Fund-raising blitz for schools a one-time effort, volunteers say

Whether it’s through a property tax increase or some other means, securing money for the schools will be up to town officials the next time around, said Arlington Education Foundation member Marie Meteer, who helped spearhead the drive with the Arlington FY11 Group.

“We’ve bought them some time,’’ Meteer said. “We won’t do it next year. We’re really sticking to ‘This was a bridge and the town has to figure it out.’ ’’

While School Committee members last week applauded the Bridge the Gap campaign, and started deciding where to apply its proceeds for next fiscal year, chairman Joseph Curro said the school district and the town are already beginning to investigate asking residents to approve a Proposition 2 1/2 override.

“It has to be discussed,’’ he said. “Everyone understands that this private fund-raising is a onetime shot.’’

A committee including selectmen, School Committee members and other town officials will meet Friday to work on a five-year financial plan for Arlington. The topics will include the override, and putting a pay-as-you-throw trash and recycling system on the ballot next year, according to Selectwoman Diane Mahon, the board’s chairwoman. If something isn’t done to address the town’s budget woes, Mahon said, it could face an even worse financial situation in fiscal year 2012.

For the 2011 fiscal year, which starts July 1, the money raised by the Bridge the Gap campaign will enable Arlington’s schools to restore about 18 of the positions cut when officials were faced with a nearly $4 million shortfall.

The School Committee voted Tuesday to use roughly $480,000 on English, foreign language and physical education programs, as well as art and music.

“We are so appreciative to be working with this additional funding,’’ said School Committee member Leba Heigham.

But the restored jobs are only a fraction of the 40 to 46 teachers, more than 30 traffic supervisors, and additional support staff the district had cut to create a balanced budget this spring.

The looming toll was what inspired the Bridge the Gap drive, which initially set $1 million as its goal and last Monday as its deadline, giving school officials time to settle plans for the fall with whatever funds it raised. But Tuesday, the School Committee and the Arlington Education Foundation agreed to extend the campaign, and postpone the final spending decisions, by a week.

“We just feel that there is still momentum,’’ said Amy Speare, a member of Arlington FY11. She said 1,300 people had made contributions, and organizers are hoping to reach $580,000 by Tuesday’s new deadline.

Superintendent Kathleen Bodie said that last month, based on the advice of a labor counsel, the school district sent layoff letters to 107 teachers with three or fewer years of experience, even though the district does not anticipate losing that many jobs.

Teachers with more than three years of experience who might be laid off will be notified Tuesday, Bodie said.

Mahon said she has been impressed by how much the campaign has already raised, and how many people donated money even though they do not have children in the schools.

“The sad part is that everybody recognizes how dire the situation is, especially on the school side,’’ Mahon said.

The School Committee decided Tuesday that any additional donations will be used to restore cuts to physical education in the elementary schools, a math support position in the middle school, and a guidance counselor. Another priority is to reduce sports and extracurricular activity fees, which would otherwise increase 20 percent.

But Curro, who sang with a quartet to help raise money for the campaign, said Arlington will need to find a more sustainable way to fund education.

“I think it’s pretty broadly understood that an override has to be part of that,’’ he said.

Brock Parker can be reached at brock.globe@gmail.com.