Citizens for Needham Schools (CNS) is a committee dedicated to advocating for strong public schools, educating the public on issues pertaining to school department funding and capital projects, and supporting the School Administration and the School Committee in their efforts to provide quality education for Needham’s students.

Do You Want to Know More About the School Budget? Check Out These Articles from The Globe High Rock Update - Good News on the Contractor Bid! Town Election: Tuesday, April 8 Email Senator Brown State Lobbying Efforts - Please Join Us!

The School Committee's proposed cuts include:

·8.6 teachers (5 existing, 3.6 new)
·2-4 elementary teachers, both classroom and specialists
·4-6 middle and high school positions
·Increases to busing fees and to the high school athletic fee
·Administrators and clerical staff
·Supplies and professional development

Do You Want to Know More About the School Budget?

For more information, please visit the Needham Public Schools website for these documents:

· Superintendent Gutekanst's FY09 Preliminary Budget Request - a 7.3% increase over FY08. Presented December 5, 2007. http://district.needham.k12.ma.us/fina nces_pdf/FY09/Budget_Pres_SC_12-05- 07.pdf

· The cuts School Committee considered to keep the school budget within projected town revenue: http://district.needham.k12.ma.us/finances_p df/FY09/F Y09_SC_Budget_1-22-08.pdf

· School Committee's Budget Recommendation- a 4.5% increase over FY08. Voted January 30. http://district.needham.k12.ma.us/finances_pdf/ FY09_ SC_Recmm_Overview.pdf

You can also email the School Committee with questions at schoolco mmittee@needham.k12.m a.us. They are always glad to hear from you.

You can learn more about the budgeting process by attending Follow the Money-How Needham Budgets and Spends on Monday, March 24, 7:30 p.m. at the Broadmeadow School. This one-evening workshop is for residents to better understand local finances and the budgeting process.

	Check Out These Articles from The Globe
On February 24, The Boston Globe reported that the Needham Public Schools spent $12,065 per pupil during the 06-07 school year, $300 more than the state average. You can see per-pupil spending for all municipalities at http://finance1.doe.mass.edu/statistic s/. Of 20 towns we often compare ourselves to, Needham ranks 12th in per-pupil spending. The 20 towns are Belmont, Brookline, Concord, Dedham, Dover, Framingham, Holliston, Hopkinton, Lexington, Medfield, Natick, Newton, Norwood, Sherborn, Walpole, Wayland, Weston, Westwood, and Winchester. You'll find more fun reading at Boston.com's Override Central, where you can read coverage of Proposition 2½ override campaigns in over 30 communities: http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/r egional_e ditions/ overridecentral. Many, many towns are facing cuts similar to the cuts Needham is facing, or worse.

	High Rock Update - Good News on the Contractor Bid!
The Permanent Public Buildings Committee has awarded the general contractor contract for the High Rock renovation and addition to G&R Construction. The total project bid came in $1.5 million lower than the estimate. Building will begin this spring. You can read the School Committee's High Rock update for the March Town Meeting at http://district.needham.k12.ma.us/spa ce_planni ng/Hig h_Rock_Update3-4-08.pdf

	Town Election: Tuesday, April 8
Contested Town Meeting Member races in several precincts; seats available in Precincts A, B, and J. Please get to the polls on Tuesday, April 8: several precincts have heavily contested Town Meeting Member races. If you live in Precincts A, B, or J, you could run a write-in campaign and become a Town Meeting Member - each of those precincts has available seats for which no one is running. Selectmen's Race Three people are running for two Selectmen seats. We urge everyone to be aware of the candidates and their views on the issues facing the town, including the schools, and to VOTE. Decisions made by the Selectmen directly affect the schools, particularly decisions about buildings and override ballot questions. Learn about the candidates and the issues The League of Women Voters-Needham provides the following opportunities for becoming an informed voter for the Tuesday, April 8 Town elections. The Voters' Guide in the April 3 Needham Times and at www.lwv-needham.org presents information provided by the candidates on their relevant qualifications and their opinions on the major issues. Candidates' Night: Monday, March 31, 7:00 p.m. at the Broadmeadow School. At the candidate's reception from 7-7:45 p.m. you can meet town-wide candidates and candidates for Town Meeting. At the Contested Candidate's Forum (7:45 - 9:30 p.m.) candidates for contested office (Board of Selectmen and Commissioner of Trust Funds) will answer submitted questions.

	Email Senator Brown
Cities and towns statewide are regularly faced with budget shortfalls as a result of the restrictions of Proposition 2 ½. Passing overrides or steep service cuts are the only options available to close the gaps. Seniors living on fixed incomes are particularly hard hit by the additional taxes resulting from successful overrides. In an effort to lessen this burden on seniors, the Massachusetts House of Representatives has passed a bill that would let cities and towns exempt seniors earning less than $60,000 a year from the overrides. House lawmakers overwhelmingly approved the bill, which now heads to the Senate. The bill would give local officials the option of giving lower-income seniors a tax break if voters adopt an override. The tax exemption would apply to homeowners 65 or older with an income of $60,000 or less, provided that their real estate taxes exceed 10 percent of their income. The Board of Citizens for Needham Schools urges you to contact Senator Scott Brown to encourage him to support this bill. A simple email voicing your support and asking for his is all that is required. Scott.P.Bro wn@state.ma.us

	State Lobbying Efforts - Please Join Us!
Following our fall meeting with Representative Harkins and Senator Brown, CNS hosted a planning meeting to win better state support for our schools. We have a good plan and a committed group; if you'd like to join us, please email us at info@needhamyes.com. Save these dates: The Suburban Coalition Breakfast - Monday, April 7 and Stand for Children's Day on the Hill - Tuesday, April 15. Both are good opportunities to talk to state legislators about school funding.

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