Monfredo: Will the State Come Up With Adequate Budget for Education?

Saturday, March 30, 2019

John Monfredo, GoLocalWorcester MINDSETTER

Last week the first major hearing in the long-awaited debate over updating the Foundation Budget formula took place and groups of mayors, school personal, educators and even some New England Patriot players came to Beacon Hill urging the lawmakers to correct the formula and add additional funding to the urban districts with growing populations of high-need students.

As a reminder, in 2015 the state’s foundation formula was reviewed by the Foundation Review Commission who found the Foundation Budget to be woefully underfunded and therefore made several recommendations to fix the problem. To close achievement gaps, especially for English Language learners many of whom the commission found, were children from war-torn regions or refugees, and therefore changes were necessary. It also found that the state hadn't updated the formula to keep up with rising health care and special education costs. The State Senate came up with a plan last budget session but the plan never was voted on by the House. Unfortunately, there has been lots of rhetoric but no action.

Now in 2019, the Governor and both the Senate and the House have stated that a plan will be forthcoming. This being one of the most conversational issues facing the State, Legislators have vowed to pass an educational funding bill this year. The question is will the bill be adequate?

Worcester Public Schools Superintendent Maureen Binienda, one of many who testified at the hearing, stated that we are not anywhere close to meeting the constitutionally required standards of providing an adequate education for all our students in this Commonwealth. She stated that the diversity of the students across the Gateway cities has increased but additional funding has not. In addition she spoke about the increase in homeless children for in Worcester there has been an increase from 5.7% in 2008 to 9.1% in 2019 and urged lawmakers to take action. She went on the say, “I speak to you today seeing the faces and hearing the voices of all our urban student-immigrants from many countries, children living in poverty, children who have experienced trauma, students with special needs, gifted students and ALL students who enter our schools carrying the belief and hope that we will prepare them for successful future careers.” She ended her speech first by reading a note from a parent… “I trust you with my children,” and then offered a question to the Foundation Commission, “We cannot continue to wait for another year. We made the promise to our children and families. We need to fulfill the trust bestowed to us. I ask, “Have we lived up to this trust?”

One of Superintendent’s colleagues Kathleen Smith, Superintendent from Brockton also gave a grave report on the situation in her district stating that in 2017 the city spent one dollar on supplies per student, while wealthy Weston spent $275 per pupil. Other Superintendents from across the state also spoke about the inadequacies in their districts.

Brian Allen, Worcester Public Schools Chief Financial and Operations Officer spoke about the needs of the Worcester Public Schools. He pointed out that the Worcester district spent nearly $70 million in just Special Education and Employee Benefits and Fixed Charges in these two areas more than the Foundation Budget provides in funding. Stating that like other Gateway cities, Worcester spends at or near the Foundation Budget allotment each year which means spending $70 million in just these two areas we are spending $70 million less in other important areas.

“This translates into 700 fewer teachers than the foundation budget provides, also, school supplies are less, and in fact, Worcester spends less today for staff development, instructional technology, instructional material and building maintenance than in 2002 when you adjust the foundation budget inflation factor,” declared Mr. Allen.

Mr. Allen then spoke about the inadequate funding for special education employee benefits, English Language Learners and low-income students. Another point that he made and that I could relate to was the cuts made in 2004 when I was principal. “The district had a very active after-school community school program and a full day pre-school programs… we know what worked by what we cut.” Today those programs still do not exist. I certainly can agree with that for my full day pre-school program helped so many students with their readiness skills and all went on to be reading on grade level by the end of grade three. The same can be said about many other programs dating back to 2004 for they made a difference in the lives of our children.

The three bills from the Legislators were discussed with many Legislators agreeing with the speakers that the bills introduced early this year are not adequate. Many arguments ensued on whether the wealthy districts are getting too much and the poorer district not enough. As Representative Alice Peisch, the House education committee chair, echoed to her colleagues, “We only have so much money regardless of where we land … my concern is any dollar that goes to a city other than a gateway city is one that doesn’t get to a gateway city.

Perhaps Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins summed up the situation with this press release. "We can either pay on the front end and invest in education and potential or pay on the back end with lost opportunity, growing inequality, and significantly higher rates of criminal justice system involvement.”

This discussion is only beginning, for the legislators will have many more and will review all the potential bills on funding before them for all of them realize that there is a problem and the problem needs to be solved this year. Whatever the bill is we all need to be careful, for “the devil will be in the details.” Let’s be diligent and pay attention!