Notes from the Legislative Tea: CORRECTED

Though it was a posted, public meeting, there were no members of the public at yesterday's Legislative tea. In addition to all members of the School Committee save Mary Mullaney, both Senators Chandler and Moore were there, as were Representatives O'Day, Fresolo, and Pedone. From WPS administration were Superintendent Boone, CAO Mulqueen, and CFO Allen, in addition to the School Committee clerk Helen Friel.

As I said below, the most imporant looming issue to arise is that the Legislature is facing as much as a possible $300 million hole for the FY11 budget, compared to the Governor's budget. (I notice that the City Manager is making the same point to the City Council on Tuesday.) As that smaller-than-we-feared budget gap of $6 million (back to $4 million if one figures in the health insurance savings and the spending of school choice funds) is predicated on the Governor's budget, the numbers are going to change. We were told that the Legislature is crunching numbers to try to get local authorities new numbers, and I'm sure we'll see a WPS update from Mr. Allen as soon as that happens.

Note, by the way, that the city is already facing a $14 million gap, and that's with a fully-funded 9C budget. If local aid gets cut, the city budget is only going to get more messy.

Michael Widmer from the Mass Taxpayers' Association is going to be doing a presentation locally on FY11 on March 31. I don't have a time or place; I'll post once I do.

Mr. Allen estimated that WPS could save $750,000 if the state were to reverse unfunded state (transportation) mandates. (That's the correct number now.)
The actual grant we get for extended learning time does not cover all of the costs of ELT in the city.

The state department of education will have a press conference at 11 on Wednesday at which they will announce the Level 4 and 5 schools for the state. The superintendent told us that those evaluations were made, according to the state, in alignment with the education legislation passed in January. As such, multiple evaluations of schools should feed into this levelling, not only MCAS (absentee rates, graduation rates, school safety numbers, dropout rates, GPA...it's a lengthy list).

It was also suggested that monthly meetings of the School Committee with the delegation would be useful to both sides, as the delegation requested better, more completely, and timely information and input, and the School Committee would like updates on state legislative moves.

I also should comment that the Harrington Room, which is the top floor of that turrent at the Tech School, is lovely, and that the sandwiches and cookies were excellent. Thanks to Dr. Friel for pulling it all together!