Most of the $323,000 increase is geared to curriculum improvement in science and English language arts instruction, superintendent Nicholas Young told the committee.
SOUTH HADLEY – The South Hadley School Committee has unanimously adopted a preliminary budget.
The proposed $19,959,936 budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1 represents a 1.6 percent hike in spending, should Town Meeting members approve.
Nicholas Young
Most of the $323,000 increase is geared to curriculum improvement in science and English language arts instruction, Superintendent Nicholas Young told the committee Tuesday night.
“This budget calls for money for curriculum work,” he said. “It is hard to argue against strong science programs.”
Science supplies and new textbooks are “one of the most expensive areas.”
Young was blunt about the need to improve performance among some students. He also said the idea of “social promotion” – passing a student when grades may not justify it – is something he wants to eliminate.
“We have a slice of students that are not successful” Young said. In the high school alone, he said 50 out of the 617 attending are floundering in mathematics.
“We have students in over their heads, academically,” he said. “This is a very serious problem.” The superintendent won approval for a new tutoring plan during school hours. Kindergarten through grade 12 student totals are 1,961.
Board members lauded the school chief for keeping the increase low, saying it is what municipal officials were hoping for. The committee also said more resources should be directed for re-mediation efforts.
“You’ve done yeoman’s work in holding the budget down for the town,” committee member Edward J. Boisselle said.
The new budget relies on state aid that is about the same as current levels, at $7.7 million.
A discussion on the School Choice program was postponed until the April meeting.
Data provided by the administration shows that in fiscal 2012, the most recent year for complete information, South Hadley public schools accepted 140 additional students, and collected $867,917.
But the district also saw 107 student opt out of attending South Hadley, resulting in total payouts of $593,457 to school systems outside of town.
The committee also recognized teachers Danielle Kotfila, Kathleen Mruk and Pamela Soderbaum who earned the Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching Awards this year.