Introduction to the FY05 Budget

The 2004-2005 school year will see the culmination of many years of planning for a cohesive Pre-kindergarten-12 school district. With the renovation of the original high school building completed this fall, we now will have two middle school buildings. This third phase of the building program, initiated in 1998, follows the completion of the new high school in 2003 and the addition to the current middle school in 2000.

With this facilities change comes a change in the configuration of our schools. Elementary schools now will house K-4 students, middle school 5-8, and the high school will continue with grades 9-12. Enrollment continues to grow at all levels at an average of 3.5 percent across grades.

The proposed FY05 budget is designed to address this new configuration of schools, and to allow for the programmatic improvements expected for a district of our size and educational reputation. Staffing continues to support class sizes at their current levels; and the infrastructure of the schools, depleted in recent budget cycles, is increased to offer an equivalent measure of support. This is particularly true at the middle and high school levels which are experiencing sharp enrollment increases.

Major areas of the budget which are increased this year include:

Teaching staff for enrollment increases: Enrollment at the elementary level is expected to increase slightly at the kindergarten level; at the middle school, the addition of the fifth grade will quickly enlarge the school; and the high school enrollment is projected to increase by approximately 10%. Keeping class size at the levels approved for the last year’s budget (elementary 23/1; middle school 25/1; high school 20/1) means that we must add teaching staff.

Support staff for increased enrollments/additional buildings: Last year’s budget recommendation allowed for few additional support staff for the increased student population and buildings. This year additional administration, guidance, custodians and aides are requested for the middle and high schools, and additional instructional aides are requested for the elementary schools.
Technology infrastructure: Extensive new technology — networking and equipment — was made possible through the middle and high school building projects. Now, support staff is needed to maintain this valuable investment and to provide quality instruction. Additional technology teachers and a computer aide are proposed in this budget.

Also, Student Information System software is needed to more efficiently track student progress, keep student attendance and health records and to provide data for numerous state reports. This was proposed in the FY04 budget and is proposed again, reducing the need for additional staff to manage the multiple programs we currently operate.

Improvement in curriculum and instruction: The Groton Dunstable curriculum and instruction plan is an ever-growing and changing document that depends upon an orderly, cyclical review of state-of-the art techniques in teaching and learning. Classroom teachers are an integral part of the plan, and they rely on the leadership of specialists in curriculum and instruction to keep ideas current and to schedule multiple meetings and workshops. Expanded leadership positions are included in this proposed budget, as we strive to approach curriculum leadership levels set in FY01.

Also, this budget proposal includes staffing dollars to offer physical education twice a week at the elementary level. The past two years, time in this program was cut to once a week. The continuation of the elementary foreign language program to grade four is included also as another step towards improved programming.

Athletic fees and programs: With high enrollment growth at the secondary levels, the athletic department must increase to fit the needs of the students. The athletic fees assessed in FY04 may have deterred some participation. In this FY05 budget, lower fees are proposed, as is a certified athletic trainer position. With these fees and support, we may be able to continue to expand our program.

In conclusion, this proposed FY05 budget represents a step forward for the Groton Dunstable School District. It does not maintain the status quo, it improves it. It moves our district toward the dynamic flow that it has experienced in the past, and provides support to the infrastructure that has been severely strained these past few years to maintain the level of excellence that our community has come to expect. We look forward to communicating the details of this proposal and seeking your support for FY05.

Respectfully submitted,
Mary Athey Jennings, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools