On the Chapter 70 study committee: what they are, or at least SHOULD, talk about

Sorry, I know the first of these public sessions already happened this week. This fall is somehow feeling particularly slammed for me...remember, they also will take electronic submission of testimony at C70PublicComment@mass.gov.
Also, yes, again, this is me posting as me and not in any other capacity.

When I last wrote on this for you, I shared what isn't going to come up in the study commission because it isn't things with which they are charged. 

Note that those are all things about which we should be talking, too! We really cannot ignore how harsh not having SOA increases is going to be on the districts that have been using them to ensure they can maintain services, because inflation isn't keeping up with costs, much as so many other districts have been pushing local increases for the same reason.

In other words: 

INFLATION INFLATION INFLATION

However, again, this study is specifically to study the "municipality's target local contribution and required local contribution" so it's looking at what I think of as the SECOND part of the question: once we have decided what a "minimum adequate per pupil budget" is, where does the money come from? 

Here are some things that I expect to come up, some of which are written right into the study language itself:

Suburban Coalition presentation on the Foundation Budget Review Commission

I couldn't go to this because I had responsibilities elsewhere, but luckily, we were covered on livetweeting! 
The Mass Municipal Association says this is the year:

John Robertson @massmunicipal: "if ever there was a good time to make #FBRC adjustment, this would be a good year."@SubCoal

— Brian Allen (@Brian_E_Allen) May 12, 2016

A "this isn't how I have it in my notes" moment from Rep. Peisch:

@RepAlicePeisch giving update on #FBRC. Intent was always to take up report next legislative session next year.@SubCoal

— Brian Allen (@Brian_E_Allen) May 12, 2016

And some news from Rep. Rogers, who you'll remember is sponsoring H4219, the House bill on the Foundation Budget fixes:

State Rep John Rogers: State Treasurer talking about expanding lottery as an immediate fix for new revenue. @SubCoal

— Brian Allen (@Brian_E_Allen) May 12, 2016

You can see the rest of what happened on Mr. Allen's timeline (and h/t to him for livetweeting it! There was no coverage otherwise.)

"We're all in this together" until the education budget needs funding

Last night's comments by Worcester City Manager Augustus to CPPAC that Governor Baker had done a "pretty good job" putting the state budget together, and that schools and city were "all in this together," reminded me of the blowup at the local government meeting with Governor Baker the day before.

“The administration’s public focus is overwhelmingly on charter schools, and while our excellent vocational schools have also received your attention, the majority of public school students are not significantly helped by this budget,” King Phillip Regional School Committee member Patrick Francomano told the governor during a meeting with local officials. Francomano, the immediate past president of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, said the group is also concerned that Baker and his team “ignored” the recommendations of a 21-member Foundation Budget Review Commission, which held extensive meetings and suggested making formula changes to address the growing costs of the “two biggies” – health care and special education.

“Some of our constituents say that the administration’s commitment to true public education is disingenuous, while others say we are failing to fulfill our constitutional obligation. We are hoping very sincerely that we can continue to work together to assist and improve public education for all of the students,” Francomano said. 

To say that it wasn't well received by the Governor is putting it lightly, but what is telling is how fast the Mass Municipal Association--the group that represents city and town governments--was to back away from any agreement with MASC:

Massachusetts Municipal Association Executive Director Geoff Beckwith, both during and after meeting, sought to distance his group from the comments made by members of the Association of School Committees. 

“In no way do we question the administration’s support for public education,” Beckwith said.

Here's the thing: it's lovely that the Governor is increasing local aid by what he said he would. That in no way changes or removes the responsibility he has for the state's side of public education IN the actual cities and towns that the aid goes to. The state itself has issued a report---which came out of a commission on which the Governor was fully represented--that the education budget is undercalculated and underfinanced. The Governor, in his budget recommendation, chose to ignore it. That IS NOT supporting public education.
And that means it isn't supporting cities and towns, either. Education budget or no, we ARE all in this together.
We should act like it.