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One of the most troubling issues for me the night this program was cut was the fact that the schools did not put "ALAP program is being cut" on the agenda. Each year prior, it was openly discussed and ALAP was on the agenda to be cut. Fifty to Sixty Parents turned out to voice their opposition. This year, in my opinion, they were sneaky and did an involuntary transfer of the ALAP teachers. ALAP was not even on the agenda. Many parents probably didn't even know ALAP was possibly being cut.

I wanted to let all parents know that I spoke with several SC members after the meeting. The School Committee does not want to cut this program but they feel they have no choice but to cut it to make up the deficit.

It is a fact that families choose to live in a city based on the school system. The fact the Warwick has this program is very attractive to families.

The State sends approximately $8000 in student funding to Warwick for each student who attends school in Warwick. I explained to the school committee tonight that for every student who is in the ALAP program, the schools receives this $8000. The administration stated tonight that ALAP costs $325K. If this is the case, if 41 ALAP Students leave Warwick schools, the schools would save no money. There are 300 students in ALAP throughout Warwick. I believe that ALAP Costs approximately $200K.

There are 2.5 full time teachers who teach ALAP. Their combined salaries and benefits are approximately $250,000. THESE teachers ARE NOT being laid off, they are being returned to the regular classrooms. The schools do not save their salaries. They do NOT save $250,000. They save the cost of the 2.5 most recently hired teachers. These teachers make approximately $60,000 each including benefits. At 2.5 teachers this is $150,000. I add in $30,000 for in class materials. If Alap costs $180K, and 22 students leave, the schools saved no money by cutting the program. Administration suggests that ALAP costs $325K. If this is the case, if 41 Students leave Warwick schools, the schools would save no money.

Please draft a short letter and send it to the School committee. The letter should simply state that with the ALAP program being cut, you will be considering placing your child in another school system and ask what steps must be taken to transfer to a private school. If they receive a stack of letters and it is more than 40 letters, they will realize they have made a bad decision.

I do not believe this is a bluff. I truly believe that parents will take their students out of the schools if they believe they will not be getting an appropriate education. One of the most important things to realize is that education in RI should be Free and Appropriate. I do not believe that my student will be getting an appropriate education if this program is cut. If this program is cut, I will be working for a voucher program to allow my child to attend a school that has an appropriate education.

Administration will be forced to act on this situation. If many students leave one school, administration can lay off one teacher to resolve the issue. They know that ALAP is spread across all Warwick elementary schools and they will not be able to resolve the loss of State funding by laying off a teacher. If we can make them realize that by cutting this program, there is the potential to see NO savings, then why would they cut it?

We need every ALAP Parent to know there is still a chance to save ALAP. I would suggest also calling every member daily until they respond. They cut $170K from the budget tonight and didn't put it any where. They found within a month that they had a surplus of $1 Million. They may find another $150K- 200K within the next month. 2 members of the committee worked hard to get ALAP reinstated. They were one vote away from reinstating it. With a little work, within the next month, it can be saved for another year. This program should not be cut. While on the surface, it looks like cutting it will save money, there is a very real potential to save no money.

Here is the School Committee Members contact info. You can reach each member by emailing them.

Remember, they are not the enemy, they really do want to save the program. Help them realize how important this program is to them.

Bethany A. Furtado, Chairperson

18 Cardinal St, Warwick, RI, 02886

401-737-2354

furtadob@warwickschools.org

M. Terri Medeiros, Vice Chair

5 Lyndon Avenue, Warwick, RI, 02889

401-921-5116

medeirost@warwickschools.org

Jennifer Ahearn, Clerk

401-954-1279

ahearnj@warwickschools.org

Eugene A. Nadeau

15 Killdeer Road, Warwick, RI, 02888

401-463-8742

nadeaue@warwickschools.org

Karen Bachus

208 Burt Street, Warwick, RI, 02886

401-738-2106

bachusk@warwickschools.org

Superintendent

Richard D'Agostino, Ed.D.

401-734-3100

dagostinor@warwickschools.org

I do want to add that in addition to getting State funding for Warwick, our ALAP students provide much to the schools by way of their achievement on the NECAP testing. My child usually scores in the 98-99% on the necap, this off sets a student score that is low.

My daughter was very sick several years ago and was out of school during Necap testing. The principal called my house personally and asked if I could bring my daughter in for testing even though she was very sick so she could take the necap test. I explained she was sick, he asked if she could just come for the morning because that was when testing was. "Couldn't she just make it for the morning? " I was livid. Would you ask a 4th grader who was sick to come in for a test? He was afraid the schools would get a zero necap score for her. She went in after a few days and made up the test. She scored a 99%.

If ALAP is not put back into the budget, I will be seriously considering pulling her from Warwick Schools. In the very least, I will not be having her take the NECAP test. They can record a zero for the test. She misses NO education instruction during NECAP testing. It is 2 weeks of learning nothing. My daughter needs the ALAP program to stay interested in school. For many students it is the same way. If our students are not engaged, they will lose interest in school.

Let the school committee and administration know how you feel. It is not only the right decision to make, it is the financially responsible decision to make and as one gifted and talented ALAP student student said tonight, the "forward thinking" decision to make.

Sincerely, Patrick Maloney Jr

From: Added school surplus reduces need for cuts

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