Petitioners force vote on positions

Thursday, February 25, 2010

MERRIMACK – The school deliberative session on March 2 is likely to center on five teaching positions that were initially cut from the budget but now have a second chance thanks to resident-generated petitions.

The school board cut four middle school positions and a high school math position in December in a close 3-2 vote.

Those supporting the cuts point to declining enrollment and the difficult economy.

The board’s move, however, sparked outcry from some residents, who packed subsequent budget committee hearings in large part to sway support for restoring the positions.

Many voiced their concerns about individualized instruction, the potential effect on test scores and fairness to students. With the high school math position, there was particular concern about the fate of the “math lab,” where students go for extra help on concepts and skills.

Ahead of the committee’s last meeting Feb. 9, residents collected enough signatures to petition two articles on the warrant: one restoring a high school math teacher position, and another the four middle school teaching positions.

Taken together, the restored articles add up to about $300,000 in expense.

Neither petitioned article gained a majority recommendation from the budget committee, so both head to the voters without support from that group or the school board – a fact that will be reflected on the ballot.

A majority of the budget committee did approve the district’s overall operating budget, which stands at $64.17 million.

A new roof for Reeds Ferry Elementary School costing $827,000 (with $260,000 to come from a reserve account) and the next two years of a support staff contract bring the total budget to $65.03 million. This represents 1.5 percent over current spending, and does not include the warrant articles restoring teachers.

If the budget and warrant articles passed, the school portion of the tax rate would go up 30 cents to $12.11 per $1,000 in assessed value. The school portion on a tax bill for a house valued at $250,000 would be $3,027.