Following the vote, there was debate over which items to include in a restoration list, which would prioritize cut items to be reinstated if more money is found in the budget before the start of the next school year.
The restoration list previously suggested by Superintendent Galinski is as follows:
- Elementary Teachers to Centerville grade 3 and Hannah grade 5
- TLC teachers to 5 elementary schools
- Reading coach for Hannah & North Beverly
- Guidance Counselor at BHS
- Add to the special education contingency
- Add administrative support for HR
The committee debated this list with the intention of voting on an official list of priorities.
President Annemarie Cesa pushed for the elementary teachers, but Karen Fogarty asked whether the committee wanted to set a precedent of adding back teachers when a class is within the district guidelines. Paul Manzo suggested putting the money for the teachers in a contingency fund to be added back only if a class rises above the district maximum of 30 before September.
Kris Silversteen argued for adding back teachers to the TLC program as a more pressing priority. Such a move would be trickier, however, because unless enough money was found to add back all 5 that were cut (one from each elementary school), a choice would need to be made as to which school had the greater need.
In the end, the committee declined to vote on an official list, instead instructing Superintendent Galinski to consult with each building principal for their list priorities for restoration at their school.
So ends another budget season that saw further cuts to school programs, and more class size concerns, but one that fell far short of the dire situation many expected, and lacked much of the drama of recent years.
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