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The student news site of Wayland High School

Wayland Student Press

The student news site of Wayland High School

Wayland Student Press

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UPDATE: Proposed school budget cuts unveiled

High school students make their way across campus on a recent afternoon. (Credit: WSPN)
High school students make their way across campus on a recent afternoon. (Credit: WSPN)

Proposed district-wide school budgets cuts totaling to about $1.4 million were announced by Superintendent Gary Burton last Monday night, at the bi-weekly School Committee meeting. Cuts at the high school alone would total a little less than $60o,000.

The proposal is now available online for the public,  and must be amended and approved by the School Committee to become final. If passed, it would result in the deepest budget cuts in recent memory.

The education budget would shrink by 2.33%, to just over $30.3 million. This would be the first time the Wayland schools’ budget has shrunk since 1981.

Burton said that although it was difficult for him to “take apart a school district”, one has to “understand the economic times.” If passed, the budget will be enacted in Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, which lasts from July 1, 2010 to June 30 2011.

Universally, personnel makes up 80% of the school budget and will face the heaviest cuts. However, non-personnel expenses will also be reduced, meaning fewer funds for supplies and materials at every school.

No academic programs nor athletic teams would be cut, with the exception of the Middle School Latin program, which would be phased out over the next two years. However, teachers, clubs, and sports coaches would be affected.

According to high school Principal Patrick Tutwiler, district administrators were given a target total number for reductions, after which they were given the task of determining specific cuts in their respective schools. Tutwiler, Vice-Principal Bayard Klimasmith, Dean of Students Scott Parseghian, and the departments heads all were deeply involved in the process.

“This is not a surprise,” said Principal Tutwiler. “The message that was given to us was that the ’08 – ’09 year was going to be bad, that the ’09-’10 year was going to be worse, and that ’10-’11 is going to be very bad, even worse. We’re not out of the woods yet. This is actually going to get worse.”

Next year, FY 11, will be the first year that student enrollment will decline at the high school, by 28 students. Though small, Burton says that this number is significant because it marks the beginning of a wave of declining student enrollment that both the middle and elementary schools have already felt.

Burton wrote in his annual budget message that, in drafting the budget, he “recogniz[ed] a district-wide decline in the number of students enrolled and national and state economies that were weakening.”

He also said that there would be no salary increases for non-union personnel or for administrators, including himself. Union personnel would receive a pre-negotiated salary increase.

On another note indirectly related to budget cuts, Burton also confirmed that there will be no student parking due to new high school construction.

Some have suggested that the reason the cuts are so severe is because the Finance Committee did not want to ask the town for an override after already asking for funding for the building of the new high school.

Tutwiler doesn’t think that’s the case. “It shouldn’t be a surprise for anyone. We were talking about the budget scenario for this year, last year. There also is the fact that the district is experiencing a significant downward trend in enrollment.”

Cuts at high school would be most severe
Over the past two years, significant cuts have already been made at the elementary and the middle school levels. This year, the kindergarten through fifth grade programs moved to a two and a half school model, while the clusters in the middle school were reduced from three to two in the seventh and eighth grades.

Because of this, the cuts at the high school level are more drastic than at other school levels in town. While the budget is down 2.33% across the school system, the high school will face a 6.8% cut if Burton’s budget passes.

The administrators first were given the job of determining what extra expenses could be taken out from the budget, such as supplies or unused professional development budgets, according to Klimasmith. “Then there’s just hard choices,” Klimasmith continued. “Then we were looking at teachers and support staff.”

In the high school, the most visible cut would be in academic positions. If Burton’s budget is passed, 1.0 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) English teachers, 0.5 FTE classics teachers, 1.0 FTE science teachers, and 0.4 FTE world language teachers would be cut.

FTE cuts means that classes will be eliminated in given departments to equal that percentage of a teacher’s workload. For example, in the English department, the cut of 1.0 FTE would mean about four English classes cut. Remaining English teachers would likely have their class load increased from four to five, reducing the amount of free time they have to meet and conference with students.

This will also lead to courses being cut. Principal Tutwiler says that he is preparing a report for Superintendent Burton and the School Committee on what courses he recommends be cut. The report will be released by December 21.

