Learning at ARPS
January 6, 2006

colored chalk

Dear Everyone Learning @ Amherst Regional Public Schools:

Happy New Year!

For those of you with children in our schools, I hope you had a wonderful break together. While the break was refreshing, we're glad your kids are back with us! Today I spent some time in a few elementary school classrooms and I can assure you, the children are back at work and enjoying school.

While this "new year" comes in the middle of our school year, it still offers time for a break and reflection. It also means that those many items we said, "Oh, we'll start that after the break" now must be addressed! And, it also means that the budget 'pre-season' is over and now it is time for the event to begin.

In December, the School Committees and the public were presented with two substantial documents, appropriately titled, Meeting #1 and Meeting #2! The Meeting #1 Packet includes "Data and Direction" information. It is hopefully all those facts and figures one should know and likes to have at his/her fingertips when thinking about the budget. The Meeting #2 Packet includes Financial Revenue and Expenditure Assumptions or, "What assumptions do we make about our revenues and expenditures in planning the budgets?" This latter document will be updated frequently as we receive more information about revenues from the Federal government and the State. These documents will be posted on our website soon. We'll send another email once they are up.

During upcoming meetings, the Amherst, Pelham, and Regional School Committees will be keeping this information in mind as they review their proposed budgets, respectively, and subsequently discuss and vote on the budgets.

I hope you will pay particular attention to the budget development process this year. As was the case last year, we will need your assistance and support contacting legislators to make them aware of our needs. The Federal budget proposals include significant cuts to programs which support our children. The state budget process is just starting, yet there are already needs identified, especially to fund Regional schools adequately. Furthermore, there is the reality of the challenging financial conditions in Amherst, in Pelham, and in all four Towns which comprise the Regional Schools.

Included in this email is information about the proposed calendars for next school year. There are two drafts being considered - one with a before Labor Day starting day and one starting school after Labor Day (attached). If you have any comments about the calendar (or other issues as always), you can reply to this email and I will receive your thoughts.

Thank you.

Jere Hochman

Superintendent

P.S. Don't forget that on those potential snow or delayed start days, you can call 362-1898 for information and you can get information about sports events at 362-1798 or at http://highschoolsports.net

Upcoming School Committee Meetings

Send Comments to Learning@arps.org | Archive | Superintendent's Office | ARPS Home Page