Supporters speak up to save HBHS programs

The multipurpose room at Hollis Brookline Middle School overflowed with a sea of blue T-shirts on Dec. 21. That evening, the Hollis Brookline Cooperataive School Board was meeting to discuss budget cuts, and the masses of Hollis Brookline High School students, parents and teachers were determined to let their voices be heard. Each had his or her own opinions, but the overall message was clear: The suggested cuts weren’t welcome. At the beginning of the discussion, the School Board proposed a budget of $19,250,000 for fiscal 2012. It stated that with this number and the current state of affairs, the co-op would need to cut $650,000 worth of programs. The main areas in which they suggested cuts were a computer and math teacher, a social studies teacher, parts of the arts department and the technology programs. It was the proposed cuts to the technology program that drew the majority of the crowds. Supporters came armed with fact sheets and emotional testimony about how the program had benefited them or their children. Hollis resident Jeff Reuter, the FIRST Robotics Team 1073 mentor, spoke in opposition of budget cuts, explaining, “Ten percent of the student population at Hollis Brookline High School are members of FIRST Robotics teams.