The proposal will likely affect three WHS English teachers because of the way teachers are “bumped.” The Teacher’s Union contract requires that teachers are let go based on seniority, meaning that those who have been in school system the longest have claims to positions. In some cases, this may mean transferring teachers who have seniority, but whose programs have been eliminated, to other departments in which they are certified to teach. Based on this system, at least one middle school English teacher would be moved to the high school under the new plan, replacing one or multiple part-time teachers.

Another planned cut is the reduction of the position of Athletic Director from a full-time job to half-time. Because the AD is responsible for sports programs in the 6th through twelfth grades, high school programs would take about 40% of the cut, and the middle school programs 10%.

Other positions would be very much affected. Burton promised no cuts to technology, but the Media Department head stipend would be eliminated, as would several secretarial positions.

The Guidance Department in particular would be heavily affected. The proposal would remove one guidance department secretary, who is responsible for filing student information, sending transcripts and test scores to colleges as students apply, and a variety of other essential services. “We would have to change dramatically the way we service kids,” said department head Marybeth Sacramone at Monday’s meeting.

Clubs, too, would feel the crunch. The proposed budget would reduce stipends for several club advisers. In other words, club advisers for these clubs would no longer be paid, though the clubs themselves could continue if advisers volunteered to stay on for free.

French Club, Spanish Club, Outdoors Club, Asian Cultures Club, Business Careers Club, and the Amnesty International adviser would all have their stipends eliminated. The adviser for Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), would also have their stipend eliminated because of a merger of the club with the Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition (SAPC). The elimination of these stipends, which range from $1,000 to $3,000, would combine for a total saving of more than $16,000.

Athletics would be affected by the loss of several coaches, but there will be no reduction in the number of teams. The only head coach elimination would be a winter track coach. The loss of this coach would be compensated by combining the boys’ and girls’ teams. One assistant coach would also be cut from both wrestling and tennis.

Burton also made it clear that he came very close to eliminating the instrumental music program, but in the end decided to keep it. He said that he program “adds dimension to the school system,” and is “thriving at the elementary level.”

Besides cuts, Burton is also recommending two new fees. The first would be a concert fee. Like the fee required to watch a football game, the concert fee would require attendees pay a fee to come watch high school concerts. The second fee would be a rental fee imposed on the swim team for their pool, comparable to the rental fee paid by the ski team to use the Weston Ski Track.

Middle School and Elementary school cuts
The Middle School will also lose a cluster in the sixth grade, bringing the number of clusters in all grades to two. The 6th grade rotating block schedule, which previously had its own pattern, would be unified with the 7th and 8th grade schedule template. This comes as a new middle school principal is expected to be picked sometime around April after a full-scale “intergalactic” search, in words of the Superintendent.

At the elementary school level, the largest cuts will come in the library, where there will be only one full-time librarian for all three elementary schools. He or she will be helped by teaching assistants at each school.

Principal Tutwiler believes that with enough public attention, distribution of budget cuts could be changed, though the total monetary reduction will likely stay the same.

UPDATE: The proposed budget would also remove three department secretaries at the high school, two of whom actually cover two academic departments each. The secretaries are responsible for organizing and ordering school supplies, purchasing and managing textbook stores, copying class handouts, and the logistical details of preparing final and midterm exams. Without secretaries, teachers will be personally responsible for these tasks, reducing their time for grading and meeting with students.

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Comments (22)

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  • W

    waylandjuniorDec 16, 2009 at 12:52 PM

    Yes, there are going to be budget cuts, and I know all of us students want parking, junior and senior priviledges, so we have to do something about it. We can’t just say that we’re mad there’s no parking next year, but we have to think of solutions for the problem. If anything, Seniors should be able to park. We all have to band together and fight for our priviledges and take action.

    Reply
  • I

    iamasophomoreDec 16, 2009 at 12:13 PM

    wow! serriously they were thinking of cutting the music programs? music was the major reason i decided to remain part of wayland public schools and not go to a private school! keep mr o, ms memolli, and mr weingartner!! and no parking? i have been working insanely hard in drivers ed and am aout ready to start driving action. also even though i got all my community service hours from being in the tallent show las year, i would still like to use my upperclassmen privilages when i become a junior next year.
    the class cuts would indeed be hazardous even to my perspective and the whole idea just sounds crazy. i was just talking to someone who thinks that eliminating the language lab would do us some good. i actually agree. as cool as that technology is, its actually kind of useless. also would these class cuts increase the ammounts of students in each class? i personally dont care how large the class is, but it is something i want to know if it was being implied.
    ugh what next?

