Less than a Value Meal

Our school has done some incredible things over recent years - but so often I think of where we would be if we passed our budgets. The idea of that continuous momentum forward. Each time we vote down a budget the effects snowball - because we not only have lost money in the budget this year, but we have now lowered the amount the budget is able to be for next year. Let's be realistic - no one wants to pay taxes. I have college bills coming, more orthodontics (that seems to never end!), and every bill coming in to my house goes up every year. The thing I think some people forget is that those same types of bills - electric, phone, gas, maintenance of cars and buildings - also go up for the district. I think back to how much I paid to put gas in my car only a few months ago - and today's prices seem incredibly high. Expenses go up - and so revenue has to go up as well. The increase this year is just over $6.50/month. Less than $7. Heck - it costs more to get a Value Meal at McDonalds! It is a good, responsible budget - and we need to get it passed.

Someone did a lot of research - I recently received this email:

As the parent of two small children, it's hard to know what your child is missing when they never had the opportunities in the first place. With the election approaching on April 27th for new Board of Ed members and a school budget, I wanted to know WHAT HAS BEEN TAKEN AWAY FROM MY CHILD? The principals from each school have been kind enough to speak with me and answer this question. Look at the facts and know who and what you're voting for.

Also, if you want to know why learning a second language at a younger age is important, check out this article: http://lilt.ilstu.edu/rlbroad/teaching/studentpubs/onewishenglish/smith.pdf

If you want to know why after school activities are important, check out this government article: http://www2.ed.gov/pubs/afterschool/2potential.html

And if you don't think the quality of your schools impact your house value, you're just kidding yourself.


***THE FOLLOWING CLASSES HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED



Roxbury High School- jswanson@roxbury.org

As a result of the cutting of 16.5 regular classroom teachers (12 from the core content areas) since 2005, 2 guidance counselors and a media specialist, the following classes have been eliminated or reduced in capacity:

SAT Prep
Public Speaking
College Prep Writing
Social Studies electives (offerings reduced by 50%)
German
Latin
Japanese
French (reduced 50%)
Dance (reduced 50%)
"C" level English (for students who require a low level)
Alternate School (for students who have difficulty functioning in a typical school setting)
Family and Consumer Science electives (offerings reduced by 20%)
Electrical Technology
Architectural Drafting
Auto Mechanics and Small Engine repair
Wood Technology (reduced by 40 %)

There is no Director of Guidance

Typical Class sizes are 25-30 students

Average class size for college prep and honors classes has increased to more than 25

The athletic budget has been reduced by almost 250,000 in 8 years and there has been no increase in co-curricular resources during that same time.

Services–Class sizes increased; Student to counselor ratio increased from 223:1 to 313:1; one librarian for 1560 students and 130 teachers; Loss of Guidance Director resulted in curtailed guidance services; SRO’s have been cut; I.T. staff overburdened.

Facility–Cannot be cleaned and maintained as it should; Necessary repairs cannot be made (classroom kitchens, locker rooms, gymnasium bleachers, auditorium dividing door, fire doors, HVAC units, fire alarm system, auditorium lighting, stage and sound system, exterior security fencing, some carpeting); Upgrades impossible (adding security cameras, 90 computers in Media center and writing lab, classroom smart boards and LCD’s); Field maintenance insufficient for amount of use.


Eisenhower Middle School- lnittel@roxbury.org



Class sizes used to be 22 students per class. Now nearly 30 students per class
-Last year alone: lost six academic teachers
Eliminated family consumer science classes
Eliminated Technology/Synergistics Lab
Ripped seats in auditorium need to be replaced
Currently general music to 7th grade only
Art (One art teacher for 660 students)
Computers (One teacher for 660 students).
**Most middle schools offer a full year of world language in grades 7 and 8, with some having multiple languages to choose from. EMS only has Spanish which only meets for a half a year as part of our cycle program. For example, Randolph offers full year Spanish or French in Grades 6, 7, and 8 every day for a full year.


Lincoln Roosevelt School- jcurtis@roxbury.org

Class sizes used to be 20-21 students per class. Now 27-30 students per class
-lost 4 Fifth Grade teachers & 2 Sixth Grade teachers
Elimination of Gifted & Talented program
Some textbooks are outdated because the budget hasn't passed
Because the budget hasn't passed, the buildings are in disrepair: needs painting, need to replace broken furniture/desks


Nixon Elementary School- eazar@roxbury.org

Loss of:
Enrichment Teacher
1/2 time Media Specialist
1/2 time Computer Teacher
1/2 time BSI teacher
1/2 time Physical Education Teacher
Full time Resource Room Teacher
1/2 time Guidance Counselor
Needs: additional parking, pavement repair and new steps, Security cameras in the second grade wing and outside the building, a divider for the gymnasium. All were not approved capitol improvements.


Kennedy Elementary School - awallock@roxbury.org

Things eliminated due to budgetary cuts:
Aides in kindergarten and first grade
Full-time Media Specials (Elementary share 2 rather than have 4)
Office aides taken away and reinstated (months later), although their important position is not a secure one


Franklin Elementary School- mboyd@roxbury.org
Lost shared Spanish Teacher for grades 3 and 4
Lost shared Enrichment Teacher – position eliminated
Lost part-time aides in kindergarten and grade 1
Media Specialist cut from full-time to half-time (therefore we cannot have this teacher involved with any enrichment classes)
Computer Technology teacher cut from 5 days to 3 days (therefore this teacher is involved with only 1 grade level for enrichment when it used to be grades 1-4)
School counselor cut from 3 ½ days to 2 ½ days
Part-time Physical education position cut
Office aide taken away and reinstated (months later) : this position is not a secure one
Roof problems in certain sections of the building, sink and cabinets need replacement in several classrooms, parking lot is rife with pot holes, classrooms and hallways need painting,



Jefferson Elementary School- klunardoni@roxbury.org

Lost shared Spanish Teacher
Lost shared Enrichment Teacher
Lost part-time aides in kindergarten and grade 1
Lost 1 full-time secretary position (not recovered). This necessitates the principal being the back-up for the one secretary that is in the office for half of the day.
Media Specialist cut from full-time to part-time
Tightened schedule for “specials” precludes full participation in enrichment program
Had the budget passed last year, we would have had 5 fourth grade sections instead of 4 (each with 25-26 children)