Published September 20, 2019

MELROSE — In April 2019, the Melrose community voted to approve a vital investment in our students and educators via an operational override for the Melrose Public Schools. With the School Committee’s subsequent completion of the fiscal year 2020 budget process last spring and contract negotiations, those funds are now being deployed throughout the District, at every school and at every level. As the school year moves into full swing, Melrose students, families, educators and the entire community are beginning to see the results.

Highlights of the override investments include:

• At Melrose High School, an English Language Arts teacher, a science teacher, a math teacher, a special education teacher, and a building paraprofessional have been added, as has another guidance counselor to restore the ratio of students per guidance counselor to the recommended level.

• The team model has been restored at the MVMMS, with educator positions added and filled in science, social studies, and English Language Arts, along with a building paraprofessional.

• At the elementary level, to continue to support a growing school population, much-needed educator positions have been added across the District, including: Assistant Principals, special-subject teachers in content areas like art, music, Digital Literacy and Library Media, an English Learning educator, paraprofessionals, and student-support positions.

• As was announced in June, the Melrose School Committee and the Melrose Education Association agreed upon a three-year teachers’ contract, which is now: funding strategic salary increases for all Melrose teachers, elevating educators’ voice in decision making, and adding meaningful time to the elementary school day to promote wellness and movement. The contract went into effect on July 1.

• In addition, following contract negotiations, salaries have been increased for substitute teachers, crossing guards, drivers, administrators and paraprofessionals.

• Subject-area Director positions, to oversee curriculum, instruction and evaluation, have been restored at the secondary level. Due to budget constraints, several of the Director positions had to be eliminated in previous years, with some functions combined. Thanks to the override investments, important restorations of Director positions for grades 6-12, have been made, as follows:

* Director of English

• Director of Global Languages

• Director of Mathematics and Computer Science

• Director of Science, Technology and Engineering

• Director of Social Studies

• And the District has created a K-12 Art/Music Coordinator position.

• Funding has been added for supplies for elementary art, physical education/wellness, health and library.

These are just some of the many ways that the override funds are already making a big difference. The Melrose Public School District and the Melrose School Committee will continue to inform the public of how these funds are being utilized for the benefit of our students and our community. As was previously announced, the Melrose School Committee meeting on Tuesday, September 24 will include an update on the fiscal year 2020 budget, including the override funds.

As always, documents will be made available via the City of Melrose website, and the public may attend in person at 7 p.m. in the Aldermanic Chamber of City Hall or tune in to MMTV.