School districts across Vermont are trying to keep budget increases low. The Essex Westford district is proposing major changes for next school year. “At this point, it’s not a done deal. This is the proposal,” said Essex Westford school board chair Robert Carpenter. The board heard Superintendent Beth Cobb’s proposed budget on Tuesday. Carpenter said they’re trying to cut $6 million. He told NBC5 that health care played a large role in the need to make cuts. “One of the largest increases we have to assume is the health insurance costs,” Carpenter explained. “In assuming all of those increases, inflation, salary increases and benefits, we as a district have to cut six million out of our budget in order to maintain a level budget into next year.”Part of the proposal included restructuring kindergarten through eighth grade and bringing pre-K to one building. If approved, Kindergarten through second grade would be at Hiawatha, Essex Elementary and Westford. Fleming, Founders and Westford would be for third through fifth graders. Grades six through eight would be at Essex Middle School and Albert D. Lawton Intermediate.Classes at Summit Street School would be moved out to make way for the district’s services for students with special needs. “In Summit, students there would receive different therapeutic services that otherwise might have to either go out of district or not have that need met within our district,” said Carpenter. Danette Fleishman’s daughter attends Summit. She’s concerned the change will have a major impact on her daughter and other students. “That just disrupts, I think, the kids’ academic learning,” she said. “It could be somebody’s new norm, but for right now, the transition is big. The impact is wide.”Fleishman said a lot remains unclear to parents, like how this will impact other programs within the district. “I just want everybody in the community to have a clear picture of what is happening, why it’s happening, how it’s going to impact you, how is it going to impact the after-school programs, the winter camp and spring camp, vacation camp and summer camp,” she said. How much this restructuring could save the district won’t be known until Tuesday. Over the next five weeks, people in the district will have the chance to learn more about these changes and raise any concerns. The virtual community engagements are on Thursday nights from 6:30 to 7:30.
School districts across Vermont are trying to keep budget increases low. The Essex Westford district is proposing major changes for next school year.
“At this point, it’s not a done deal. This is the proposal,” said Essex Westford school board chair Robert Carpenter.
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The board heard Superintendent Beth Cobb’s proposed budget on Tuesday. Carpenter said they’re trying to cut $6 million. He told NBC5 that health care played a large role in the need to make cuts.
“One of the largest increases we have to assume is the health insurance costs,” Carpenter explained. “In assuming all of those increases, inflation, salary increases and benefits, we as a district have to cut six million out of our budget in order to maintain a level budget into next year.”
Part of the proposal included restructuring kindergarten through eighth grade and bringing pre-K to one building. If approved,
Kindergarten through second grade would be at Hiawatha, Essex Elementary and Westford. Fleming, Founders and Westford would be for third through fifth graders. Grades six through eight would be at Essex Middle School and Albert D. Lawton Intermediate.
Classes at Summit Street School would be moved out to make way for the district’s services for students with special needs.
“In Summit, students there would receive different therapeutic services that otherwise might have to either go out of district or not have that need met within our district,” said Carpenter.
Danette Fleishman’s daughter attends Summit. She’s concerned the change will have a major impact on her daughter and other students.
“That just disrupts, I think, the kids’ academic learning,” she said. “It could be somebody’s new norm, but for right now, the transition is big. The impact is wide.”
Fleishman said a lot remains unclear to parents, like how this will impact other programs within the district.
“I just want everybody in the community to have a clear picture of what is happening, why it’s happening, how it’s going to impact you, how is it going to impact the after-school programs, the winter camp and spring camp, vacation camp and summer camp,” she said.
How much this restructuring could save the district won’t be known until Tuesday. Over the next five weeks, people in the district will have the chance to learn more about these changes and raise any concerns.
The virtual community engagements are on Thursday nights from 6:30 to 7:30.
