Staff change urged to allow Lynnfield schools financial flexibility

The Lynnfield School Committee launched into a lengthy debate Tuesday night with school administrators and Superintendent Thomas Jefferson after committee member Michael Craffey suggested that an elementary school staff position be eliminated to allow money to flow to other parts of the school district budget.Following a presentation by Jefferson on the budget for fiscal year 2013, Craffey said that he would like to remove the full-time reading coordinator position, because that person makes $80,000 per year but only helps small groups of students in the third and fourth grades at the two elementary schools.If that money was freed up, Craffey suggested it be put toward reducing class sizes in the seventh and eighth grades, because 60 to 70 percent of the classes are 25 students or more, he said.Summer Street School Principal Jane Tremblay then came to the microphones set before the committee and voiced her disagreement on singling out one position, saying, “Part of the success at the elementary school is the support we can give to the students.”Committee members acknowledged the issue of the large class sizes in the middle school, but did not think getting rid of the reading coordinator was the solution.Committee Vice Chairperson Timothy Doyle said that he was content with the budget recommendations that the school administrators had compiled and said he did not think the committee has the power to make such personnel recommendations to school administrators.The committee also heard from Lynnfield High School Principal Robert Cleary about the school hockey team?s trip to a tournament on Martha?s Vineyard in February. Since the tournament involves students sleeping over at a location, school committee approval is needed, and a vote will be taken at the next meeting on Jan. 31.Before the meeting adjourned, Craffey said he would not be seeking re-election when his term expires this year and the committee approved the Lynnfield Middle School Pioneer Singers trip to New York in May.Sarah Mupo can be reached at [email protected].