Town Meeting Approves Spending for School Operating Costs and Middle School Projects Please Take a Minute to Lobby for Improved State Funding Sign up for our Legislators' Newsletters Citizens for Needham Schools Applies to Become a 501(c)(4) Yes for Needham Wants Your Ideas

A difficult budget season ended happily for the schools, with Town Meeting approving the appropriation of school funds secured in April's election. Now, we turn our eyes to state budget deliberations, which might produce more good news for the Needham Public Schools. Read on to learn more about Town Meeting's discussions and about how you can advocate for Needham with our state legislators.

Town Meeting Approves Spending for School Operating Costs and Middle School Projects

In April, Needham voters approved two ballot questions for the schools. However, Town Meeting has ultimate control over how tax dollars are spent, and both expenditures therefore needed to be approved at the May Town Meeting.

The middle school projects, particularly the High Rock renovation and addition, prompted significant discussion. Board of Selectman Chairman Jerry Wasserman and School Committee members Donald Gratz and Joe Barnes spoke in favor of the measure. According to Wasserman, the Board of Selectmen unanimously supported the project because of the looming middle school enrollment crunch. Gratz explained the reasons for adding to High Rock instead of building a new middle school: a new middle school would be a more expensive project at a time when the state's school building aid program, which reimbursed the town for 40% of the high school addition, is currently closed. Barnes endorsed the plan for striking an appropriate balance between the town's finances and the school system's needs. "It's good for our children and good for Needham," Barnes said.

Finance Committee member Stephen Jonas spoke against the project. "The Finance Committee, which is appointed by the Town Moderator, evaluates all proposed spending and makes non-binding recommendations to the full Town Meeting."

At its own May 16 public meeting held prior to Town Meeting, the Finance Committee had come to a tie vote on the High Rock project. But during Town Meeting, when members of the Committee sit together at the front of the auditorium, the group held a re-vote and came out against the project. Jonas gave several reasons for their opposition. The main reason was a concern that the town hadn't adequately considered the estimated $1.1 million of additional costs to operate the renovated High Rock school when it opens in 2009. This estimate given by the Finance Committee is lower than the $1.5 million figure cited by the School Committee in its public meetings about renovating High Rock.

Town Meeting members then spoke for and against the plan. After an hour or so of debate, Town Meeting voted 151 to 25 in favor of approving the expenditure. The technology upgrade at Pollard will commence during the summer, and construction is expected to begin at the High Rock site in the fall.

	Please Take a Minute to Lobby for Improved State Funding
The state budget is still being deliberated, but it may contain additional money for Needham. The final budget should be ready in August. Several other local aid initiatives have been proposed. Governor Patrick proposed the Municipal Partnership Act, legislation that will increase local aid by: · Allowing municipalities to charge a meals and hotels tax · Closing some tax loopholes for corporations · Allowing municipalities to participate in the state healthcare system and pension fund You can read more about the Municipal Partnership Act on the Governor's website: http://devalpatrick.com/mpa.php?about=1 Several advocacy groups, including Stand for Children and The Suburban Coalition (whose steering committee includes Needham Selectman Jerry Wasserman and former Needham School Committee Member Susan Welby) also support this legislation. Citizens for Needham Schools met in April with our state representative Lida Harkins. At that point in time, Rep. Harkins was leaning in favor of the meals and hotels tax but leaning against the corporate loophole provision. If you would like to show support for the Municipal Partnership Act, please email Representative Harkins (Rep.LidaHarkins@state.ma.us) and Senator Brown (Scott.P.Brown@state.ma.us). The Governor also encourages you to join him in rallying legislative support at a Strengthening Our Communities event at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 21st at the Grand Staircase in the State House. An Adequacy Study proposal is still alive in the budget process; it is now before the Conference Committee, a group of key House and Senate leaders. This study would determine the actual cost of educating a student in Massachusetts and recommend stable and adequate funding for that education; it is an important step in reforming state education funding. If you support the study, please email the Conference Committee with this message, or one of your own. TO: Sen. Panagiotakos, Sen. Knapick, Sen. Tolman, Rep. DeLeo, Rep. DeMecedo, Rep. St. Fluer, Senate President Murray, Speaker of the House DiMasi Robert.DeLeo@State.MA.US; Rep.VinnydeMacedo@Hou.State.MA.US; Rep.MarieSt.Fleur@Hou.State.MA.US; Rep.SalvatoreDiMasi@Hou.State.MA.US; Michael.Knapik@state.ma.us; Steven.Panagiotakos@state.ma.us; Steven.Tolman@state.ma.us; Therese.Murray@state.ma.us SUBJECT: Please Support Adequacy Study Dear Conference Committee Members, My name is _________ and I am from the city/town of ___________. As you begin your budget deliberations, please support the Adequacy Study (Senate Budget line item 7010-0005). It is critical that an independent committee begin to determine the costs of public education in Massachusetts and plan for the implementation of adequate education funding. [Insert personal message here] Thank you for your support for children and education. Sincerely, [Insert your name, address, email address, and phone number] Governor Patrick's Municipal Partnership Act »

	Sign up for our Legislators' Newsletters
Representative Harkins is now producing an electronic newsletter providing updates on the current issues facing the legislature. The first issue focuses on the Fiscal Year 2008 budget and cost saving proposals for municipalities. To subscribe to this newsletter, please send an email to Rep.LidaHarkins@state.ma.us or lidaeharkins@hotmail.com. You may also call the office at 617-722-2300 to subscribe. Please do not hesitate to contact the office with any questions. State Senator Scott Brown distributes an e-newsletter as well as a quarterly paper newsletter by mail. Both feature an overview of Brown's legislative priorities, legislative news, State House news, event and his "district hours" schedule. To receive a copy of either, call 617-722-1555 or email Brown at Scott.P.Brown@state.ma.us. Make sure to include your email address or mailing address.

	Citizens for Needham Schools Applies to Become a 501(c)(4)
CNS has applied to become a 501(c)(4) organization, a non-profit organization to promote social welfare. CNS's mission and methods will not change. However, an official status with the IRS will allow CNS to raise money. More details to come.

	Yes for Needham Wants Your Ideas
The April election is already a distant memory, but the Yes for Needham Campaign hopes that you haven't completely forgotten it. The chairs would like to hear your thoughts on the campaign: what worked? what didn't? If you would like to share your reactions, please email the campaign at info@yesforneedham.com

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