The School Committee met June 8 for the eighth time to discuss the continued budget cuts. The last meeting had resulted in a leftover $550,000 to be cut. At the end of this meeting, the budget was set at another $266,500 to be cut.
As usual, the meeting began by allowing public comments. The President of the Malden Education Association, Bonnie Page, stated that “every educator is connected” and expressed her concern for protecting the teachers and faculty around the city. Salemwood nurse, Cathy Donahue, asked the council to reconsider their prior decision on cutting the position for nursing supervisor, due to the fact that in Salemwood alone, she sees about 130-150 students at day; she stated that the schools don’t meet recommended guidelines, especially the high school, and without a nursing supervisor, the situation will only become more difficult. Beebe teacher, Leslie Morrison, claimed that “cuts affect [teachers] directly… more and more cuts… more responsibility on faculty… [and] less supplies.”
The Committee then began discussing and voting on more cuts. They decided to cut funding for custodians and custodial duties, which was a $200,000 position. A $65,000 technology position is also being cut, which concerned some members of the Committee because $100,000 had been cut from the technology department at one of the previous meetings.
The Superintendent then broke the news to the public that every seventh and eighth grader in the city will be receiving a Chromebook, so technology is being funded and maintained.
The Committee suggest cutting the STEM director, but it was vetoed twice. The idea was brought up to cut a $140,000 assistant superintendent position by Tara Beardsley, as she claimed the district had run with just one before. David DeRousi, the district Superintendent, discouraged the idea claiming that because the one Assistant Superintendent is the Director of Special Education. In the end, the Committee vetoed the idea.
In the end, the Committee decided to meet again to find a way to make the additional $266,500 of cuts.
