The School Committee asserted its continued support for a world language pilot program at the Hildreth Elementary School (HES), despite reports that the HES teachers and parents would prefer to see the money used for a technology specialist. The school budget for fiscal 2012 designates $20,000 for the language pilot program.
Cindy Buhner and Deb Barton, parent representatives on the 2010-2011 HES School Council, told the School Committee that surveys of parents and teachers at HES showed that the greatest need was for a technology specialist. Barton pointed out that the school surveys showed no requests for a language program, but many for technology assistance. They described the technology support work formerly done by Peggy Harvey with both students and faculty as extremely valuable. Harvey had helped students do “amazing research and projects” using online resources, Barton later explained.
“The problem is that we worked hard to find out the needs and wants of teachers,” Buhner said. “Almost everyone in the school sees a strong need for this [technology] role—to help with SmartBoard training, to help kids work on line with video and other media; it adds dramatically to enrichment for the kids.”
Speaking of the world language pilot program, Buhner told the committee, “None of the teachers had heard this was forthcoming. They felt blindsided.”
Minutes from the School Council indicate that the council learned about the proposal on May 17, many weeks after the school budget had received final approval. Committee member Patricia Wenger expressed regret, as liaison to the School Council, for not informing them sooner.
School Committee member Piali De argued that the world language program was a more direct benefit to the students, saying, “I want this money to benefit the kids, not help teachers master SmartBoards.”
Committee member Kirsten Wright responded that the teachers are also advocating for the benefits to children. She recalled that HES had been asking for a technology specialist for at least three years, going back to the time when she was on the School Council.
School Committee Chairman Keith Cheveralls stated, “The School Committee did its job extremely well. We adopted the budget, and the money is unchangeable now.” He added, “We also heard the tech piece loud and clear,” explaining that they had approved $25,000 for purchasing hardware. “But we will not spend another nickel on technology,” he went on, “until we know what it means district-wide.” Cheveralls suggested that the schools need a technology task force to come up with a proposal, after which the School Committee might be willing to spend much more than the $20,000 under discussion.
Speaking later to the Press, Barton said, “When the School Council prioritized what was needed at HES for the budget, the technology specialist was number one, if there were available funds.”
