1976-01-05-SC-min - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

Page 4 January 5, 1976 After discussion it was MOVED: to accept the Superintendent 's recommendation to reduce classroom teachers (grades 1-6) by 4 persons for 1976-77 school year. (Brown, Rotberg, Unanimous) A discussion of support staff followed. Dr. Rotberg asked the super- SUPPORT intendant why he was recommending a reduction of 2 which consisted of a STAFF half art, music, foreign language and physical education person. Mr. Spiris responded that there was no committee that recommended this, but there were a lot of inputs. He said that Mr. Lombard worked with the department heads in these four areas. He felt that with declining en- rollments the program could function most effectively with 82 persons. Dr. Rotberg responded saying he questioned what the sensible sacrifice would be since it would affect program, pupil activities, teacher con- tact time, etc. Mr. Spiris noted that people were being subtracted, but the loss would not be felt in the programs. He also emphasized that pro- gram directors disagreed with his recommendation. Mr. Lombard was asked by the School Committee for his comments regarding this topic since he worked with the program directors. Mr. Lombard said reduction could lead to fragmentation of persons, less time spent with students, less special needs accomodations, reduction of enrichment programs or less teacher contact time. Dr. Rotberg asked the committee to consider this reduction very ser- iously. Mrs. Berchtold said her feeling was that sacrifice was not neces- sarily needed. Maybe there could be other ways of rearrangement, or other alternatives in the utilization of specialists. She felt that we had re- duced 1444 students in the last few years and that there should be some appropriate parallel reduction in specialists . Dr. Rotberg said that based upon numbers he would agree, however, the numbers concept was not the main consideration, but the servicing of students and teachers was the main concern. Dr. Rotberg MOVED: to restore specialists (1 art, 2 music, 2 phys. ed. , 2 French) in the amount of $26,000 to the 1976-1977 Personal Services Budget. Since there was no second to Dr. Rotberg 's motion, the motion failed. Following the discussion of the elementary staffing needs the junior high school staffings were discussed. Mr. Brown asked Mr. Hibbard to respond to his request for 2 additional teachers. Mr. Hibbard commented that last year due to a misjudgment in enrollment projections, sufficient staff were not added. The increase was a matter of catching up plus the inclusion of these new people would enable the full operation of the team concept at Clarke. Mr. Spiris said that matrons were being recommended in the junior MATRONS high school budget for the 1976-1977 school year. Mrs. Swanson and Mrs. Berchtold voiced opposition to the pay differential of .25/hr. for women versus men. It was also requested the term matron not be used, and the term custodian be used both for men and women. A role description was requested by the school committee.