A Reader says......
SAVE CLASSICAL AS WELL
I called today and ask for the enrollment numbers. Both schools have about 1600, yet faculty have not been equalized. It is too much to examine all stuff. Let's make it easy. Let's just look at the basic topics of Math, English, Science, Social Studies and Foreign Language based on the 2015 budget.
Approximate Students:Classical-1600 ENGLISH 1600
As per the budget page:
English Teachers Classical - 11 English Teachers at English 13 +2 Teachers
Math Teachers Classical 11 Math Teachers English 13 +2 Teachers
Social Studies Teachers Classical 12
Social Studies Teachers English 13 +1 Teacher
Foreign Language Teachers Classical 10
Foreign Language Teachers English 12 +2 Teachers
In the basic topics alone ENGLISH has PLUS 7 TEACHERS.
English and Classical have just about the same number of students BUT Classical has SEVEN LESS teachers in the common topics alone. Class sizes must be through the roof. English High School has a budget of over $500,000 greater than Classical for the same amount of students.
Does Classical have the resources to support 1600 students not if you compare it to English's resources?
Why are they really being short staffed in the most essential areas?
This shows massive inequalities in English over Classical which could have a dramatic effect in achievement. We will have to wait for the scores.
I would have to assume that Latham is friends with Principal Strangie. You do not usually rail road your friends.
With these inequalities, how long will Principal Constantino last before he feels pressured to quit or retire?
Maybe Latham is trying to run Constantino out as well?
Now all of this is occurring BEFORE the MCAS is released. Although CLASSICAL had climbed from a Level 3 to a Level 1 thanks to the teacher's hard work and GENE'S leadership HOWEVER that status is hard to maintain without proper support!
English also has 3 vice principals to support Mr. Strangie, while Classical only has 2. Hopefully, a much needed third VP, which was included in this year's proposed budget, will be hired. Tech has 2 VP's to support Ms. Paradis and Tech has half the students Classical does. Gene Constantino, Dennis Thompson, Amy Dunn and the entire teaching and support staff do a wonderful job at Classical. Going from a level 3 to a level 1 school was a great accomplishment and given the staffing numbers above, I am sure it was not an easy one.
ReplyDeleteChris Warren has been hired as the 3rd principal at Classical.
DeleteKeeping the Level 1 may not be a guarantee, though.
DeleteOne can only hope that people will see this blog and start asking the question "WHY" because Classical is obviously powerless to help themselves. Is Latham trying to bully Constantino out? Why wasn't the school budget for the schools reviewed before the start of school year for equality? I am completely shock that these kinds of inappropriate budgeting got passed Donna Coppola and Maria Carrasco. They are usually strong advocates of fairness between for our schools. I hope someone can come to the rescue.
DeleteIf they went without so many less teachers and one less Vice Principal last year. I would have to agree. It will be interesting to see how being snub resources effect their achievement level. This seems to be Latham's way of bullying. How do you bully a principal, don't give them the resources equal to that of a high school with the same population. This forces them to work harder and look bad when testing results are published. The next question is why would you want to do this. Maybe if Principal Constantino looks bad she may hope that Principal Strangie will look good. Principal Constantino will have to sink pretty low but I suppose it is possible.
ReplyDeleteInteresting point! According to this year's budget, English High School has an extra building sub. There is significant more money in the textbook line, library material line, and school supply line. I feel bad for Classical. I am sure they are aware of the disparities but are powerless to do anything about it.
ReplyDeleteI am curious what the special ed and ELS population is at both schools. That could be a reason for the descrepancies,
ReplyDeleteTo me,that is a good question. If you remember in my other story a while back, http://lynnschoolwatch.blogspot.com/2013/11/ouch-i-cant-believe-he-went-there.html, that has been a concern before!
DeleteHow are regular education teachers numbers effected by special population teacher numbers? I do not see how one effects the other.
ReplyDeleteIt really does not matter. I do not think that the differences could account for an additional seven teachers if their populations are evenly matched. I just learned that Classical is at Level 1 and English at Level 3. What better way to help the "Favored Son" then to short change Classical in resources which could contribute higher class sizes and lower achievement. I to am surprised that certain members of the school committee allowed for a budget that does not balance resources between the schools. I thought that was why they reviewed the budget.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I have to agree. You would think that members like Starbard, Ford and Gallo would have step up to the plate to at least advocate for equity between the two high schools. Maybe Gallo will read the blog and step up to the plate. He might earn a few votes. I am sure there are a lot of VOTING parents from Classical.
ReplyDelete