Cuts from previous years...
The district leadership team compiled a list of cuts to staffing and programs that have occurred over the past 5-10 years. This list does not reflect this year's budget cuts, nor does it capture all of the cuts that have been absorbed from decades past.
Elementary
Positions cut:
Positions cut:
- Nurse staff cut from 2.0 FTE to 1.5 FTE at JFK/AFM
- 1.0 FTE Art teacher reduced to .6 FTE at AFM/JFK, resulting in students having art instruction every other week, or 19 classes per year. Also reduced to once every two weeks at MES. - 2010-2011
- Library offered every other week due to staffing cuts. Additional library para cut from this year’s budget would have increased the time the library is open (it is closed during part of the school day due to lack of staffing) and freed up the reading specialists to provide targeted interventions rather than covering prep.
- Technology offered only every other week. Additional part time tech position cut from this year’s budget would have increased tech to once a week, freeing up reading specialists for targeted interventions.
- PE once a week. Additional part time PE position cut from this year’s budget would have increased PE and freed up reading specialists for targeted interventions. Music also only once a week.
- Reading Specialists ability to provide reading support to struggling students was impacted as a result of the cuts to specials, as they were providing prep coverage via whole class literacy instruction 20 periods per week instead of targeted interventions.
- Kindergarten paras (over the past 6 years) have been decreased from full day and are currently at .75 of each school day
- 1.0 FTE custodian reduction at JFK/AFM and .5 at MES - 2017-2018
- There are NO after school clubs offered at the JFK/AFM or MES schools unless funded by BEPO or MESPA
- We no longer order reading workbooks; teachers create their own units of study using leveled reading books
- Open Circle training was cut from the budget 8 years ago resulting in sporadic implementation of this social/emotional curriculum. No vertical or horizontal alignment of this curriculum.
Middle School
Positions cut:
Positions cut:
- Reading specialist - 2007-2008
- Technology/Engineering - 2007-2008
- Special Educator - 2010-2011
- 2 Special Educators - 2011-2012
- Library Media Specialist - 2012-2013
- Instructional Technology - 2012-2013
- French teacher - 2013-2014
- Math teacher (grade 6) - 2015-2016
- Social Studies (grade 8) - 2016-2017
- Special Educator (Essentials classroom) - 2017 - 2018
- Paraprofessional (Essentials classroom) - 2017-2018
- RtI reading classes by a reading specialist in all grades. English teachers provide RtI support with limited to no resources.
- Engineering classes
- Technology classes
- Co-teaching in inclusive classrooms - on an extremely limited basis due to going from one special educator per a team to per a grade
- French classes
- RtI math classes (3 classes) due to the RtI math teacher taking over 3 grade 6 math classes
- “Middle School Teams”
- Grade 6 math teacher has to cross teams and have students from both teams; however, is unable to be scheduled for each team’s team meetings so limited teamwork with teachers on other team
- 8th grade team short a Social Studies teacher and the classes are being covered by two different Social Studies teachers who are unable due to teaching to attend that team’s team meetings.
- Essentials program (special education) - students integrated into inclusive classes but need/have a large paraprofessional support in the classes.
- Gym offered for one quarter only instead of year-round.
- All clubs have been cut with limited ones brought back from fundraiser/PTO
High School
Positions cut over the past 5 years:
Positions cut over the past 5 years:
- 0.6 position - Health/Wellness (Foods and Nutrition / Child Development) - 2013
- 1.0 position - Foreign Language (French) - 2015
- 1.0 position - School Counselor (Social/Emotional) - 2017
- 1.0 Permanent Sub - 2017
- custodial -1.0 position (High School) - 2017
- Numerous electives
- Foods and Nutrition
- Child Development
- Business and Accounting
- Athletics team schedules reduced by two games each
- Assistant Theater Director cut
- FBLA
- Humanities Scholars Program
- Job shadow
- Literary Magazine
- SADD
Technology
Programs cut:
Programs cut:
- 1:1 initiative was cut back by 2-grade levels due to funding FY17
- Due to systemic underfunding and staffing many structural projects have been hindered i.e. backup systems, proper replacement of infrastructure and hardware.