The budget amendment passed and our instructional assistants are staying in the elementary classrooms. This victory belongs to every one of you who kept the pressure on the board. Keep an eye on local school board agendas to ensure these positions remain fully funded.
April 29, 2015
Final supporters
On Friday, February 6th,at the Londonderry School Board’s deliberative session, a motion was filed and passed to amend article 2 to increase our district’s operating budget by $240,000 for the purpose of funding instructional assistants for 3 hours/day/classroom at the elementary level (to note: the instructional assistants were proposed to be eliminated entirely next year at the elementary level with the exception of those who work in classrooms as a result of a child’s Individualized Education Program).The tax impact for this increase for the average-priced house in Londonderry ($277,000) is 4 cents/thousand more than what we currently pay or $11/year.It would allow our elementary schools to have instructional assistants working alongside teachers, supporting all children in our elementary classrooms-struggling learners, children who are proficient but need added support to continue their growth in learning as well as children who are advanced and who can be challenged beyond typical grade level expectations.
The elimination of the instructional assistants has a significant impact on student learning, our schools and on the long term outcomes connected to our community; it has an impact on the extent to which children will learn what is necessary to be college and career ready;it will impact future elementary budgets in the way of remediation and behavioral intervention costs;there will be a cost to future middle and high school budgets in the way of remediation as we try to close achievement gaps because we didn’t build a strong enough foundation in the elementary years;it will have a cost for our elementary principals and teachers who will be working to achieve more with less; and it will have an impact on the Londonderry community in that a quality education effects the economy, real estate values and the pride that comes with knowing that we played a small role in the future success of our youngest residents by supporting our town’s education system.
Londonderry has long prided itself on its high quality education but there are only so many holes that can be poked in the fabric of our education system before the quality of the fabric begins to weaken;eventually the fabric will rip.Over the years, we have weakened the fabric and now,we are dangerously close to ripping it with these types of cuts. Quality comes at a price but for a small amount of money, we have the opportunity to win back an important element in the quality of the education that we deliver to the children of this community, our instructional assistants.The research is unequivocally clear…children who aren’t proficient by the elementary years are far more likely to struggle throughout their educational journey towards college and career readiness and there is a price to pay for this struggle – a price on so many levels.
In signing this statement, I urge the school board and the superintendent to allocate the monies to the elementary instructional assistants.
Please vote with us on Tuesday, March 10th in favor of the amended budget and send the message that we think our youngest citizens are worth every penny!
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
February 21, 2015
February 18, 2015
We hit a real turning point today and the momentum shows that Londonderry is paying attention to these classrooms. Post the link to your Facebook page and text three friends who have elementary students right now. Email your local school board representative today to confirm they understand that we will not accept these cuts.
Reached 100 supporters
February 16, 2015
February 14, 2015
We need only a few more signatures to hit our first major milestone of 100. Post our link on your Facebook page right now and text three local parents to ensure they sign today.
39 Comments
Until we know that the school district's new model will work, we need to keep the assistants. We cannot afford to risk these students' educational foundation.
My children have gone through the Londonderry school system and graduated from it and even though I no longer have children in our system I feel the need of assistance is greatly needed children need this support now more then ever and with large class sizes no to have an assistant would be wrong.
my child is on a 504. How will he get any support without assistants. He barely gets enough as it is!!
I am a Londonderry mom and a teacher. Instructional assistants are a necessity in order to have a productive classroom and engaged students. We should always be looking to increase the number of instructional assistants, never to cut them from the budget. If we want the best for our children, we need to offer them the most effective education. Assistants are not a luxury, they are a crucial part of the educational process.
Assistants are very important in the classroom. I was one, and I'm thankful that my children had the benefit on one when they were in elementary school. Please allocate the funds to keep educational assistants in the classroom.
Instructional assistants are needed!
We voted to spend money for a specific purpose. Previous school boards have recognized the bottom line budget but nevertheless honored the wishes of the voters.
Share this petition
Share this petition to help it reach more people.
