Spotlights on Elementary And Middle Schools as District Seeks Savings

The  continues to face difficult choices in trying to arrive at a 2012-2013 budget that falls under the state-mandated 2-percent tax cap.

Tuesday’s school board meeting at was no exception. Elementary and middle school principals delivered presentations about their schools. They addressed mandates effective July 2012 that require principals to take 10 days of training and submit additional paperwork for staff evaluations.

They discussed cuts from recent budgets, including losing 2.5 librarians and guidance counselors.

 “If possible, we’d like to have them reinstated,” said Dr. David Meoli, principal of , to a loud round of applause.

Now, fewer children see counselors one-on-one, and schools offer fewer programs. Also, fewer families benefit from district outreach programs.

Principal Barbara Giebel said she’s had visits from Child Protective Services “for six different families” regarding “12 different children” coping with divorce and even sexual abuse.

Regarding library service cuts, Giebel said there are challenges in providing students “what they need” to develop 21st century skills.

The board asked about the effectiveness of Reading Recovery, which boosts skill levels for children needing support, and whether a less costly program could also bring success. Other issues raised included class size, fewer sections and even half-day kindergarten, though Board Member Alan Baer stressed that he “was not an advocate.”

Meoli pointed to studies showing that early intervention programs bring the most benefits to children and society.

When discussing , board members asked Principal Marilyn Rodahan if economies could be realized by eliminating Weber's house structure, and switching to an eight-period rather than nine-period day.

The house structure provides “small learning communities, which is how adolescents learn best,” Rodahan said, referring to Weber earned this year as a .

The nine-period day allows for learning “opportunities for all students,” whether in accelerated programs or needing support, she said.

Regarding foreign languages, Board Member Robert Ryan suggested that Portugese, Mandarin and Japanese would be more functional for students than some of the current offerings. "We're very behind," he said. The board, however, did congratulate Rodahan on the 230 students enrolled in Earth Science, an accelerated program.

School Board President Karen Sloan suggested re-examining the math schedule to avoid sections with 15 or fewer students.

The principals are all continuing to seek cost-cutting measures.

The board discussed a bond vote to repair  and when to vote on it. The school's architect will address the costs of the needed repairs at the next school board meeting.

During community comments Frank Russo said he would likely support the bond if the budget fell below the tax cap by one-quarter to one-third percent.

Darren Kimball asked that teachers "put our students first" by making "voluntary concessions" to prevent cutting critical programs.

Discussing last year's budget vote, Vernon McDermott said, "90 percent went to the benefit of one of the stakeholders." He added, "last year nothing was done. It looks like nothing is going to get done" this year.

But Christine Vasilev, president of the Port Washington Teachers Association, said it was inaccurate for the public to believe that nothing was done. She said shortfalls could be addressed by increasing revenues with legislation preventing big business tax evasion.

The school board meets next on Jan. 24, 8 p.m. at Schreiber.