APEA Marching for Million Dollars
The APEA urges the Regional School Committee to vote NO to the proposed 14 cuts to educator positions, which will directly affect all aspects of students’ experiences at the Amherst-Pelham Regional Middle and High Schools. The educators union march will leave the High School front entrance at 4:00 PM on Tuesday, March 12. The APEA will also show up in force at the High School Library at 6:30 PM that same day as the Regional School Committee discusses and votes on the budget.
During the march, educators and community supporters will try to find the $1 million that will fill the funding gap. First stop will be Town Hall to urge the town to agree to the School Committee’s request for a one-time gift of $1 million. Second, the march will stop by Amherst College to inquire how much of their $3.6 billion endowment may be contributed to the public education of the town in which they are located. Third, marchers will go to the Jones Library, where the town recently approved $10 million in additional funds for the multi-million dollar renovation project.
What will happen if School Committee passes this budget with cuts:
- Fewer counselors and restorative justice specialists who are critical at a time when student mental health needs are soaring,
- Gutting of the World Language program at the Middle School means less opportunity to take advanced classes in high school,
- Consolidation of High School departments means more work for fewer educators, resulting in less support for students,
- Reduction in paraeducators and special educators means greater difficulty meeting student needs,
- Reduction in High School academic intervention classes means already vulnerable students receive drastically reduced academic coaching and support.
For future healthy budgets, the APEA urges the School Committee and District to evaluate its expenses, particularly in the areas of administration and contracted workers. Interim Superintendent Doug Slaughter admitted at the School Committee on Wednesday, March 6 to paying $705,000 to a private firm for educational service providers, positions normally filled by public employees. This fee is enough to cover the average salary of about ten teachers or counselors.