×
×
homepage logo
LOGIN
SUBSCRIBE

Proposed Nashua education budget draws mixed reviews from teachers, public

By Staff | Jan 26, 2017

NASHUA – Members of the public got their first chance to comment on the proposed 2017-18 education budget on Wednesday, with speakers praising all-day kindergarten and increased technology.

They also defended job coaching positions and a longstanding contract with Clearway High School.

At the meeting, Superintendent Connie Brown proposed a $105,940,366 education budget for the 2017-18 school year, representing a 1.2 percent increase, or $1,256,210 over the current budget of $104,684,156.

The budget process unofficially began in October when Mayor Jim Donchess asked what a “status quo” budget would look like. At the time, Brown proposed a series of deep cuts, including the elimination of an elementary school and up to 47 teaching positions.

Assuming a 1.2 percent spending increase over the 2016-17 budget versus a level-funded budget, the scale of reductions can be pulled back, but reductions will still need to be made.

Significant reductions include eliminating contracts with Clearway High School and replacing it with an in-school program at Nashua High School South.

“Currently, we hold two contracts with Clearway, one for special education and one for alternative education,” Brown said.

Hosting the same services in the district could save $350,000.

Clearway High School, run through the Adult Learning Center in Nashua, has hosted Nashua School District students for decades.

“I would like you to know that this proposal would shut down Clearway,” said Carol Baldwin, director of the Adult Learning Center.

Baldwin said Clearway reserves about 60 spots for Nashua students each year, and has provided service to Nashua for more than 40 years.

“We do provide an economical service to the city, and I can provide information on that in the coming weeks,” she said. “At the very least, if you have to do this, what I’m begging you to consider is let us transition. … Let us get kids to graduation.”

Other speakers addressed the proposed elimination of the district’s two job coaches, a move that would shift the coaches’ responsibilities of mentoring new teachers to human resources to save $100,000.

“That job is like an iceberg: You don’t see how deep it goes,” said Lynda Walsh, a sixth-grade teacher at Pennichuck Middle School.

“It would be a travesty for them not to be a part of our School District anymore,” said Adam Marcoux, president of the Nashua Teachers’ Union. “They are not job coaches, they are peer coaches. These two women are instrumental in retaining our teachers, which is a priority of the superintendent.”

Marcoux said the job coaches meet with all new teachers throughout their first three years in the district.

“This would be one of the more harmful cuts the board would make if it stays in the budget,” he said.

Although human resources would take on the coaches’ duties, Marcoux said peer mentorship is valuable.

“It is not a disrespect to our administration, who would be taking on this role,” Marcoux said, adding the peer-to-peer conversation is “much different” than teacher-to-administrator conversation.

“It’s much easier having those conversations for some people with their peers versus the administration.”

Marcoux later elaborated on the importance of the job coach positions in an email to board members on Jan. 26. He stressed that keeping the two positions will ultimately reduce costs by training and retaining teachers.

“As I said last night, I would not have survived my second year of teaching had it not been for Diane (Vienneau) and Paula (Papanicolaou),” Marcoux said. “They are a safe haven for teachers who are most vulnerable, and who need the support, wisdom and guidance from a non-evaluative peer.

“I realize we are at the very early stages of the process, but I wanted to make sure my sentiments were heard loud and clear.”

At the Jan. 25 meeting, speakers praised the proposal of expanded all-day kindergarten and additional funding for technology in the classroom.

“In terms of ‘all-day K,’ I can’t explain how beneficial that would be for our district,” Walsh said, adding she used to be a first-grade teacher. “It was night and day, which students attended all-day K.”

Walsh also highlighted the importance of access to technology in the classroom.

Assistant Superintendent Roland Boucher supported the idea of expanded kindergarten, as well.

“I would very much like some of our elementary folks to come forward and talk about what happens with instruction at the elementary level,” he said. “What you find is that remediation goes on all day, every day.”

In the budget proposal, all-day kindergarten would be made possible by rearranging existing staff.

Marcoux praised aspects of the budget, such as keeping all schools open.

“Amherst Street and Mount Pleasant (elementary schools) will remain open – I know those two schools were very anxious,” he said. “I don’t like cuts and loss of staff. I’m happy that they’re minimal – happy is not the right word – but they are not at the depth that we were projecting.”

The proposed budget does include loss of personnel, including nine custodians, three middle school teachers, one Nashua High School South teacher and several administrators.

The budget meeting marked the beginning of the fiscal 2017-18 budget season, with the Board of Education expected to approve an operating budget by late March. After school board approval, the budget will go to City Hall for review and approval.

To follow the budget process online, visit www.nashua.edu/about-us/board-of-education/budget-fy-2018.

Tina Forbes can be reached at 594-1246, tforbes@nashuatelegraph.com or @Telegraph_ TinaF.

Newsletter

Join thousands already receiving our daily newsletter.

Interests
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *