Marblehead schools eye adjustments from budget

MARBLEHEAD – Learning in Grades 4-12 will not be affected by a level-funded budget next year, according to principals’ reports to the School Committee.Marblehead High’s portion of the Fiscal 2010 school budget will absorb the loss of two teaching positions, increasing the average class size by three students in the foreign language and social studies areas.Principal John Ziergiebel said he plans to combine some smaller classes to make the losses work. As he pointed out in a report to the School Committee, a primary high school goal is "to put kids in classes, not study halls."Ziergiebel noted that the inflation rate of 3.8 percent will have a negative effect on the schools’ ability to purchase school supplies and textbooks in a level-funded budget year, and he is seeking state funding to cover some of the cost of the school’s widely-touted marine technology program."I believe next year we will deliver the same quality service we have," he concluded.The Marblehead Veterans Middle School is adding the equivalent of one teacher next year. Principal Elizabeth Moore noted that class sizes at the middle school have increased in the past two months, since the sixth grade was added to the middle school to facilitate the boiler replacement and renovation project at the Marblehead Village School.The Marblehead Village School will be level-funded in Fiscal 2010. Principal Lisa Bryant noted that the renovation work has forced her administration and support staff to work out of temporary offices in a cafeteria for the duration.The school will add a part-time teacher next year to teach Spanish to Grade 5 and there will be a supplemental math program for students who need it, but the number of teachers will not change.