This is a communication I received regarding the possible outcomes of the budget cuts. If we don't like this, then we must GO TO TOWN MEETING and show our support for the schools.
"The Clinton Public Schools is looking at a $1M cut for next year. Although cuts have not yet been finalized they may include the following:
8 paraprofessionals from across the district
All department chairs
Several vocational education slots
All middle school sports
Some high school sports
3 teachers who are leaving will not be replaced (CES Art, CES Reading/Title I, and CHS World Language)
3 Special Education teachers (one from each school)
2 CES teachers
2 CMS teachers
The immediate result of the cuts will be higher class sizes and the inability of the district to take in school choice students at both the elementary and middle school levels—limiting our funds in the future.
Town Meeting is Monday, June 4th"
May 30, 2012
Am I Being Naive?
I live in Clinton, I own a house here, I do my best to be a part of the community, my daughter goes to CES and my youngest will go to pre-school in the fall. I'm invested in this town. I like this town. This is why (for me) it feels wrong to give up on the schools and go somewhere else.
I really think that school choice makes it too easy for us to give up and move on. I know that statement makes a lot of you angry, but it's not a criticism of personal choices. There are many reasons that people choose other schools. But don't you think it's possible that if school choicing wasn't so easy, we would be more inclined to figure out a way to make our schools better?
At the same time, I'm not blind. I know that the school system has problems. The budget cuts worry me. The talk about "bad teachers" worries me. The talk about "nothing will ever change" worries me. But that's where I veer off the beaten path (at least for now). I believe things could change if parents got together and advocated for the school.
What is the best way to do that? I'm not sure yet. But that's what this process is about. Not just wanting to make a difference, but trying to figure out how to do that.
Am I being completely naive?
I really think that school choice makes it too easy for us to give up and move on. I know that statement makes a lot of you angry, but it's not a criticism of personal choices. There are many reasons that people choose other schools. But don't you think it's possible that if school choicing wasn't so easy, we would be more inclined to figure out a way to make our schools better?
At the same time, I'm not blind. I know that the school system has problems. The budget cuts worry me. The talk about "bad teachers" worries me. The talk about "nothing will ever change" worries me. But that's where I veer off the beaten path (at least for now). I believe things could change if parents got together and advocated for the school.
What is the best way to do that? I'm not sure yet. But that's what this process is about. Not just wanting to make a difference, but trying to figure out how to do that.
Am I being completely naive?
May 29, 2012
Go To Town Meeting June 4th 7pm
This is a communication I received about the school's budget cuts:
"Last year the School Committee voted to try for an override for the schools for $600,000. It passed at Town Meeting but failed at the voting booth. This year there has been some discussion of an override but as of right now, there is no override on the table. The school is a bit tied up as they can't use Connect Ed or other official school ways to communicate to the parents that there is a significant need. According to what I understand, the school budget is $1 million in the hole. The last I heard, they are going to have to let go of 5 positions in each school - but again, things are changing every day.
If you are at all concerned about the school budget, I suggest you contact Terry Ingano at inganot@clinton.k12.ma.us or 978-365-4200 to find out what the latest budget is and how it is going to impact your children. He has expressed a desire to try and get as many people out at Town Meeting who support the schools. Here are the details:
Monday, June 4th, 7 pm in the Fallon Memorial Auditorium in the Town Hall. All registered voters are eligible to attend and take part. To see the Town Meeting Warrant Articles and the 2012 budget they can go to www.clintonma.gov and click on the link on the front page.
Town election is the following Monday, June 11 same place from 7 am-8 pm"
"Last year the School Committee voted to try for an override for the schools for $600,000. It passed at Town Meeting but failed at the voting booth. This year there has been some discussion of an override but as of right now, there is no override on the table. The school is a bit tied up as they can't use Connect Ed or other official school ways to communicate to the parents that there is a significant need. According to what I understand, the school budget is $1 million in the hole. The last I heard, they are going to have to let go of 5 positions in each school - but again, things are changing every day.
