7/9/1997 SCHOOL COMMITTEE Minutes

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t Joint Meeting - School Committee and Board of Selectmen - July 9, 1997 PageThree Selectman Gaff n said she believes "ire have to petition the judge in the original case that led to the development ment of the f rn ula and ask him to look at it again and find out why these gree goals (adequacy, stability, and fairness in education) has not been net." Associate Commissioner of Education Mr. Fischer said that no -matter how hard anyone tries to adopt a formula, it is impossible to address all the issues. Selectman Dinizio said having this meeting is good for the community to hear how difficult it is to change the funding formula. He said he hopes to work in unity with the School Committee, Board of Selectmen and Finance Committee in the future Dr. DeMoura said it is a political reality that problems will occur when money W s taken from communities. He said that if enrollments go down in a community, thea so should the funding. Mr. Fischer stressed that no changes to the funding formula will be made before the year 2000. Ir. Paxton felt the only way to tackle this situation is to pursue a lawsuit. He said, "We are getting less for education from the state than other towns with similar problems. ...A band-ail doesn't work when you have an artery that is cut." Representative Cahir said he is not against a lawsuit but felt it will not be as effective ass some think. He said litigation takes a long time and the for la will be revisited in the year 2000. Mr. Fischer stated that the funding formula has accomplished what it was meant to for most districts. He said the McDu fy court case, which ultimately lei to the Education Reform Act, stated that the spending per student in each district would be equal, not the amount given to each community. Chairman Costa stressed that the Board of Selectmen will continue to work with the School Committee and Representative resentative Cahir to get "every nickel."