It’s been only three months since taking on the superintendent’s position for the Gill-Montague Regional School District. It has been a very interesting, challenging and encouraging few months.  I feel proud to be leading a team of such hard-working and skillful educators and have felt very welcomed by parents and citizens in both communities.

On Wednesday, September 30, voters from the towns of Gill and Montague will once again be asked to attend a district meeting to vote on a proposed school budget.  I would like to explain why the majority of the School Committee as well as the administration and staff feel that the proposed FY10 budget should be approved.

We are also participating in two Readiness Schools projects (out of only 16 projects submitted across the state) to continue bringing innovation into the district. One project is focused on a regional collaboration to provide professional development for teachers and staff working with autistic children and the other is to implement a place-based thematic educational experience in a combined Hillcrest-Sheffield model.  These are ongoing projects that we hope to develop further in partnership with the Department of Education.

Even given the tremendous financial strains within the district, there is significant progress being made educationally that should be acknowledged and celebrated.  MCAS scores are improving and, in the case of Sheffield Elementary, rising dramatically in both English Language Arts and Mathematics.  In mathematics we implemented Math Expressions, a nationally acclaimed comprehensive math program for grades 1-5.  In one year we have seen MCAS scores improve from 9% - 17% at each grade level.  That kind of improvement is incredible.

For example, across the district:
• Grade 5 ELA proficiency scores rose from 44% in 2008 to 60% in 2009
• Grade 10 ELA proficiency scores rose from 66% to 82%
• Grade 4 Math proficiency scores rose from 22% to 35%
• Grade 10 Math proficiency scores rose from 65% to 78%

Sheffield Elementary School is one of the few schools in our region that has been labeled in Corrective Action that made Adequate Yearly Progress in all subgroups – they are improving above their targets set by the state. That is definitely a cause for celebration. 

Because of the positive energy and effort being put forth by the district and the communities, I feel that it is critically important that we pass the district budget being presented and continue to move forward positively and proactively.  The proposed budget amount is $16,657,788.  This is a reduction of $196,265 from the budget amount presented to voters in June.  This revised budget amount reflects a .19% increase over FY09, (less than 2/10 of 1%) which is the lowest proposed budget increase in six years.

I would like to urge passage of this proposed budget for the following reasons:
1) It reflects a good faith effort on everyone’s part to present a realistic, reasonable budget that maintains the integrity of the educational programs.
2) It eliminates DESE fiscal oversight, which has the following advantages:
a. Puts us in a position of strength when discussing regional educational collaboration with both our neighbors and the state – it is always difficult if not impossible to get the best deal when you don’t have a strong position;
b. Allows us to pull the state to the table proactively rather than reactively – they will see us as a successful partner;
c. Allows us to continue to build upon the successful partnerships already established with the state - the success we have had with the state so far has been based upon our educational initiatives and efforts, not their fiscal oversight.
3) And finally, it allows us to turn the page on the contentious arguments that have arisen over the past several years and to focus on how we can best work together to meet the needs of our children as well as our taxpayers.

Working collaboratively with members of the School Committee, we have begun to develop a budget process that highlights the fact that we must address the structural budget gap in a proactive manner that includes the state as a partner but holds us accountable as a community as well for educational quality and cost effectiveness. 

We know that the Gill-Montague School district still has difficult challenges ahead – both financial and educational – which can be met with continued hard work and determination from everyone involved.  I believe the best way to address these challenges is to pass this budget – as imperfect as it is – and to move on.  I am hopeful that our fine school district can work together looking forward and building a better future.  I am eager to help with this effort.