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Page 37 February 6, 1975 Mrs. Davison said she wanted to defer the vote on the kindergarten level until she could get a total picture of the needsfor the whole system. Mr. Rotberg said the kindergarten needs should be presented as a separate issue and felt we should do what we can for the lower grades. Dr. Fobert said we should have a good idea regarding the number of students to expect by May. If we don't provde money in the budget now we'll have to look elsewhere for it in the future. STAFFING NEEDS A vote was called Berchtold, Swanson NO, Rotberg YES, Wadsworth, (continued) Davison ABSTAIN. Mr. Rotberg said the committee rarely has the opportunity to improve the quality of education of the elementary grades and still take reduction in staff. He said Alternative #2 gives us the opportunity to take small increases and lower our class size apprciably. Mr. Rotberg then made a MOTION, which was seconded by Mrs. Davison, to reduce the classroom teaching staff by 5 rather than by 9 in Grades 1-6. He said the difference in cost would be about $50, 000 or roughly . 4%. Mrs. Davison agreed with Mr. Rotberg, saying that quality in the classroom makes the difference in education. Mrs. Swanson pointed out that companies and organizations are making an effort to streamline their budgets and that it was hard to believe that schools are not "getting the message" to do the same thing. She asked whether academia was any different than industry. Mr. Rotberg said it might be possible over a 5-6 year period to average out a decrease in the enrollment. One cut of $50, 000 could be at the elementary level. He said it was the sort of decision at which we should take a closer look. Mrs. Berchtold said she would like to lower elementary class size and make adjustments somewhere else. She felt we had more than our share of specialists. She went on to say that this is not the year to go both ways. She was not prepared to add in one area and not take away from another area. The discussion turned to the duties of the math and science specialists and the support they give to classroom teachers. Mrs. Berchtold said there is a need to carry the science program at all levels. The question is - how many specialists would it take? Would one person or a team be needed? Mr. Rotberg and Mrs. Davison spoke in favor of keeping science and math specialists at the elementary level. A vote was called on Mr. Rotberg's MOTION. Wadsworth, Swanson, Berchtold, Davison Rotberg YES.