School Year ‘03-‘04

School Year ‘04-‘05

Elementary

Middle

High School

Elementary

Middle

High School

Foreign Language

Elementary Spanish cut—one year reprieve due to grant funding. Grant funding left zero dollars for supplies and curriculum materials. Materials purchased through donations.

No change

Italian and German Cut; larger class sizes; AP Spanish and German taught on an unpaid basis

Eliminated all world language teachers.  Through volunteer effort and funding, the Arlington Spanish Network is producing after school programs and audio-video materials for elementary Spanish language instruction.

No change

1.0 language teacher added; Italian and German NOT restored; AP Spanish restored but NOT AP German; level of classes in each language limited; number of students in some classes extremely high.

ACE (Gifted & Talented Program)

Eliminated

Eliminated, including ACE writing workshop

N/A

3.0 teachers restored to support ACE

1.0 position added to restore ACE; not ACE writing

N/A

All-day kindergarten

100% funded by tuition

N/A

N/A

100% funded by tuition

N/A

N/A

Visual Arts

Eliminated: run by parent volunteers at some schools. All supplies purchased through donations.

Teacher reshuffle; experienced staff lost, replaced by teacher from elementary program

Teacher cut; fewer offerings

3.5 teachers added; visual arts instruction given 40 min. period once per week

Former elementary art teachers now teaching at middle school level

No staff added; inadequate options remain

Drama

N/A

Drama eliminated

Offering reduced; teacher assigned to teach English, also

N/A

Part-time position added to restore for grades 7 and 8, but not grade 6

Drama teacher continues to have dual responsibility

Music

No change

Teacher reshuffle; experienced staff lost, replaced by new hire

No change

No change

Part-time position added resulting in?

No change

Language Arts

Reading specialists funded entirely by private donations

No change

N/A

Reading specialists restored

No change

N/A

Science

Coordinator cut; K-3 science specialist cut

No change

Double period labs eliminated from Freshman curriculum; reduced by one class

Coordinator and science specialist NOT restored

No change

1.0 science teacher added; Lead teacher reclassified to Director; Freshman labs not restored

Technology

Computer lab teachers cut

No change

No change

No staff restored

No change

No change

Class Size in Core Curriculum

Increased

Increased

Increased average class size; increased student/faculty ratio; increased number of study halls

Net 3.0 teachers added system-wide to deal with specific class size reductions

No staffing added, increased class sizes  assumed to remain

A majority of classes are fully enrolled at 25; many classes are less than 25. Over enrolled classes represent a small percentage.

Course Availability

N/A

Vacancy in Family & Consumer Science eliminated

90% of students unable to carry full class load because elective offerings have been cut

N/A

Part-time position in Family & Consumer Science restored

Some electives restored and number of study halls decreased

Libraries

Elementary library teachers cut; no library access grades 3, 4, 5

October 2003: Exec Board of Metro west Massachusetts Regional Library System voted to decertify Arlington elementary schools as members of the network because of lack of qualified staff.

Library director notes fewer students using public library and asking for help. Overwhelmed teachers don't assign research projects?

Position vacancies eliminated

Retirement resulting in decrease of 1.0 librarian

1 full-time librarian plus 1 part-time aid added to cover K story period and 1-5 instruction at all elementary schools; still do not meet MSLMA standards for certification and volunteers required to help with circulation and organization tasks

No change

No change

Administration

No change

Assistant principal restored

House dean & admin support cut

Reduce 1 principal & admin support (Dallin off-line)

No change

House dean & admin support restored

School Social Work / Psychologists

All social workers cut; all psychologists cut

All social workers cut; three psychologists left

1.0 Intervention Specialist and part-time Psychologist added

No change

No change

Guidance

N/A

No change

Director downgraded to Supervisor position; average caseload per counselor increased

N/A

No change

Same as prior year

Health Services

No change

No change

No change

No change

No change

No change

Traffic Supv.

6.0 positions reduced

N/A

2.0 positions restored

N/A

Physical Education

Gym classes cut from 2 per week to 1

No change

Graduation requirement reduced to 2 yrs.; staff reduce by 2 positions

2.5 Phys Ed teachers restored; gym is restored to 2x per week

No change

Graduation requirement restored to 4 yrs. for incoming freshmen; No staffing restored

Alternative and Support Programs

5^th grade science camp now an all-volunteer effort

No change (STARS)

Health and substance abuse programs unfunded; S.T.E.P. alternative program eliminated

5^th grade science camp still an all-volunteer effort

No change (STARS)

Health and substance abuse programs remain unfunded; S.T.E.P. NOT restored

Physical Plant

Thompson, Dallin, and Stratton poorly maintained while rebuild plans are on hold

No change

No change

Dallin rebuild in process; No significant capital and maintenance investment for Thompson and Stratton, whose rebuild plans are still on hold

No change

Additional costs due to Peirce Field closing

Other

System-wide Human Resources Director and communications Specialist eliminated; Transportation, Maintenance, and Custodial staffing reduced by 7.0 positions; Grant writer eliminated with reductions in ACE

System-wide Human Resources Director and Communications Specialist not restored; No Transportation, Maintenance, or Custodial staffing restored; Grant writer not restored