The School Committee voted closely in its decision to continue the second redirect teacher position at the East Somerville Community School. – Photo by Harry Kane

By Harry Kane

A request to preserve the position of a second redirect teacher at the East Somerville Community School was put forward by Ward 1 School Committee Member Steve Roix, because of residents’ concerns about the fragility of going into a transition year. After much debate, a 5-3 vote favored the continuation of a second redirect position.

The East Somerville Community School will be re-opening this September following reconstruction, as a result of the fire on Dec. 9, 2007. The students were relocated during the re-building, and a second redirect teacher was instituted to address the oversight of vulnerable students with behavioral issues. The role of the redirect teacher is to identify the at-risk students and help them out. This second redirect position was added in September of 2008.

On May 28, Superintendent Tony Pierantozzi presented the budget at the public hearing, giving residents an opportunity to voice their opinions regarding the financial plan. Residents testified, urging the School Committee to include the second redirect position.

School Committee Chairman Mary Jo Rossetti advocated for the position. Rossetti said that the $44,692 position is “integral,” while debating the issue at a budgetary School Committee meeting on March 30.

This year, the recommended budget for Somerville schools would increase the money allocated to educational programs in fiscal 2014 by 6.9 percent. This substantial monetary increase will provide for new full-time teaching positions, a boost in foreign language classes, a preschool expansion, more music instruction, and arts, science, and athletics enhancements.

The budget, as it stands now, is tallied at $56,590,504 million.

Superintendent Tony Pierantozzi did not include the second redirect in the original budget, and stated his reasons for his recommendation to remove the position were due to a reduction in “disciplinary referrals in that school, over three years.”

Adam Sweeting from Ward 3 had some concerns about keeping a second redirect on staff. “We need to have a more comprehensive view of our redirect program,” he said. Sweeney found it difficult to understand why the position needed to be retained. “I don’t share the concern that it’s going to be a particularly traumatic year that would require additional support in terms of a redirect.”

Mark Niedergang from Ward 5 said he has supported the motion for a redirect from the “get-go.” He didn’t feel that this was the year to make changes to the schools.

Board of Alderman President William A. White Jr., who sat in on the budget meeting, supported the motion to maintain the second redirect, pointing out that removal of the position could potentially cause “adverse effects on the students.”

“I don’t think it’s a wise idea now to do away with it,” Alderman White said. “Allow the school to go through it’s transition, relocate; have the students come together; have a full year to see the benefit of that redirect, and then if it’s not necessary, you can deal with it next year.”

The School Committee added several items to the Superintendent’s recommended budget including the second redirect teacher position, additional money for the volunteer coordinator and funds to hire a consultant to improve the Somerville High School Guidance Department.