    Reply
  • W

    WHS sophmoreDec 16, 2009 at 12:02 PM

    I agree with everything that’s been said. The athletic program is clearly being favored over the arts department. Cutting the language lab, which IS useless (you can just listen to dialogues n a cdor on youtube, etc) would save a lot of money, which is not being put to good use if you fire teachers. The smartboards and other technology, while convenient complpetely suck money away from what could be going to other programs. When parents and other adults think back to their high school career, they don’t think back to the technology they did or didn’t have. They remember the teachers they had that changed their life and their scholastic career. Dr. Burton, if you are reading this, I hope that you understand that the teachers are what influence our life, and our experience, not the technology. As a previous commenter said, it is outrageous that the band program was even being considered to be cut. That is a crucial part to anyone who plays an instrument and an integral part to their high school career. Also, it is necessary for seniors to have parking because many don’t pay for buses but have fulltime working parents. PLEASE rethink this

    Reply
  • W

    whsjuniorDec 15, 2009 at 11:51 PM

    the idea that he came so close to eliminating the music program but decided against it because it “adds dimension” disturbs me. what exactly does that mean? not only does the music program “add dimension.” it also gives students a passion and an identity. i don’t play an instrument, but personally i think that our arts department is the last place that can afford blows.

    Reply
  • C

    Creative AccountingDec 15, 2009 at 8:38 PM

    Just eliminating the Superintendent, Asst. Superintendent and Business Manager from Central Administration would eliminate $450K from the budget.

    Reply
  • J

    joeDec 15, 2009 at 2:08 PM

    maybe we could use less administrators. do we really need a principle, a vice prince and a dean of students. maybe they could combine departments and have less department heads, combine lang. with english, science with math. they are cutting the athletic dept but no teams? say what? the sad thing is that we will lose good teachers, and staff with this do more with less approach.

    Reply
  • S

    Senior 2011Dec 15, 2009 at 11:26 AM

    This is all really silly. The amount that they’re spending on some of the stuff on this new school is absolutely ridiculous. Also, if our driving privilages are taken away, that does it. A group of future seniors are preparing ideas for new parking, but the canceling of senior privaleges, and probably some clubs, would cause a ginormous uproar.

    Reply
  • M

    Mind Over MatterDec 15, 2009 at 9:18 AM

    I know its been said before, but its worth saying again.

    New School: $45.1 million from residents + $25 million from the state.
    Cutting a handful of teachers who are invested in their student’s futures: $600,000….

    As a current English major, I do not brag about my math skills, but (someone correct me if I am wrong) the savings from the budget cut will equal less than 1% of the amount we – the state included – are willing to spend on a sparkling new facility.

    It is disturbing to see the chickens of bad financial policy coming home to roost like this. More so, I am profoundly worried by this apparent triumph of matter over mind.

    Whatever happened to educational values?

    PS: Cutting the arts and English programs, the school is imitating a nationwide trend toward promoting the maths and sciences. At what cost? After all, the ability to express ones self coherently and creatively can’t possibly be important in our consumer driven, conformist society of iPhone tapping dweebs…
    It is disturbing to think that

    Reply
  • S

    studentt (me again)Dec 14, 2009 at 9:17 PM

    We do 30 hours of community service SOLELY for our privaledges. It ruins the idea of a highschool preparing us for college if juniors cannot leave with frees last and seniors cannot leave at all. A schoolyear of closed campus is a horrendous idea.

    Reply
  • L

    LaineDec 14, 2009 at 8:36 PM

    Concerned parent, the finance committee is reluctant to ask the town for more money because of the amount that taxes increased to support the building of the new high school.

    Reply
  • W

    WHS studentDec 14, 2009 at 8:35 PM

    So today I found out to have parking for next year it will cost around $300,000 to make the softball field into a parking lot. Somehow I believe we can make a makeshift parking lot like “student” says with little to no cost. I also agree with “studentt” I know for a fact that my parents work full time on school/ work days and getting rides after sports and after school activities like the Plays would be impossible.
    I also heard a rumor students might be parking at St. Annes and be shuttled to school, this is just stupid, we are still being neglected our upperclassmen privledges! Like people have said we have worked hard our freshmen and sophmore years to earn these privledges!

    Reply
  • C

    Concerned parentDec 13, 2009 at 10:05 PM

    Why won’t the Finance committee consider an override this year to support the budget cuts?

