Dover School District offers budget process update
DOVER — The Dover School District SAU 11 recently presented its fiscal year 2021 draft budget to the Dover School Board. With the first of two budget workshops to be held this week, the district issued the following information in a press release:
The city school district states the budget places emphasis on the continuous improvement and optimization of student learning and achievement.
Specifically, the proposed budget aims to address the following objectives:
* Enhance student voice by creating a student-driven environment that allows students to have meaningful input and choice into their learning program.
* Augment the support and wellness of all students through purposeful engagement in school and community-based activities.
* Provide opportunities for diverse community stakeholders to engage with the Dover schools in shared problem solving and decision making.
* Promote and support the overall health and well-being of all students and staff.
* Maximize each student’s engagement in learning.
* Optimize individual achievement ensuring every student receives academic instruction that is culturally responsive and matched to developmental needs.
* Elevate student learning and achievement by developing and implementing a competency-based education model.
“The FY 2021 budget translates intangible missions, operations, and objectives into reality by outlining and providing specific programs for funding,” said Dover Superintendent Dr. William Harbron. “And (it) demonstrates the district’s commitment to educating all children to the highest level possible.”
The administration presented seven proposals to the board for their consideration in the development of FY21 budget.
The proposals include:
1. Expand the Fountas and Pinnell curriculum materials to grades 3 and 4, accompanied by professional development.
2. Develop and sustain a culture to promote and support the social and emotional development of all students, and provide staffing to meet demand for:
* Dover Regional CTC building construction, health science, and sports medicine classes.
* Dover High School music, science and library departments.
* Dover Middle School instructional staff to release guidance counselors from classroom rotations in order to increase the capacity to address student needs and add library support to allow the library to remain open throughout the day.
3. Add four professionals to the Technology Department to provide direct support to all school and work with assistive technology for special needs.
4. Expand the capacity of teaching and learning by adding:
* Assistant director of teaching and learning.
* Dover Middle School dean of instruction.
* Elementary math and science coach.
* Middle school instructional coach.
5. Increase support staff to operate across the district, particularly in Dover Middle School’s front office, nurse’s office, and dean’s office, the three elementary schools, Dover Regional CTC, and Bellamy Academy, and supervisory roles at Dover High School.
6. Add staff to athletic programs with new positions for cross country, swimming and diving, alpine ski, volleyball, field hockey and gymnastics.
7. Recruit and retain substitute teachers by increasing daily rate for certified and non-certified teachers.
“It is essential the district has the financial resources to educate the diversity of students and the whole-learner in order to prepare all students to achieve their post-secondary goals, to pursue purposeful vocations, and to contribute to the welfare of their family and community,” Harbron said. “By providing the essential human services, professional development, and instructional resources with the emphasis on continually improving and optimizing student learning and achievement; the Dover School District will be a lighthouse district and excellent learning resource for all students.”
During early January, the School Board listened to a series of presentations by the administration. The board will now enter workshop mode to deliberate and select (if any) of the proposals to be included in the FY21 Dover School District Budget.
The dates of the workshops are Tuesday, Jan. 21 and Monday, Jan. 27, at 6 p.m. both dates, in board chambers.
Following the workshops, the board is expected to adopt the final FY21 budget on Monday, Feb. 3, 2020 and present it to the City Council April 1. Public hearings on the budget are tentatively scheduled for April 15.
Information: dover.k12.nh.us