If you are at all concerned about the school budget, I suggest you contact Terry Ingano at inganot@clinton.k12.ma.us or 978-365-4200 to find out what the latest budget is and how it is going to impact your children. He has expressed a desire to try and get as many people out at Town Meeting who support the schools. Here are the details:
Monday, June 4th, 7 pm in the Fallon Memorial Auditorium in the Town Hall. All registered voters are eligible to attend and take part. To see the Town Meeting Warrant Articles and the 2012 budget they can go to www.clintonma.gov and click on the link on the front page.
Town election is the following Monday, June 11 same place from 7 am-8 pm"
What If We Didn't Have a Choice?
This is the beginning of my year long fact finding mission about the Clinton Middle School. My daughter will be entering 4th grade in Fall 2013 and I'm trying to find out as much as I can.
My goal is to keep her in Clinton Schools. I think it's important for her to go to school in the town where we live. In that respect, I want to make every effort to "choose Clinton schools".
My two biggest concerns are the budget cuts, and parents deciding to school choice to other schools. I understand that we all want what's best for our children, and the budget cuts don't help the school gain any confidence with the parents. That's part of the reason for choosing to leave Clinton. But I wonder if school choice makes it too easy for parents to not pay attention to what's going on with the schools. If we're not invested in the schools, why would we bother to vote for things like overrides, or speak up against the budget cuts at Town Meeting?
In otherwords, I wonder if the budget cuts would be as bad as they are if we didn't have the school choice option. Wouldn't we make it better for ourselves if it was our only option?
What do you think?
My goal is to keep her in Clinton Schools. I think it's important for her to go to school in the town where we live. In that respect, I want to make every effort to "choose Clinton schools".
My two biggest concerns are the budget cuts, and parents deciding to school choice to other schools. I understand that we all want what's best for our children, and the budget cuts don't help the school gain any confidence with the parents. That's part of the reason for choosing to leave Clinton. But I wonder if school choice makes it too easy for parents to not pay attention to what's going on with the schools. If we're not invested in the schools, why would we bother to vote for things like overrides, or speak up against the budget cuts at Town Meeting?
In otherwords, I wonder if the budget cuts would be as bad as they are if we didn't have the school choice option. Wouldn't we make it better for ourselves if it was our only option?
What do you think?
May 23, 2012
Fighting the Budget Cuts
The schools are facing $1M in budget cuts this year. This will cause 15 teachers to be eliminated among other things. Every year there are budget cuts in our school. Why do we put up with it? The schools are one of the most important elements of our town. If the schools are bad, then the town will suffer. No new families will come here, established families who are invested in Clinton will leave. This will effect every aspect of our life in town.
We need to come together to stop this. First we have to get together. Then we have to come up with solutions.
We have a voice. We need to use it. Let's start using our voice here.
See the article here
Coulter Press / The Item - 'Override' word broached at School Committee meeting
We need to come together to stop this. First we have to get together. Then we have to come up with solutions.
We have a voice. We need to use it. Let's start using our voice here.
See the article here
Coulter Press / The Item - 'Override' word broached at School Committee meeting
May 18, 2012
Parents Come Together
This is my first attempt at a site like this. I came up with a similar idea last year after the budget override failed. I couldn't believe that it didn't go through and I think it was partly due to people not getting out there to vote. It was then that I thought about creating a site that explained town government in simple terms so we all can understand. That site never came together, but I've been thinking about what I can do as a parent to help make things better. The more I thought about it, the more one word came to mind - COMMUNICATION. That's when I decided to start this site.
My hope is this will be a place where parents can come together in one spot to share information, thoughts, personal experiences, and ideas. It is my belief that communication is the first step to fixing anything. As parents, we can't complain to each other but then never try to make things better.
That's what this site is for.
Let's come together and make things better.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)