From the Feb 10th Amherst School Committee meeting. The budget shortfall for the next year was estimated in the range of $800, 000 to $1.8+ million for the Elementary School Budget. Precise figures for State and Federal funding are not presently available and may not be for months after Amherstʼs budget decisions are made.
Interim Superintendent Helen Vivian released data for the following: (1)The present configuration of 4 elementary schools with 3 different tiers of budget cuts, and (2)The costs and savings for 4 proposed reorganization scenarios. Of note: the first tier of budget cuts under the present configuration of 4 elementary schools calls for the elimination of ALL instrumental music (band and orchestra) at the elementary school level as well as other cuts. This data is available online at the ARPS website (
www.arps.org/node/713).
The School Committee opened the floor to public comment which continued for over 1 hour and focused on closing Marks Meadow and the value of instrumental music. The School Committee then voted to put aside 2 plans: (1) The pairing model: Fort River-Crocker Farm, and Wildwood-Marks Meadow and (2) Wildwood as a 5/6 school These two plans were found to cost more money then is currently spent and would not help solve the budget crisis. The School Committee will instead focus on prioritizing the budget cuts under the current configuration and continuing to evaluate the other reconfiguration plans: (1) Closing Marks Meadow and redistricting the town to three K-6 schools, (2) Closing Marks Meadow, redistricting the town to three K-5 schools and moving the 6th grade to the Middle School.
Data on the budget options will be presented by a member of the School Committee to each of the Elementary School communities. Be on the lookout for the Fort River presentation. For other reorganization keep checking this website and School Committee member Catherine Sandersonʼs blog (
myschoolcommitteeblog.blogspot. com). Also, check
ACTV to view reruns of Tuesdayʼs School Committee meeting.
