The Committee held a meeting this past Tuesday, March 7th to hear about and
decide on approving the FY18 Middle School and High School Programs of Study
(POS), receive the proposed FY18 budget from Supt. Taymore in order to begin
deliberations, and vote FY18 fees. Here’s the rundown (and don’t forget to
check the minutes for the official version):
Program of Study:
Middle School (Principal Conway and Assistant Principal Parsons) http://mvmms.melroseschools.com/our-school/course-descriptions/#sthash.yzSCcmW5.dpbs
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Most changes
center around A Block, addressing issues around writing, introduction to band
and orchestra, and challenge science classes (which students will still select,
but labs will now be based on all three major science topics. One teacher will
take one particular domain and focus on that).
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There were updates
to English course descriptions (especially challenge classes).
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Special
education instruction includes focusing on writing for students on IEP’s.
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Classes were selected
in Aspen last year using the POS as a guide, and it’s important that students
choose classes that interest them when they make selections.
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In the past, the
MS has clustered students identified as gifted in specific challenge classes, but
this year will give them options based on their interests.
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There may be
more sharing of staff with MHS this year (currently at 8 teachers).
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The course
selection process is in late May/early June, but information will go out to
families in April.
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They’ve developed
a possible 8th grade 2D art class with a competency based learning
approach for 1-2 trimesters. (It would potentially allow students to test out
of Art I as a freshman at MHS (so they ultimately have more art opportunities
in later grades).
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The POS can’t
say how many sections will or will not run. They can’t always run as many
sections as students might like.
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We have the
“Cadillac” of foreign language programs and some students may even be able to
take two languages during some portion of their time at MVMMS.
Program of Study: High
School (Principal Merrill and Assistant Principal Corrigan) http://melrosehigh.melroseschools.com/2016/03/mhs-2016-2017-program-studies/#sthash.pKdtzScj.dpbs
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Very few
changes this year.
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Considerations:
Competency Based Education (CBE), Project Based Learning (PBL), Social Emotional Learning (SEL), and class size.
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Students can
advance more quickly in Fine Arts if they successfully complete a portfolio
review (with standards developed by the art teachers).
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Dual
enrollment: outstanding feedback from students, this year expanded offerings.
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More
personalized learning for 12th grade students is expected
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AP Capstone
Diploma program (2nd year) and AP Research new.
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Honors Stats
in new; AP computer science is a new math course.
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There are revised
requirements around Wellness.
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New student
options: later start for 12th grade students by skipping A block to
work on college/career planning; and early release for an exploration
opportunity (career planning and/or training).
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Starting
scheduling process a little earlier, hoping to have 1st run before
April vacation, which should help MVMMS and support best assignment of staff.
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Rare now to
have course conflicts (due to the new scheduling protocol).
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Minimum
regular ed class size is around 15.
Budget priorities and
impact on the budget (Supt. Taymore and
Director of Finance and Administrative Affairs Marianne Farrell)
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Last year’s
priorities were different with a level service budget and a goal of
maintaining direct services to students. There were some reductions to balance
the budget (e.g. three administrators).
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This year: SEL, inclusive practices, instructional technology,
and enrollments are the priorities. As of today, enrollment totals 3818 (with K
at 304). Professional development is very important and is being employed
across the district in a variety of ways taking time, money, and other
resources.
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Standard challenges:
loss of state and federal funding, increasing costs for transportation, health
insurance, special ed. programs and services, English Language students (enrollment
of 150) and the translation services required, unknown curriculum changes (e.g.
history, etc.).
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Document is
shorter than previous budget documents; less information at the beginning and
more throughout. Offsets are now combined at the front of the document.
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Four
categories are detailed: salaries, materials and supplies, technology, and contracted
services. There was a review of each section (individual schools, itinerants,
music, athletics, pupil personnel services, teaching and learning,
administration, and system-wide).
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Committee discussion:
excellent formatting, be careful in terminology (we do not have a deficit but
instead the Supt. has presented a budget that differs from what the City can
afford); Melrose is a minimum aid community in the Governor’s budget with
assessments for charter schools increased (even with 19 fewer students);
vocational school assessments are based on average income per household which
doesn’t make sense; slightly lower structural deficit in the school budget; we
look at any spending we can make prior to the end of this year; this is one of
the richest teacher contracts in the city’s history; “shocking” youth of our
staff has impact on budget; House budget coming next and is unknown; usability
and accessibility of the document aligns with recommendations from MASC/MASBO/MASS
workshop this past weekend; review of curriculum materials included assessment
of their duration and necessary replacement; METCO reimbursements are a state
question; possibility of negotiating library materials’ costs in conjunction
with other districts (but many materials are charged per pupil and there are
state regulations around purchasing)?; concerns around transportation costs;
translation services require efforts around district-specific documents and
other districts struggle with this also; solving problems like substitute
teaching and the shortage of administrators.
Fee Decisions
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Photography
class at MHS: eliminated the fee.
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Transcripts:
eliminated the fee.
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HS Athletics: no
change to fees.
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Elementary
Music: $5 increase.
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Ed Stations:
2% increase based on the 2:22 release time.
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ECC:
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Stay and Play
(summer): 2% increase.
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Stay and Play
(school year): 2% increase.
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Tuition: 2% increase.
Public Q&A Session on the budget will be held on March 14th
from 6-7:30 in the Aldermanic Chamber of City Hall. It will be open to the
public and televised. In order for Subcommittee Chairman Liz DeSelm to combine
questions and facilitate efficiently, please send your questions to her in
advance at ldeselm@cityofmelrose.org.
If time remains, questions will be taken from the audience. Our regular
business meeting will follow.
