Latest Update on the School Budget This Valentine's Day, Show Your Town How Much You Care! "Can Someone Please Explain..." Pre-K Parents Needed for a CNS Focus Group

Now is the time for residents to understand the issues driving the budget deficit, and to provide their input to the Board of Selectmen on override questions. Continue reading to learn how you can educate yourself on the budget and make your voice heard.

Latest Update on the School Budget

Here is a summary of what is happening with the School Department budget. Town revenue numbers were finalized on January 31. Some additional funds from the Governor's budget and local sources were identified, and, after sharing new revenues with other town departments, approximately $700,000 more is available for the schools. As a result some teacher positions will be restored. As of the last (February 7) School Committee meeting, there was still a $2.6 million gap for the schools.

This number may change yet again. The Finance Committee will finish its deliberations, and then the School Committee will meet on February 23 to determine the final budget number and the items that will be cut if an override is not passed.

The final decision on whether to have an override, how the question or questions are structured, and the amount requested rests with the Board of Selectmen, who are expecting to make these decisions on February 28.

	This Valentine's Day, Show Your Town How Much You Care!
If you care about Needham, and you want our town to have enough money to continue providing the same level of services that it currently does, then please postpone your candlelight dinner plans this Valentine's Day, and attend the Board of Selectmen's Public Hearing-Override Discussion. The hearing will be held at 7:15 p.m., Tuesday, February 14, at the Broadmeadow Performance Center. The purpose of the hearing is to discuss the budget gap and the possibility of placing one or more override questions on the April 11 town ballot. Public input is welcome and encouraged.

	"Can Someone Please Explain..."
Needham's current budget crisis is raising many questions for our residents, such as: What is an override? Why do we need another override when it seems we have had so many in recent years? Why does the town need more money when my property taxes have increased so much already? How are the town's budget decisions made? What economic factors are driving the budget deficit? In an effort to address these important questions, CNS has developed a "Needham Government 101" program, hosted by members of the Board of Selectmen and the School Committee. The format of the event is informal, with plenty of opportunity for discussion of matters of the greatest concern to those in attendance. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, NEEDHAM GOVERNMENT 101 HAS THE ANSWERS! PLEASE PLAN ON ATTENDING ONE OF THE PROGRAMS. The scheduled times/dates/locations follows: Wednesday, February 15, 9 a.m, Hillside Wednesday, February 15, 8 p.m., Eliot Thursday, February 16, 7:30 p.m., Mitchell Wednesday, March 8, 9 a.m., Newman Thursday, March 9, 7:15 p.m., Needham High School

	Pre-K Parents Needed for a CNS Focus Group
CNS would like to meet with parents whose chilidren have not yet entered the Needham Public Schools. We are interested in learning what sorts of questions and concerns this group of residents has about the public schools. CNS's objective is to determine how to best provide pre-k parents with the information that will assist them with their public school transition. The focus group will be held on Thursday, February 23, from 7-8 p.m. at Goldman & Pease, 160 Gould St., Needham (next to Channel 5). If you would like to participate, please email Amy Goldman at goldman.amy@comcast.net.

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