During the finance subcommittee’s report last night Ms. Kelly said the level dollar budget request from the Warrant Committee could require a $1.2 million budget cut from the schools for FY12. A number that is “as big as any number we have seen in several years.” No one disagreed.

This may not have been reassuring news to the two parents who had waited patiently for a couple of hours to hear the school committee’s response to the previous session’s Citizen’s Speak. During that session several parents voiced their concerns over the status of art instruction at the elementary schools (please see this post). School committee member Ms. Bagley-Jones admitted she did not hae an immediate strategy for how to restore art to the elementary schools but she feels it is  incumbent on the school committee to try to seek a solution. Ms. Kelly recommended looking taking a hard look at the numbers in Belmont. Belmont was cited by the parents as a school system similar in profile to Milton’s but with substantially more art instruction.

During the discussion of the FY12 budget Ms. Kelly also pointed out that it was not a case of not having money but a determination of how the money was spent. “Budgets are about choices.” She said it is the responsibility of the finance subcommittee to put those choices on the table.  Mr. Pavlicek encouraged parents to voice their concerns and priorities at Citizen Speak sessions and other commuications channels.

But the financial issues do not end there. School officials took a field trip up to the roof of the high school to look at areas that are in need of repair where duct work is failing. The audience was reminded that when the school was rebuilt the entire structure was not replaced. Parts of the roof predate the constuction and there is a section of roof that may cost $800,000 to repair.

A tentative date for an open hearing on the budget is 11/23.

Other business of the school committee discussed included but was not limited to:

• A presentation from the Cunningham Site Council. In 2010 Cunningham failed to meet Annual Yearly Progress targets for English in aggregate and for Spec Ed grups and Math for Spec Ed groups. They reviewed student body strengths and weaknesses and presented strategies to address. Their presentation can be found here.
• A presentation and update from Alan Cron, Asst Principal of Milton High School on the school’s efforts to address bullying. The effort is comprehensive and substantial. You can find a complete list of materials here. There will also be an important presentation at the hihg school by Bentley University professor Greg Hall on bullying. All parents are encouraged to attend. You can learn more abou the presentation here.