School superintendent recommends budget cuts

By Caitlin Castello, Town Correspondent

Wellesley Public Schools may see cuts to staff, new library books, and art and music programs, along with an increase in athletic fees for the next fiscal year as administrators try to close a $1 million gap in the school’s projected budget.

Superintendent Bella Wong made her recommendations on potential budget cuts to a heavily attended School Committee meeting last night.

“I know the gap sounds large, but it costs you much more to recapture in the future what you could save in maintaining in your investment today,” said Wong.

The recommended cuts are comprised of small reductions in different areas, said Wong.

The projected budget for fiscal year 2011 is $1,070,248 over the recommended 1 percent increase from the Advisory Committee, the town’s financial panel.

“Because we are quite lean, every reduction on this list is individually impactful. The small reductions impact many,” said Wong.

Wong recommended the elimination of the extra two buses to the high school. Last year, the School Committee added two more buses to the four existing buses to Wellesley High because student parking was all but eliminated during construction of a new school. The ridership for the buses has not increased. The reduction would save $167,218.

Also recommended was the elimination of budgets to replenish the annual supply of library books. The middle school athletic fee could also increase from $100 to $125.

Among the list of staff reduction recommendations included the elimination of elementary band and orchestra, a reduction in meeting time for music and art in the elementary school. A reduction in high school technology elections and elimination of the middle school math lab was also recommended by Wong.

Five administration positions in the central office, the middle and high school, along with the Director of Libraries could be cut.

“Although each may be relatively small, there are no good reductions here. I believe for every dollar this community has provided to its schools, we in turn have worked hard and have been proud to turn back tremendous value,” said Wong

Upham Elementary Parent-Teacher Organization President, Betsy Reale said many parents are concerned about the potential cuts.

“To be honest we are becoming very, very frustrated with how in the past years the budget has slowly become whittled away and we are kind of at this basic budget at this point,” said Reale. “We strongly urge School Committee to fight for support for upper level service for next year.”

The discussion about the school budget continues tonight (1/6) and School Committee is expected to vote on the budget.

Caitlin Castello can be reached at caitlincastello@gmail.com