11/13/1996 BOARD OF SELECTMEN Executive Session (4)

Home Browse Search

r` baornostablel Cou4e ry S etectmztv aon&C&u*wAork A ss&cLaVuXw Represe+1ratqe th&15 row Yw of Ccipel Co& Honorable Senate wags And Means Committee: April 1, 1996 On behalf of the Barnstable County Selectmen and Councilors Association and Nantucket and Martha's vineyard Islands, I respectfully request the Education Reform Act formula now used be revisited as we feel we are receiving an unfair and inequitable distribution of state and lottery funds. In 1995, the 15 towns in Barnstable County spent $157 million to educate 29,604 students. The state contributed only$23.7 million in education aid and lottery funds, or 15% of the total cost, an average contribution of only$798 per child. on the other hand, Fitchburg spent $32 million to educate 5,300 students and received $26.9 million from the state or 84% of their total cost, a contribution of $4,464 per child. Fitchburg, with a population of 383000 residents received $3 million more than the combined 15 towns on the Cape with a population of over 200,000 residents. we represent 3.8% of the population of Massachusetts but receive less than 1%of the state aid. The above comparison is not unique nor is it an extreme example of the unfair and inadequate distribution of state funds. other comparisons are enclosed for your review. The evidence shows that the Education Reform Act of 1993 is having a serious effect on our schools and communities. We believe a ve error occurred with the existing formula when the Senate eliminated the "inflation aid" provis n. The original Mouse bill would have addressed the financial difficulties many of our communitie now experience stemming from school enrollment rising more quickly than local tax revenues. Until the foundation budget catches up with falling per pupil spending, there is no state aid in the present formula to make up for the difference. The problem worsens as each ear asses. , o A,C4.q S ' In a report written for the Sandwich School Depart /nt, Dr. Edward Moscovitch, or of p the Education Reform Act spending formula., stated that the MBAE argued there were sufficient funds to both provide inflation aid and to get all school districts to foundation level by FY2000. He further notes that the Education Reform Act required the Commissioner of Education to run cost simulations of the Reform law with and without inflation aid and report the results to the legislature and the public by March 1994. No such report had been filed. It is urgent that your Committee require the Commissioner to run the cost sirnilAtions as the lav intended to recognize the untenable position the Cape&Islands towns have been placed in. Attached are other issues which we believe should be addressed by your Committee with regard to the Education Reform formula and to unfunded special education mandates which are further g eroding our ability to offer a quality education to our average and above average children. Sincerely, f lectma ancy C f Education Reform.Act Study Committee N Barnstable County Selectmen and Councilors Assoc. \� Po Box 827, Mashp ee MA 02649 Phone(508)539-1400 Fax(508) 539-1403