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The budget amendment passed and our instructional assistants are staying in the elementary classrooms. This victory belongs to every one of you who kept the pressure on the board. Keep an eye on local school board agendas to ensure these positions remain fully funded.
April 29, 2015
Final supporters
On Friday, February 6th,at the Londonderry School Board’s deliberative session, a motion was filed and passed to amend article 2 to increase our district’s operating budget by $240,000 for the purpose of funding instructional assistants for 3 hours/day/classroom at the elementary level (to note: the instructional assistants were proposed to be eliminated entirely next year at the elementary level with the exception of those who work in classrooms as a result of a child’s Individualized Education Program).The tax impact for this increase for the average-priced house in Londonderry ($277,000) is 4 cents/thousand more than what we currently pay or $11/year.It would allow our elementary schools to have instructional assistants working alongside teachers, supporting all children in our elementary classrooms-struggling learners, children who are proficient but need added support to continue their growth in learning as well as children who are advanced and who can be challenged beyond typical grade level expectations.
The elimination of the instructional assistants has a significant impact on student learning, our schools and on the long term outcomes connected to our community; it has an impact on the extent to which children will learn what is necessary to be college and career ready;it will impact future elementary budgets in the way of remediation and behavioral intervention costs;there will be a cost to future middle and high school budgets in the way of remediation as we try to close achievement gaps because we didn’t build a strong enough foundation in the elementary years;it will have a cost for our elementary principals and teachers who will be working to achieve more with less; and it will have an impact on the Londonderry community in that a quality education effects the economy, real estate values and the pride that comes with knowing that we played a small role in the future success of our youngest residents by supporting our town’s education system.
Londonderry has long prided itself on its high quality education but there are only so many holes that can be poked in the fabric of our education system before the quality of the fabric begins to weaken;eventually the fabric will rip.Over the years, we have weakened the fabric and now,we are dangerously close to ripping it with these types of cuts. Quality comes at a price but for a small amount of money, we have the opportunity to win back an important element in the quality of the education that we deliver to the children of this community, our instructional assistants.The research is unequivocally clear…children who aren’t proficient by the elementary years are far more likely to struggle throughout their educational journey towards college and career readiness and there is a price to pay for this struggle – a price on so many levels.
In signing this statement, I urge the school board and the superintendent to allocate the monies to the elementary instructional assistants.
Please vote with us on Tuesday, March 10th in favor of the amended budget and send the message that we think our youngest citizens are worth every penny!
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
February 21, 2015
February 18, 2015
We hit a real turning point today and the momentum shows that Londonderry is paying attention to these classrooms. Post the link to your Facebook page and text three friends who have elementary students right now. Email your local school board representative today to confirm they understand that we will not accept these cuts.
Reached 100 supporters
February 16, 2015
February 14, 2015
We need only a few more signatures to hit our first major milestone of 100. Post our link on your Facebook page right now and text three local parents to ensure they sign today.
39 Comments
Please allocate the money to the assistants. They were vital to my growth as a student, and I can't imagine my learning experience without them.
Until we know that the school district's new model will work, we need to keep the assistants. We cannot afford to risk these students' educational foundation.
My children have gone through the Londonderry school system and graduated from it and even though I no longer have children in our system I feel the need of assistance is greatly needed children need this support now more then ever and with large class sizes no to have an assistant would be wrong.
my child is on a 504. How will he get any support without assistants. He barely gets enough as it is!!
I am a Londonderry mom and a teacher. Instructional assistants are a necessity in order to have a productive classroom and engaged students. We should always be looking to increase the number of instructional assistants, never to cut them from the budget. If we want the best for our children, we need to offer them the most effective education. Assistants are not a luxury, they are a crucial part of the educational process.
Assistants are very important in the classroom. I was one, and I'm thankful that my children had the benefit on one when they were in elementary school. Please allocate the funds to keep educational assistants in the classroom.
Instructional assistants are needed!
We voted to spend money for a specific purpose. Previous school boards have recognized the bottom line budget but nevertheless honored the wishes of the voters.
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Please allocate the money to the assistants. They were vital to my growth as a student, and I can't imagine my learning experience without them.