Foreign Language Teacher Back in Budget

The School Committee agreed unanimously last night to return two positions to the Fiscal Year 2012 budget by cutting back in other areas.

Positions for a .6  equivalent foreign language teacher at and a .2 equivalent art teacher were returned to the budget.

In exchange, a kindergarten teaching position will remain unfilled. This position had been added to this year's budget but Superintendent of Schools Joseph Connors said that based on current kindergarten registration numbers, the post is not essential.

Keeping this position unfilled would bring kindergarten class sizes to about 20. He said he prefers to keep these classes at 16, but "I think you're OK with 20.''

If registration numbers rise higher than currently anticipated, he said an additional teacher could still be added. In that case, he would look at the maintenance budget to offset that cost.