Branford BOE Committee Finds Money to Save Teaching Positions

Last night was monumental for supporters of the Branford schools’ physical education and music programs. announced at the Personnel & Finance Committee meeting last night that he will be recommending to the full next week, the preservation of one teaching position.

To the many supporters of physical education teacher who was the last hire in the department, this was thrilling news.

Behind a to keep Imperati’s job, Nancy Kendrick thanked Hernandez and Board Chair Frank Carrano. “It has shown great collaboration form all of you,” she commented.

Kendrick also explained, that in working to support Imperati, she and other physical education champions found that Branford offered less hours of PE time than the state recommendation (you can read Kendrick’s blog about it on Branford Patch ).

Carrano agreed that the BOE learned from the process. Of the lack of PE time offered, he said, “We just didn’t look at it before.”

Hernandez stated that the restoration of one position could be comprised of a .8 PE teacher and a .2 music teacher. The PE teacher, said Hernandez, would be concentrated on the elementary level and the music teacher would be at with eighth grade band students. The BOE committee members noted that the .2 band position, which bridges WIS and BHS was something that was started last year and should be allowed to continue to grow.

“I think your recommendation for the .8/.2 is really looking at how to address two really critical issues,” said Carrano, “…how to make the best of a difficult situation.”

The committee has suggested a reduction of $324,235 to their proposed budget, meeting the Board of Finance recommended budget of $49,170,365­–a 3 percent increase over last year’s budget. The proposed reduction of 16.1 teaching positions is now 15.1 positions.

Hernandez also mentioned adding a .2 position to next year’s teaching roster, which would be funded by title money; the position, under requirements, would have to serve physical education for Mary T. Murphy and Indian Neck School preschool students. The physical education those students currently receive, according to Hernandez is contracted and not taught by a Branford teacher.

Check back for more news from this meeting including the proposed rising cost of school lunches and tuition rates for non-resident students.