Amherst Elementary School Reorganization News

From the March 3rd Amherst School Committee Meeting. New Interim Superintendent Maria Geryk gave a thoughtful, well-organized and comprehensive presentation on updated budget scenarios and potential redistricting scenarios. She started the meeting by stating that she and the 4 Elementary School Principals did NOT recommend making any changes in redistricting and closing schools at this time. The redistricting scenarios were emphasized as being preliminary. At the end of the meeting, however, she did admit that, should they be looking at tier 3 budget cuts, everything would be back on the table. As figures for State and Federal funding are still not available and may not be for months after Amherstʼs budget decisions are made, the budget scenarios were again presented with 3 different tiers of budget cuts: the 1st being the best case scenario - the 3rd being the worst case scenario. These documents are to be available online at (www.arps.org). A summary of the proposed budget cuts, particularly as they impact students, are discussed on School Committee member Catherine Sandersonʼs blog (myschoolcommitteeblog.blogspot.com). Of note, Instrumental music was presented as being cut in a tiered fashion with 1.7 (of 3) instrumental teachers being cut at the tier 1 level (meaning a delay of instrumental music instruction) and all instrumental music effectively being cut at the tier 3 level. Further refining of the budget data will be presented at the Amherst School Committee meeting on Tuesday, March 17. As of now there is no planned presentation to the individual elementary schools. For other reorganization news keep checking back here at the Parent Council Blog for links to the ARPS website (www.arps.org), and School Committee member Catherine Sandersonʼs blog (myschoolcommitteeblog.blogspot.com). Check ACTV to view reruns of Tuesdayʼs School Committee meeting.