District 30 board adopts budget without social worker

The District 30 Board of Education made it official on Monday night that it will be eliminating its lone social worker next year. The proposed $32.4 million spending plan for 2012-13 does not include funding for the position.

The board, by a 3-1 vote, adopted the proposed budget which will now go to district voters on May 15. The lone dissenter was trustee Cristobal Stewart, who said his vote strictly reflected the elimination of the social worker position. “I feel it really is a very important piece of the overall team,” he said.

Otherwise, Stewart said, he supports 99 percent of the proposed budget. Board President Elise Antonelli, along with trustees Ken Cummings and Jim Lavery, voted in favor of the budget.

Cutting the social worker is expected to save the district about $135,000 in salary and benefits. Laurie Buelvas-Kritas, who has worked as a social worker in District 30 for 10 years, was present at the board meeting but did not speak. Over the last two months, however, several parents and even students have fought to keep the position.

One parent expressed her disappointment last night after the board made its decision. Michelle Richardson, who has a child at Shaw Avenue School, said her family has benefitted from the district social worker. “Social workers are the liaison between the home and the school,” he said. “The school social worker has been there for me and my children.”

Richardson, who described the social worker as the “eyes and ears” of the students, questioned whether the district psychologists would be able to pick up the additional work. She also said that social workers help direct families to support services offered outside of school.

Antonelli said that she agrees that the social worker is an important position, but believes the needs can me met by other staff members in the district. “I support the budget as is,” she said in explaining her “yes” vote.

She added that the administration and Board of Education will make a commitment to integrating more social and emotional learning into District 30’s curriculum, and that goal will be part of the strategic plan.