WESTFIELD – The announcement at Wednesday’s meeting of the Gateway Regional School Committee that seven district teachers may be laid off in late January came as news to Kate Forgue.
Forgue, one of four members of the Chester Elementary School’s Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO), was taken aback by the possibility that three high school teachers, a middle school guidance counselor and three elementary school teachers could be laid off if the Gateway Teachers Association (GTA) doesn’t accept a one-day furlough next year.
“My reaction is one of concern. I would be upset to see my kids or any of the kids in the district lose out on any of the teaching staff,” said Forgue Friday.
While some of the names of the staff members facing a potential layoff are unknown at this time, Forgue’s concern echoes those of many parents of school-aged children within the seven-town district, which may shrink to six should the town of Worthington be allowed to withdraw and join another regional district next year.
“I would hate to see anybody go, but I know the School Committee has to make very, very difficult decisions,” she said. “I’m sure, whichever way it goes, it is not easy for anybody.”
The reasoning for the possible layoffs was illustrated by Gateway Superintendent Dr. David Hopson Wednesday night, who said the district will most likely not be receiving a $241,000 reimbursement for regional transportation from the state as a result of an $18 million 9C cut made by Governor Deval L. Patrick.
“We definitely get the short end of the stick in western Mass. for sure, and don’t see anywhere near the funding towns on the other side of the state get,” Forgue said. “The population is greater there, but so are the traveling needs here.”
Forgue also referenced the Commonwealth’s transportation bond bill, which she said has long promised 100 percent reimbursement and has failed to do so time and again.
“For that reason primarily, that is why PTOs exist. I can tell you that’s why the Chester PTO exists,” said Forgue, a mother of four children. “Funding doesn’t make it’s way from the state level to the schools, so PTOs have to spring up and do the best they can.”
Chester Elementary School serves the communities of Blandford, Chester and Middlefield. and works to raise funds for the school.
“The majority of the funding we get through fundraising efforts throughout the year goes to busing so that kids can have other extracurricular experiences like fieldtrips,” she said. “And any extra money goes toward supplies, which teachers pay for out of their pocket, which I think is absurd in and of itself.”
“It’s sad that this is what it is coming to and that teachers are the ones on the chopping block,” Forgue said. “But until the state gets the funding back to us, where else is the money going to come from?”
Within the Gateway Regional School District (GRSD), there are PTOs at each of the elementary schools, Chester and Littleville, which serves the remaining GRSD towns of Huntington, Montgomery, Russell and Worthington, along with booster clubs at the upper level of the district, such as the Gateway Band Boosters, Choral Boosters and Athletic Booster Club.
“We also have the Gateway Education Foundation, which formed in 2011 to enhance the educational opportunities for the students, classrooms and schools of the district,” said District Grant Writer Wendy Long in an email Friday. “To date, this group has raised $35,000 and funded improvements to the Gateway Performing Arts Center, the district’s 50th Anniversary Celebration last year, and 19 educational programs throughout the district.”
When asked whether the district would benefit from having better communication between PTOs, Forgue said it would be nice.
“What seems to happen is that we’re pulled away from the district. That’s just how it’s happened over the years,” said Forgue of the Chester PTO’s relations with the other organizations. “The district has gotten smaller and smaller over the years. Every little town used to have their own little PTO for their school.”