    Reply
  • S

    studenttDec 13, 2009 at 9:59 PM

    HOW COULD THEY CUT THE PARKING. Kids need to park they need to get to and from sports it is absolutely unfair for us not to have a place to park. Our parents work full time we have no way of getting to school otherwise. This is outrageous.

    Reply
  • T

    tecumsetDec 13, 2009 at 5:52 PM

    sell the language lab. its useless.

    Reply
  • S

    studentDec 12, 2009 at 9:35 PM

    They were thinking about cutting band and orchestra?
    thank goodness they didn’t! Most of us have been playing an instrument since 4th grade, i know that if they did not offer band at the high school, i would defiantly not be playing.

    and combining the winter girls and boys track teams? bad idea if you ask me. there are OVER 50 kids on each team! and their thinking of cutting a major coach? that would mean 100 kids on one team, 3 different field events, hurdles, sprinters, and distance kids all with only 3 coaches? and theres girls and boys for each? thats crazy!

    and no senior parking? does that mean no open campus/senior privileges at all? what is happening to whs?

    I am sure that many will be upset about the parking issue and that something will change. why can’t we have a dirt parking lot from a field or something? its only temporary, just dont pave it or whatever.

    Reply
  • A

    anonDec 12, 2009 at 6:30 PM

    I agree with WHS Student. This is ridiculous. I also agree that the new computers and expensive projecting equipment is not necessary. Sure, it is nice to have new technology, but I personally would much rather keep the teachers and coaches I love. The loss of teachers and coaches will be detrimental to our learning and athletics. I don’t know how Dr. Burton came up with this plan, but I think it needs reevaluation.
    On a separate note, students need parking. If we had a free bus service, it would be a different situation, but to pay for bus service when you have a car at your disposal is simply unfair. There isn’t enough room to offer bus service to every student, and students look forward to their senior year so that they can have the privileges they waited 4 years to earn. Without parking, seniors can’t make the most of the little free time they have. Students need parking.

    Reply
  • W

    whs studentDec 12, 2009 at 6:21 PM

    the arts programs are an important part of what makes our school work.

    Reply
  • A

    A juniorDec 12, 2009 at 5:44 PM

    These cuts seem to favor kids who do sports by a large margin. This doesn’t seem fair. And yeah, alright, life isn’t fair, but arts programs are important. If I hadn’t had art classes to unwind in during the past two and a half years, I would be an emotional mess right now.

    “On another note indirectly related to budget cuts, Burton also confirmed that there will be no student parking due to new high school construction.” My class has been told for the past few years that we shouldn’t worry, we will have our senior privileges and parking, but now we’re being told, Oops, actually we lied. You don’t get them.

    Also, the fee for the swimteam to use the pool is absolutely ridiculous. I swam during my freshman and sophomore years, and that pool gave me asthma. Also, someone was taken away from practice the other day IN AN AMBULANCE because he was unable to breathe because of the terrible air quality.

    Reply
  • W

    WHS StudentDec 12, 2009 at 4:29 PM

    This is absolutely ridiculous. WHS is one of the top public schools in Massachusetts. Having all of these cuts is going to make the learning proccess a lot more difficult for students. By combining English classes, students will receive less time with teachers, and the teachers will have less time to conference with there students. Maybe instead of cutting programs that allow students to build there skills, (just to cut activities requiring money) the school can double the parking fees, not get brand new computers every school year, and deal with projectors instead of expensive projecting equipment!
    Also, you can’t combine the indoor track teams! Boys and girls run in completely different ways. By doing this you are creating work outs that don’t by any means work for both the boys and girls! Kepp Coach Girard for indoor track he’s an amazing coach!

    Reply
  • D

    Deb, a parent alsoDec 12, 2009 at 1:41 PM

    Yeah we have a great art program at WHS. My students have gotten so much out of it. This isn’t fair, kids need their creativity. And Mrs. A is an amazing arts teacher!

    Reply
  • B

    bob, a parentDec 11, 2009 at 10:45 PM

    arts programs should be the last to suffer, not the first. literacy and arts education primes students to learn and excel in other areas. no cuts to ‘technology’ programs, but drastic cuts to fine arts! are we trying to create a generation of desktop support technicians, or what?

    Reply
  • B

    brill crosbyDec 11, 2009 at 7:11 PM

    Good grief. wtg gary burton, wtg.

    Reply
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UPDATE: Proposed school budget cuts unveiled