Principals Want Mathematics Coaches

Math coaches and specialists are the top budget priorities for the principals of Barrington’s schools.

The principals made budget presentations to the School Committee Wednesday night, Jan. 4, at the first meeting of the month. Each of them listed math coaches for students and teachers as their top priority.

None of the principals would hire more staff, though. They would designate existing teachers to become the coaches and pay them stipends for the new responsibilities.

Mike Messore, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, echoed their preferences. The result of adding coaches is seen as going a long way in boosting state and national standardized test scores.

The elementary principals, Jim Callahan at Sowams, Arlene Miguel at Hampden Meadows, Paula Montesi at Primrose Hill and John Gray at Nayatt, also requested full-day kindergarten, health teachers, support for educator evaluations, more technology and facility improvements as other priorities.

Each of the schools could use multipurpose rooms and remodeled offices for administrators, staff and nurses, Callahan said. The Sowams School parking lot “is a mess,” he added.

The principals would pay for these initiatives with capital improvement money or bonds.

Budget priorities for the middle school were delivered by Wendy Parente, assistant principal. They were identical to the elementary school priorities.

Math coach, support for educator evaluations, more technology and facility improvements made up the middle school priorities.

Principal Joseph Hurley gave the priorities for the high school. Getting math coaches headed his list as well, but he made an argument for his other priorities: a pilot virtual learning program, expansion of the Chinese language program, and new security cameras for the inside of the building.

Cameras scan the grounds outside the high school, Hurley said, but there are no security cameras inside.

Hurley admitted that the school does not have significant issues with fights, other altercations or disciplinary issues, but the cameras would help to make sure they don’t develop or can be dealt with quickly.

The principal would also use existing staff paid with stipends as math coaches although a .5 FTE position would be created at the high school for the virtual learning program. Money to cover the costs of these initiatives would come from the capital improvement fund.

School Committee Chairman Patrick Guida said he expects the principals to return at a future meeting for additional questions as the new budget is fleshed out over the next few months.

In the meantime, Guida said: “Look for savings elsewhere to implement these requests.”