Panel about to re-examine state's school spending formula
By James F. Russell CORRESPONDENT
After the allocation of more than $40 billion in education aid since the landmark 1993 Education Reform Act was enacted in Massachusetts, a panel recently created by the state Legislature to review it will hold its inaugural meeting Thursday.
The meeting will begin at 10 a.m. in Room 350 at the Statehouse.
The 21-person Foundation Budget Review Commission is expected to begin a comprehensive examination of the act's funding formula, scrutinize how Chapter 70 education aid is disbursed to cities and towns, hold at least four public hearings and issue a report next year.
The inquiry should include the formulation of "incentives to encourage better resource allocation decisions," according to the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
The recommendation is contained in the department's "Report on the Status of the Public Education Financing System in Massachusetts," published in July. It includes many items the Legislature should consider.
"Chapter 70 represents the largest share of the state's annual investment in K-12 education, but the funds are distributed with few requirements and no incentives to encourage better resource allocation decisions or to implement proven reform strategies," the report says.
With the governor's signature, the Legislature appropriated $4.4 billion for Chapter 70 in the fiscal year that began July 1.
That funding pushed the cumulative total to more than $40 billion. Data provided by the agency shows that in the 20 years before this fiscal year, $37,535,917,224 of state money was disbursed via Chapter 70.
Among the state recommendations is one that encourages more districts to regionalize.
Another seeks to "leverage Chapter 70 dollars to encourage districts to implement new compensation models that better reflect the new teacher evaluation systems currently being implemented and that reward teachers for reaching higher levels of competency."
The state education department also recommends alterations to how the foundation budget in each community is calculated.
Each year the state determines how much a school district must spend on education, which is the foundation budget.
The foundation amount, premised on a community's ability to pay, includes assumptions that are now outdated, according to the state report.
For example, the employee benefits rate is too low and should be increased "to reflect current actual spending levels."
Because the foundation budget is linked to a community's Chapter 70 benefit, the correction would more fairly target state aid, and result in school spending requirements in synch with current financial structures.
"I am hoping we will get some modernization," Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School Superintendent-Director John Lafleche said. He was selected to serve on the review commission.
"When it (education reform) came out in 1993, it hasn't kept up in those areas," the school chief said. "Since 2000, health insurance rates have far outstripped the inflation" rate.
The reform was in response to a lawsuit filed in 1978.
What came to be known as the McDuffy case was decided by the Supreme Judicial Court in 1993 when it concluded the state had failed to adequately fund public schools.
"The crux of the commonwealth's duty lies in its obligation to educate all of its children," the decision said. "We shall articulate broad guidelines and assume that the commonwealth will fulfil its duty to remedy the constitutional violations that we have identified ... we leave it to the magistrates and the Legislature to define the precise nature of the task which they face in fulfilling their constitutional duty to educate our children today."
Lawsuits have been filed since the 1993 education reform act.
Some have involved disputes about the funding formula, including from the Wachusett Regional School District and Tantasqua Regional School District. Wachusett Regional comprises Holden, Paxton, Princeton, Rutland and Sterling. Tantasqua member towns are Brimfield, Brookfield, Holland, Sturbridge and Wales.
An inability to reach agreement on how much to spend between the school committee and the five-town Quabbin Regional School District two years ago resulted in the education commissioner setting its budget, which the law permits. The Quabbin district consists of Barre, Hardwick, Hubbardston, New Braintree and Oakham.
Education Commissioner Mitchell D. Chester was also forced to dictate a budget for the Spencer-East Brookfield school system last year when the towns were unable to agree on a spending plan.
The Foundation Budget Review Commission is co-chaired by Rep. Alice Peisch, D-Wellesley, and Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz, D-Boston.
In addition to Mr. Lafleche, members include David Bunker, chief fiscal officer for the secretary of education; Tom Moreau, director of School and District Resource Planning for the state agency; Tom Weber, commissioner of Early Education and Care; Rep. Michael J. Moran, D-Boston; Rep. Kimberly N. Ferguson, R-Holden; Sen. Stephen M. Brewer, D-Barre; Sen. Patrica Jehlen, D-Somerville; Katherine Holahan, legislative director at House Committee on Ways and Means; Attletboro Mayor Kevin Dumas; Joseph E. Esposito of the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education; Ann Marie Cugno of the Medford School Committee, and Mary Bourque, superintendent of Chelsea Public Schools.
Also, John Coleman Walsh of the American Federation of Teachers; Michael Wood, superintendent of Nashoba Regional School District; David Verdolino, recently retired as Medway public schools finance director, and Barbara Madeloni, Massachusetts Teachers Association president.
Gov. Deval Patrick is also required to appoint someone to the commission, but to date has not done so.
