Without the high school’s flourishing art department, student Victoria Cornell said her life would have been very different.

“If you’re not involved in it people are like, ‘oh, it’s just an art program.’ But it’s what saved me,” Cornell said. “And that’s a big deal, and there are a lot of kids out there just like me.”

Cornell was among the roughly 60 people who packed a public hearing Monday night on the fiscal year 2017 school budget. Many fought proposed staff cuts in the art, physical and special education departments while new science and math positions were added.

The total budget is $40,860,670, which represents a $1,361,933 increase. Even though the total draft budget is 3.4 percent higher compared to this year, administrators and the School Committee are grappling with potential reductions.

Renee Vieira, a biology teacher at the high school, said she was glad the budget included more funds for science and math, but not at the art department's expense.

“They’re not asking for any more staff. They just don’t want to lose the staff they have,” Vieira said, adding that since 2002 the art department has lost three positions.

The budget calls for eliminating one full-time art teacher, one full-time physical education teacher and a special education aide.

Included are funds for three additional special education co-teachers at the elementary schools, a full-time instructional technology specialist and a full-time preschool teacher. The co-teacher positions account for an additional $160,000.

Chair Chris Oliver said the committee relied on many opinions when crafting the budget.

“I feel this is one of the best budget proposals that we put together,” Oliver said. “We’ve included as many stakeholders as possible.”

Committee member Chris Garth disagreed.

“I hate this budget,” Garth said. “I think this is every school committee person’s nightmare to have to stand up here and defend that we’re cutting art, music and the things that really matter.”

Garth said the positions up for elimination are essential.

“There’s not a request on here that’s nice to have,” he said. “These are things that we should have.”

Quinn Elementary Occupational Therapist Specialist Kathleen Baldwin implored the committee to reconsider eliminating a special education aide at her school. The position supports instruction and the social and emotional needs of students, she said.

“While the elimination of roughly $20,000 may be attractive in the budget, I assure you less is not more in this scenario,” Baldwin said.

By far the most support was given to the art department.

Victoria Cornell, who is now homeschooled after a brief stint in the high school, said she still participates in the after school Media Club.

Cornell said medical issues made it difficult for her to socialize, but she found solace in the art department.

“I never would have discovered my passion for photography if it wasn’t for the teachers going out of their way…I never would have thought to myself, 'I can go to school for this.'”

Senior Austin Vincent, another Media Club member, said the arts provide an alternative activity for many.

“Lots of kids resort to sports as their thing to do and some kids just don’t feel like that’s for them, and art is their outlet,” Vincent said.

Senior Adriana Pacheco attested to the therapeutic qualities of artistic expression. This year, Pacheco is taking two advanced placement classes on top of an internship.

“I’ve gone home crying because I’m so stressed out,” she said. “When I get to go to art classes I feel so relieved…it takes all that stress and anxiety away.”

Committee members said many requests for staff and programs were denied when the budget was drafted. If included, those requests would have added $1,057,977 to the budget.

Garth noted that Dartmouth’s per pupil spending is among the lowest in the state, and it may be time to ask for more support from residents.

“We’re a million dollars short of what we should be doing,” Garth said. “A million dollars across 40,000 people is not that much.”

At the end of the hearing, committee members asked administrators for more information on the impact staff cuts may have on students. Committee members will continue to discuss the budget at their next meeting.

After the School Committee finalizes a budget, it goes to the Finance Committee for review. Voters will then approve or deny the budget at Town Meeting, set for June 7.

Committee member Dr. Shannon Jenkins urged residents to get involved with Town Meeting or contact their precinct representatives if they want more support for the schools.

Oliver said the board is committed to drafting a budget that best serves students.

“Some of us are educators, all of us are parents of Dartmouth Public Schools students, past or present,” Oliver said. “We all got involved for the simple reason that we want to make the Dartmouth Public School system better for everyone.”

The next Dartmouth School Committee meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 28 at 6:30 p.m. in Quinn Elementary School.