This story is part of a nationwide Patch series probing the economy's effect on local schools. The town of Winchester recently put out its budget for Fiscal Year 2012. The school department, which roughly takes up 40 percent of the budget, saw a four percent increase in its funds from 2011 to 2012. This school budget allows the schools to maintain its current staffing, provide for the increase in Special Education costs and hire two more full-time core teachers at McCall Middle School, which is projected to have an increase of 70 students next year. “There are no new programs,” …

This story is part of a nationwide Patch series probing the economy's effect on local schools. The School Department submitted its budget to the town recently. And while the School Committee and Superintendent William McAlduff were able to avoid having to cut any programs, it is far from their ideal budget. Winchester principals wanted a nine percent increase in its budget from 2011, but were forced to settle for a 4.09 percent increase. This budget allows the town to maintain its current staffing, provide for the increase in Special Education costs and hire two more full-time core teachers …

This story is part of a nationwide Patch series probing the economy's effect on local schools. Everyday for the last month as students, parents and teachers walk into the Ambrose Elementary School they've been greeted by Ella Ross. The fourth grader has a table set up in the lobby adjacent to the main office. As she would wait for school to begin, Ross would collect books, organize them, place them in boxes, stack them and put stickers inside the front cover. She has over 40 boxes filled with a variety of different literature ranging from adult books down to children's readers. Last …

This story is part of a nationwide Patch series probing the economy's effect on local schools. It's an issue that doesn't just impact one school in Winchester or one side of town. From Muraco to Vinson-Owen to Lynch, elementary schools across Winchester are running out of space to put students. Winchester is in a unique situation as its student population continues to grow, while many towns across the Commonwealth have noticed a decline. While there is plenty of positives of having more families move to the town, the increasing elementary school enrollment has pushed the majority of …

This story is part of a nationwide Patch series probing the economy's effect on local schools. They had the feasibility study, the meetings, the discussions, the decisions are completed and work is set to begin on a new Vinson-Owen Elementary School. Now comes the tough part – funding the new building. In Fall Town Meeting, members will vote to see whether or not the town will borrow the amount of money required to build the new school. Even if the article passes, the town will then have an override vote on January 11. According the Chair of the School Committee, Sarah Girotti, the project …

This story is part of a nationwide Patch series probing the economy's effect on local schools. William McAlduff has learned to be patient. It's a philosophy that has served the Winchester Superintendent well over the last few years. And with the economic downturn that has negatively impacted a number of towns across the country, McAlduff doesn't want to go the way of other school districts and institute layoffs or program cuts. In fact, Winchester has gone in the opposite direction, increasing the number of faculty over the last two years. "We've been very lucky," McAlduff said. "We've been …