Budget is on everyone’s mind these days, whether we are reading about the Governor’s state budget plan, our local budget and taxes, or the school budget.
During my year and a half as superintendent, I have been strategically budgeting with school administrators. Strategic budgeting is complex, but simply means spending money on educational priorities that will result in improved student outcomes.
Based on sound educational research and our student data we are making decisions that are strategically changing the structure and environment of schools to meet the demands of the future. Staffing and resources are shifted to ensure student success.
Instructional practices are becoming more student-centered and rigorous and our programming for special education students is improving rapidly.
Special education accounts for 20% of the school budget. This is about average for the state. The structure for the special education department changed last year. Last year was a successful planning year, and this year we implemented many new programs and training at every school level.
Here are only a few of the many reasons we can celebrate progress in the special education department. A. W. Spaulding has completely revised programming for students with complex learning profiles. Students are provided with highly individualized programming resulting in academic and social-emotional progress. Special education teachers at McAlister are receiving extensive training in specialized reading instruction. Suffield Middle School is shifting to providing more specialized instruction outside of the classroom so students master skills before being challenged with the rigor of the large classroom environment. Suffield High School now provides special education students with credit bearing classes in literacy, math, and social skills and provides a class in human relations for those students with social-emotional difficulties. This class enables these students to successfully manage the academic and social challenges of high school.
The public schools are not a clinical or therapeutic setting, but we provide all children, regardless of challenges or disabilities, the opportunity to enjoy a robust educational and social experience alongside their brothers, sisters, and neighbors.
We are blessed to live in a town that values the education of all children within their community. I am blessed to lead a school district where teachers value the inner spirit and potential of each and every child. Herbert Hoover said, “Children are our most valuable resource.”