Published in the August 26, 2016 edition
MELROSE — The city’s School Department will try to get by with what it has following the elimination of a grant from the state budget cutting funding for six general education paraprofessional positions in the elementary schools.
In a letter sent last week to parents, Supt. of Schools Cyndy Taymore laments the move by the Legislature, but says learning will continue. The first day of the 2016-17 academic year in Melrose is Tuesday, August 30.
“In previous years, salaries for some of the kindergarten professionals were supplemented by the state funded Kindergarten Grant. After school ended this year, Melrose Public Schools, like 165 districts across the Commonwealth, learned on June 30, the last day of the fiscal year, that the grant was eliminated with no plans to reinstate the funds. This cut eliminates the funding for six general education paraprofessional positions at the elementary level.
“As a result, we will not have full time general education paraprofessional support in every kindergarten classroom for the coming school year. The classrooms that are designated as integrated kindergarten rooms will continue to have full time special education paraprofessionals while general education kindergarten classrooms will have half-time general education paraprofessional.
“Our school administrators will also be utilizing additional ways to provide classroom support using existing resources to help compensate for this cut from the Commonwealth.
• Principals will be partnering with The Bridge, the district volunteer coordination program, to add additional support to classrooms. These coordinated efforts will involve training interested volunteers in some of the instructional strategies we employ in our classrooms under the direction and supervision of our teachers.
• Special education and related service staff will be strategically assigned during the day to support K classrooms.
• Building upon the recent staff training on social emotional learning (SEL) and class management by highly regarded professionals including Nadja Rielly and Jessica Minahan, each building will have a team of staff members providing expanded SEL interventions and support for all students throughout their school day.
• Kindergarten and first grade classrooms will have direct instruction weekly in SEL led by our school psychologists and/or licensed social workers. Resources and information on SEL can be found at https://sites.google.com/a/melroseschools.com/sel-resources/.
“We appreciate your ongoing support and understanding as we face this fiscal challenge. My staff and I remain committed to providing a positive and supportive learning environment for our youngest learners,” Taymore concludes.
