Prior to last week’s 7:00 Committee meeting, State Senator
Jason Lewis and State Representative Paul Brodeur were kind enough to talk with
us about this year’s legislative agenda and how it relates to the educational
concerns we have in Melrose. (The information we presented to them can be found
here: http://1i8brn1xoauz1pwsvo1ktb7vb1q.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/MSC-Concerns-Relative-to-Legislative-Action.pdf.)
Some highlights:
·
The state doesn’t have a spending problem; in fact
Massachusetts is under-spending in many areas. There is a revenue problem,
primarily caused by legislated cuts to income tax. A graduated or marginal
income tax might remedy that situation.
·
Ch. 70 is the biggest issue after healthcare and we need to
continue to lobby for improvements to the formula.
·
Re: the FY16 state budget, they recommended focusing
advocacy efforts on the smaller accounts, like the Kindergarten and METCO
grants, and circuit breaker (reimbursement for special education expenses).
·
Places to focus might include charter schools (understanding
that assessment and reimbursement are very significant issues in Melrose),
early education, and potentially technology.
·
Technology: input is especially welcomed on ways to use it
for distance learning and on-line courses.
·
Snow has started more people thinking about how to design
the school calendar and plan for learning time.
* How best to advocate? Identify the bills that most apply to
Melrose and inform the legislators; provide communication in any areas of
interest and/or concern; invite the legislators to return for more discussion
and sharing of ideas.
