School Briefs
Published on September 29, 2006
Class size a concern after budget cuts
The ripples caused by last year's school budget cuts have begun to show their effects in local classrooms.
Felicia Mednick, of Amherst, the parent of a second-grade student at Mark's Meadow Elementary School brought her concern about the size of her daughter's class to the Amherst School Committee Tuesday night.
Mednick acknowledged that the budget was tight but said that she felt that a class size of 26 was hindering some parts of the student's social and emotional growth by depriving them of some of the individual attention they may otherwise receive.
Mednick said that the students would benefit from having more individual attention, especially during the teaching of core subjects, such as reading writing and math.
New committee Chairman Andy Churchill said the committee was aware of the situation and that both the district and the school were working to find a solution.
'We have class (size) targets and class (size) maximums,' Churchill said. 'But we also have budget realities and physical plant realities.'
'It's a tough situation,' Churchill said.
The Mark's Meadow second grade has the largest class size of all the elementary schools with 26 students, four above the recommended maximum.
The Crocker Farm second grade also exceeds its recommended maximum class size by two students with two sections of 24 students each.
Fort River Elementary principal, Russ Vernon-Jones, said that increased class sizes at his school have also become a concern.
Vernon-Jones said that there are currently six classrooms of 23 students and four of 24 at Fort River.
According to figures released from the school district, the Fort River second-, third-, fourth- and sixth-grade classes are all at the recommended class maximums.
While some individual class sizes have gone up, the average class size for each of the schools as a whole has either remained unchanged or gone down from last year.
'I would say the place they're impacting us the most is the loss of the library paraprofessionals,' Vernon-Jones said.
Vernon-Jones said the loss of library staffing affects the kinds of services the library is able to offer to students and staff.
Superintendent Jere Hochman said that extra staffing was being incorporated into the Mark's Meadow second grade classroom, especially during classroom transitions and the teaching of core subjects like math.
'For now, we're approaching the core subject areas with several adults (in the classroom),' Hochman said. 'We're monitoring it to see how it's working.'
Hochman said that this plan will be monitored for one to two weeks to see how successful it is.
Churchill chosen to lead school board
Andrew Churchill has been chosen as chairman of the Amherst School Committee.
Churchill was unanimously elected to replace former chairwoman Elaine Brighty, who stepped down from her post to concentrate on her new position as chairwoman of the Amherst-Palham Regional School Committee.
Brighty will remain on the Amherst committee.
'I have some big shoes to fill, Elaine has done a great job,' Churchill said.
Churchill said that three areas that he'd like to see the committee concentrate on this year are excellence, equity and efficiency.
'We want to make sure every kid is challenged and make sure we're helping kids who need it,' Churchill said. 'We also want people to feel that their tax money is being well spent.'
Churchill said that one aspect of equity the committee will be looking at this year will be the effect that increased class sizes will have on students.
'We're concerned that some students will be having different educational experiences due to the size of their classes,' Churchill said.
Churchill said that he's hoping that a planned demographic study of the schools will provide information on the configuration of the elementary schools, and how to maximize available space and resources.
Alisa Brewer, who had been serving as vice-chairwoman, of the committee, will take over the secretary position from Churchill.
Tom Flittie, accepted the appointment to vice-chairman.
All of the appointments were voted in unanimously.
Objects sought for memorial sculpture
Found metal and wooden cooking, gardening and riding objects are requested to create a horse sculpture to honor Shutesbury resident Susan Cotter Davis, who died last spring.
A parent and founding member of the Committee for Social Responsibility, her passions included education, horses, gardening, cooking and knitting. The items can be brought to the Shutesbury Elementary School courtyard. Local metal workers Roo Trimble and Susan Myers will put the sculpture together.
COLLEGE VISITS: College and universities send representatives to the high school to meet with students. The schedule includes:
Oct. 2: Yale University, 8 a.m.; Lasell College, 10:30 a.m.
Oct. 3: Northfield Mt. Hermon School, 9 a.m.; University of Rochester, 10 a.m.
Oct. 4: Dean College, 9:15 a.m.; Pitzer College, 10 a.m.
Oct. 5: Georgetown University, 11 a.m.
Oct. 6: UMass Lowell, 8 a.m.; Sterling College, 9:45 a.m.; University of Hartford, 10 a.m.; Hofstra University, 1 p.m.
Calendar
Meetings
Lunch menu
MONDAY: Baked chicken nuggets, potato puffs, mixed vegetables.
TUESDAY: Hamburger, cheeseburger or fish patty on a bun, steamed rice, green beans.
WEDNESDAY: Pasta with Italian meat sauce, green peas, fresh apple.
THURSDAY: Toasted cheese sandwich, pasta salad, carrot coins.
FRIDAY: School-made cheese pizza wedge, tossed green salad.
All meals include milk, fruit or fruit cup.
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