The Essential School Reinventing the Sharon Public Schools

Our Mission and Our Vision First-ranked; continuous improvement Distinctive Preparing students for the world they will live in Uncompromising efforts to provide the best curriculum and instruction Meet the needs of all students

Mission and Vision Demonstrate competence as writers, critical thinkers Excel in mathematics and science Communicate in at least one language other than English Demonstrate citizenship through community service and participation in civic life of community, nation and world.

What is the Essential School The Essential School is not a proposal. It is not a recommendation. It is what remains if the projected FY08 budget of app. $30 million is the budget voted at Town Meeting. $30 million is $2 million short of service provision equal to this year. To recoup what we lost in 07 with the loss of the override, we would need an additional $1.4 million. In short, bringing the schools back to the FY06 level would require over $3 million.

The Essential School Strengthens academic and intellectual development Promotes learning as a life-long objective Prepares students to to be healthy consumers and excel at life skills Reduces or eliminates some current programs in order to concentrate on what is essential and basic

The Essential School Achieving our Mission within the fiscal limits of what Sharon is currently able to pay Why is it necessary to redesign? What will remain the same? the CBA the State mandates What are the major differences? More focus on core curriculum More focus on our mission and vision Higher expectations of parents as partners

Why Redesign? School budget is unpredictable from year to year making the current program unsustainable and threatening the core curriculum. Example: adding and subtracting coordinators, reading and math support specialists, tech teachers, music teachers, electives; reducing HS time on task

The Essential School Free full-day kindergarten for all children Special Education as required by law Foreign languages in grade 3 Focus on critical thinking through achieving the SSC Goals

The AS, Enrollment, etc. The issues and anxiety by the anticipation of the elimination of the Alternative School distract from the serious crisis faced by all children in all schools. Recommended: that during the next school year, the SC work with the principal, the new superintendent and the AS stakeholders to define the role of the AS in the light of current practice. Consequently, the k-5 cuts will need to be distributed in a different way, yet to be determined.

What’s different about this school? Adds 12.5 positions: 2 technology, 2 maintenance, 2 enrollment teachers, 3 FL, 3.5 K Eliminates 45 positions (net = 32.5) some music, arts, PE k - 12, k-5 assistant principal, k - 5 coordinators, all reading and math specialists K - 8, paid after-school activities including sports, drama, band etc., in-school suspension monitors, academic development center, field trip account, community service, some secretaries, some nurses, kindergarten assistants Replaces some specials at SMS and SHS with extra instruction in English, math and science

Sports, music, drama, etc Sports, music, drama, and the arts are a critical part of education. For some students, these activities make school palatable and keep them involved. Parents and other entities will need to develop programs to absorb and replace the programs eliminated from the SPS Some programs may be funded through overrides in future years

The Essential School Governance and Estimated Budget Administrative reductions($470,000) Teachers ($1,650,000) Tuitions($200,000) Clerical ($25,000) Retirement Savings($125,000) Other ($370,000) TOTAL Reductions: ($2,840,000) Kindergarten $265,000 Second language$150,000 Maintenance$125,000 Tech Aides $60,000 Supplies$260,000 Enrollment staffing TOTAL Additions $860,000 Bottom Line 1.04below FY07 (1/11/07 ($1,980,000)