Selectmen Approve Two Ballot Questions for the Schools School Committee Open House, Needham Historical Society, Saturday, March 10, 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. Pollard Open House, Thursday, March 22, 3 p.m. League of Women Voters Candidates Night, Monday, March 26, Pollard Middle School, 7 p.m. Follow the Money: How Needham Budgets and Spends, Thursday, March 29, Broadmeadow Performance Center, 7:30 p.m. Yes for Needham Ballot Question Committee has Formed Register to Vote or Get an Absentee Ballot Visit the Citizens for Needham Schools Blog!

Greetings,

The Selectmen have voted, and now we know what will be on the April 10 ballot. Read on to hear about the ballot questions and the many March events to get us ready to vote.

Selectmen Approve Two Ballot Questions for the Schools

On Tuesday, March 6, the Selectmen approved two questions for the schools to be placed on the April 10 ballot. Both questions were approved unanimously.

One question will allocate $21 million to fund work at the middle school: a renovation and addition to make High Rock into a sixth-grade center and a technology upgrade at Pollard. The question does not include funding for two modulars at Pollard. Appropriate classroom space has been found inside the building for the two additional anticipated classrooms of students. The $21 million will be paid over 20 years; it will cost the average taxpayer $243 in the peak year, and lesser amounts for the rest of the 20 years. The value of an average home in Needham is $682,000.

The other question will allocate $1.1 million to fund operating costs of the schools. If this question fails, the School Department will cut 3 elementary teachers, 4 middle school teachers, and 5 high school teachers, as well as 1 elementary music position, a special education assistant and 6 support staff. The School Department will also not be able to restore some PE, media and guidance positions and some professional development cut last year, and it will not be able to reduce the high school athletic fee from $285 to $225. Superintendent Dan Gutekanst presented these cuts at the Tuesday, March 6 School Committee meeting. The presentation may be found at the link below. This question will cost the average taxpayer $109 a year.

For the exact wording of the questions and more detail on the tax impact, visit the Town website at
http://www.town.needham.ma.us/Selectmen/Selectme nOverrideQuestionApril2007.htm.

Voters will decide on the questions on Tuesday, April 10.

Superintendent's Budget Cuts

	School Committee Open House, Needham Historical Society, Saturday, March 10, 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.
The School Committee invites the community for informal conversation at the Needham Historical Society's Old Schoolhouse on the Newman campus.

	Pollard Open House, Thursday, March 22, 3 p.m.
Glenn Brand, Pollard principal, will host an open house at Pollard, Thursday, March 22, at 3 p.m. Mr. Brand will present his suggestion for housing the 40 additional students expected at Pollard in September 2008: moving Experiential Education and Health out of their modular classrooms and housing the two classes of sixth-graders there. The modular classrooms will provide the additional sixth-graders with space equivalent to the other sixth-grade classrooms. Experiential Education - a trimester class in which students sit on mats on the floor - will be housed in the weight room. The health teacher will share classrooms with other elective teachers.

	League of Women Voters Candidates Night, Monday, March 26, Pollard Middle School, 7 p.m.
Meet the candidates for the Town's elected positions. Four races are contested, including School Committee 1 and 3 year seats. This event will be televised on the Needham Channel.

	Follow the Money: How Needham Budgets and Spends, Thursday, March 29, Broadmeadow Performance Center, 7:30 p.m.
The Needham League of Women Voters, in partnership with Needham Community Education, is sponsoring an interactive workshop to help voters learn more about our town government and budget process. This dynamic evening features an informal presentation by a panel of town officials, including Needham Town Manager Kate Fitzpatrick, along with members of the School Committee, Board of Selectmen, and Finance Committee. The discussion will cover property taxes and assessments, the budget process, the roles and responsibilities of town officials and the citizen's role in town government.

	Yes for Needham Ballot Question Committee has Formed
A Yes for Needham ballot question committee has formed. Alison Atallah, Heidi Black, and Maureen Chamoun are the co-chairs; Liv Nash is the treasurer. If you would like to donate to the campaign, please send a check made payable to Yes for Needham to Yes for Needham, 200 Great Plain Avenue, Needham, MA 02492. If you would like to volunteer for the campaign, please visit the campaign website: www.YesforNeedham.com.

	Register to Vote or Get an Absentee Ballot
The deadline for registering to vote in the April election is Wednesday, March 21. To learn how to register or how to get an absentee ballot, visit the Town website at the link below. Town Clerk's Website »

	Visit the Citizens for Needham Schools Blog!
With so many important decisions coming up this year, we've decided to open another channel of communication. We'd love to hear from you. Citizens for Needham Schools Blog »