Citizens for Needham Schools: Past Newsletters


		Citizens for Needham Schools (CNS) is 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.
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Question 1 & Question 4

You Will Be Voting for More than Just a President on November 4!

October 3, 2008

Help Pass Question 4

Help Defeat Question 1

Greetings,

November 4 is an important election in more ways than one! Aside from casting your vote for the next President of the United States, you will need to indicate your support for or against two ballot questions with outcomes that will impact the quality of public education for our children.

Help Pass Question 4

Question 4 on the November 4 ballot requests a $1.9 million operating override to run the new High Rock School, scheduled to open in September 2009. Citizens for Needham Schools joins the Board of Selectmen and the School Committee in encouraging Needham voters to vote YES on Question 4. First, this override was always part of the High Rock renovation plan: a debt-exclusion override in April 2007 to build High Rock and an operating override in November 2008 to run it. Second, a failed override would hurt all Needham students: if the School Committee decides to open High Rock without sufficient funds, cuts will be made at all schools, at all levels.

The Open High Rock campaign is underway and needs all sorts of help: donations, sign holders, and people willing to talk to their neighbors about the question. To offer help, register as a supporter, or learn more about the question, please visit the campaign website: http://www.openhighrock.com.

Help Defeat Question 1

Question 1 on the November 4 ballot proposes the elimination of the state income tax. Citizens for Needham Schools joins Stand for Children and the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts in opposing this question. Approximately 40% of state revenues comes from the income tax. If Question 1 passes, state aid to towns will be cut drastically. Needham depends on roughly $8.5 million in state aid; cuts to that aid will further strain our already strained budget.

A Vote No on Question 1 campaign is underway and will soon be making persuasion calls in Needham. If you would like to save the campaign some work and spare yourself a phone call, please visit the Stand for Children website and register yourself as a NO voter: www.stand.org/ma/question1. If you would like to help the campaign, you can attend a kick-off meeting on Tuesday, October 7, 7:00-8:30 p.m., at the Newton Senior Center, 345 Walnut Street in Newtonville. Please email Alison Balter to let her know you're coming: abalter@stand.org.