The Westfield School Committee needs to cut about $1.8 million to make up for a $864,000 reduction from the 2011 budget request.
Shirley AlviraWESTFIELD - The School Committee must consider reductions of nearly $1.8 million to offset an $864,000 City Council school budget cut approved last week.
Superintendent of Schools Shirley Alvira, calling the cut “the most painful experience I ever had,” told the School Committee Wednesday night that is must look at the closing of Juniper Park School, eliminating librarians at the middle and high school level, cutting art and music programs in all grades, eliminating 12 guidance counselors and athletic coaches and trainers systemwide to make up the shortfall.
She also informed the committee that Westfield has lost a $39,000 state grant for continuation of its full-day kindergarten program for the 2010-2011 school year.
“The School Committee and I are in agony,” she said, adding that full details of necessary cuts, their impact, and cost savings will be presented in detail to the School Committee shortly. The School Committee had requested $52 million for the fiscal year.
Mayor Daniel M. Knapik, committee chairman, said he does not support the elimination of programs and services as outlined, but explained “compounding the impact of layoffs is the unemployment situation that adds” to the $864,000 budget shortfall.
In response to the budget warning, the School Committee agreed that its Finance Subcommittee will schedule a public hearing shortly at South Middle School on West Silver Street to address the crises.
Knapik said “decisions must be made soon. The window of opportunity is narrow.” Later he said a decision must be made within the next three weeks.
Alvira and Knapik explained that measures to address the budget shortfall must be in place before the start of the new school year at the end of August. Alvira said she must show the state that Westfield has a school budget in balance.
The City Council cannot direct where school funding is cut from the budget but its action was aimed directly at teachers who have refused to consider contract concessions for the fiscal year 2011 which started July 1.
City Council finance member Christopher Keefe attended Wednesday’s School Committee meeting and explained that options are open to restore the $864,000 at a later date. “The council is willing to provide funding when we see progress,” said Keefe. “We had heard good feedback from other (city) bargaining units except the teachers,” he said.
Alvira went on to publicly beg “Westfield politicians to consider the children before taking this type of action. We are being forced to cut services to the kids that are needed,” she said.