Received this email today:
"Never a letter I enjoy writing, but unfortunately, last year's battle to keep Challenge & Enrichment services in the budget was only the first step. Although a budget that includes C&E has already been voted upon and sent forward from the Board of Education, the Board of Finance has come back stating that they want to see what a 0% increase would look like instead. This means that they might vote down the current budget and cuts would have to be made. If that happens, I've already been informed that the Challenge & Enrichment program would be on the chopping block... again.
At this point, what is needed is support for the budget AS IS, so that the Board of Finance & the Board of Selectmen hear the will of the community, and do not send it back to the Board of Education for modification. I know that it's a stressful, economically unsure time for the community and for individuals, but I also know that without the support of the community, many programs- more than just C&E- will be lost. At the budget decrease the board is asking for, we will be facing a decrease of possibly 10 teachers, and/or programs. Nothing- music, art, library, classroom supplies, or class sizes, is safe. Last year, Marlborough Elementary lost their C&E program, and they had a great deal of support. I hope ours is greater.
What is need now is for parents, community members, and friends to come to the Board of Finance/Board of Ed meetings on Thursdays, March 11th and March 18th, at Gilead Hill School, and urge them not to vote down the budget as it stands. Please spread the word, and bring your neighbors.
My greatest fear is that a vocal minority will defeat the will of the silent majority, and our school will suffer for it. Please consider coming to one or both of these meetings to let your voice be heard.
Thank you,
Kate Maupin
Challenge & Enrichment"
Could see it coming a mile away, but it's still upsetting. With the many thousands and thousands of dollars going into the mandated support of those at the lower end of the spectrum, the fact that they would consider cutting one of the two teachers meant to provide support to the high achievers is frustrating, to say the least. And, as the parent of a child who is part of the C and E program, as well as a proponent of a 0 percent budget, this certainly poses a challenge for me as well. My son definitely needs the additional stimulation. And Kate is a wonderful teacher. On the other hand, since this is not a mandated program, can we afford it right now? And the fact that they are urging parents to vote for the budget as is is not good either. So what do we do? Fight for a 0 percent budget come what may? Than what happens when the teacher contracts are up? If they are selfish enough to allow programs to be lost and colleagues to lose their jobs this year, how do we make certain that they don't see another increase until hell freezes over?
