Perhaps you have had a chance to read the New Haven Independent article on the 2016 public school budget: http://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/board_of_ed_approves_budget#cmt.
Perhaps you read about the equity study done by the district last month:
If you clicked through to any of the documents from those two stories, you may have learned that ESUMS has the lowest per-student funding in town at about $7500 per student.
The proposed budget raises ESUMS overall total funding, but because we have added so many students, the net effect is that our per-student funding will be cut to $7395. Certainly the district is tight for money. But, Co-op will see its per-student funding increase from $9,356 per student to $9,977. Hyde’s will increase from $11,743 to $12,902. Sound School’s will increase from $14,445 per student to $15,258.
If we are concerned about equity, there might be better places to cut than the lowest-funded school!
Sound School has half as many students as ESUMS, but the same number of teachers. ESUMS has requested more teachers to handle the increasing student population, but we also have important needs: more guidance counselors (we only have 1.5), more foreign language teachers (wouldn’t it be great to offer another language?), training for teachers of advanced-level courses (AP bio or computer science!), another vice-principal, a full-time nurse, year-round secretaries . . . I am sure you could think of many, many more examples.
I encourage you to take a look at the articles and the documents linked from them, and if your schedule permits, come speak with Aliyya Swaby from the New Haven Independent today (4/29) at the school at 1:30.
All opinions are welcome, but those of New Haven residents are especially valuable. If you cannot make the meeting, consider sending an email to members of the Board of Ed, Superintendent Harries, or your Alder. Thank you so much for being active parents and advocates for our school!
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