programs, such as athletics, and large costs, such as personnel.
Additionally, if I make any reductions to academic programs or personnel
at our high school or at our middle schools, Andover will be in
violation of state and federal education statutes.  So, terrible as they
are to consider, personnel cuts must come at the elementary level.

 

Believe me, as a resident of Andover these last ten years I understand
what our high school sports program means to this community.  I also
know what will happen if class sizes rise at our elementary schools:
more children will require special education services (ultimately
increasing spending), and instruction for all children will suffer.
Charged with the responsibility to educate your children, I cannot in
good conscience submit a budget that contains cuts of this magnitude.
That is why I have submitted a budget request, which the School
Committee has endorsed, that is higher than the Town Manager's
recommended level.  It is need-based, and does not contain any cuts.  In
the coming weeks, I will do everything I can to ensure that my proposal
is funded; however, if it is not supported at Town Meeting, the cuts I
have outlined above must be made.

 

Many of you have asked, "What can I do?"  First, know that in the weeks
ahead I will continue to keep you informed of the status of the school
budget.  Second, please do share your questions and concerns directly
with members of the School Committee, the Board of Selectman, and the
Finance Committee; you may also wish to contact your PTO or PAC for
information.  Most importantly, please plan now to attend Town Meeting
on April 30, when the final budget decisions will be voted on.  As
residents of Andover, it is ultimately up to you to decide what services
our town should support.

 

Sincerely,

 

Claudia Bach

 

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