Contacted Monday, a spokesman for the governor said Mr. Patrick would designate somebody later this week or early next week.
The meeting will begin at 10 a.m. in Room 350 at the Statehouse.
The 21-person Foundation Budget Review Commission is expected to begin a comprehensive examination of the act's funding formula, scrutinize how Chapter 70 education aid is disbursed to cities and towns, hold at least four public hearings and issue a report next year.
The inquiry should include the formulation of "incentives to encourage better resource allocation decisions," according to the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
The recommendation is contained in the department's "Report on the Status of the Public Education Financing System in Massachusetts," published in July. It includes many items the Legislature should consider.
"Chapter 70 represents the largest share of the state's annual investment in K-12 education, but the funds are distributed with few requirements and no incentives to encourage better resource allocation decisions or to implement proven reform strategies," the report says.
With the governor's signature, the Legislature appropriated $4.4 billion for Chapter 70 in the fiscal year that began July 1.
That funding pushed the cumulative total to more than $40 billion. Data provided by the agency shows that in the 20 years before this fiscal year, $37,535,917,224 of state money was disbursed via Chapter 70.
Among the state recommendations is one that encourages more districts to regionalize.
Another seeks to "leverage Chapter 70 dollars to encourage districts to implement new compensation models that better reflect the new teacher evaluation systems currently being implemented and that reward teachers for reaching higher levels of competency."
The state education department also recommends alterations to how the foundation budget in each community is calculated.
Each year the state determines how much a school district must spend on education, which is the foundation budget.
The foundation amount, premised on a community's ability to pay, includes assumptions that are now outdated, according to the state report.
For example, the employee benefits rate is too low and should be increased "to reflect current actual spending levels."
Because the foundation budget is linked to a community's Chapter 70 benefit, the correction would more fairly target state aid, and result in school spending requirements in synch with current financial structures.
"I am hoping we will get some modernization," Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School Superintendent-Director John Lafleche said. He was selected to serve on the review commission.
"When it (education reform) came out in 1993, it hasn't kept up in those areas," the school chief said. "Since 2000, health insurance rates have far outstripped the inflation" rate.
The reform was in response to a lawsuit filed in 1978.
What came to be known as the McDuffy case was decided by the Supreme Judicial Court in 1993 when it concluded the state had failed to adequately fund public schools.
"The crux of the commonwealth's duty lies in its obligation to educate all of its children," the decision said. "We shall articulate broad guidelines and assume that the commonwealth will fulfil its duty to remedy the constitutional violations that we have identified ... we leave it to the magistrates and the Legislature to define the precise nature of the task which they face in fulfilling their constitutional duty to educate our children today."
Lawsuits have been filed since the 1993 education reform act.
Some have involved disputes about the funding formula, including from the Wachusett Regional School District and Tantasqua Regional School District. Wachusett Regional comprises Holden, Paxton, Princeton, Rutland and Sterling. Tantasqua member towns are Brimfield, Brookfield, Holland, Sturbridge and Wales.
An inability to reach agreement on how much to spend between the school committee and the five-town Quabbin Regional School District two years ago resulted in the education commissioner setting its budget, which the law permits. The Quabbin district consists of Barre, Hardwick, Hubbardston, New Braintree and Oakham.
Education Commissioner Mitchell D. Chester was also forced to dictate a budget for the Spencer-East Brookfield school system last year when the towns were unable to agree on a spending plan.
The Foundation Budget Review Commission is co-chaired by Rep. Alice Peisch, D-Wellesley, and Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz, D-Boston.
In addition to Mr. Lafleche, members include David Bunker, chief fiscal officer for the secretary of education; Tom Moreau, director of School and District Resource Planning for the state agency; Tom Weber, commissioner of Early Education and Care; Rep. Michael J. Moran, D-Boston; Rep. Kimberly N. Ferguson, R-Holden; Sen. Stephen M. Brewer, D-Barre; Sen. Patrica Jehlen, D-Somerville; Katherine Holahan, legislative director at House Committee on Ways and Means; Attletboro Mayor Kevin Dumas; Joseph E. Esposito of the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education; Ann Marie Cugno of the Medford School Committee, and Mary Bourque, superintendent of Chelsea Public Schools.
Also, John Coleman Walsh of the American Federation of Teachers; Michael Wood, superintendent of Nashoba Regional School District; David Verdolino, recently retired as Medway public schools finance director, and Barbara Madeloni, Massachusetts Teachers Association president.
Gov. Deval Patrick is also required to appoint someone to the commission, but to date has not done so.
Contacted Monday, a spokesman for the governor said Mr. Patrick would designate somebody later this week or early next week.
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Comments-
It doesn't make any sense at all to continue to allow charter schools to spring up everywhere when the government seems bent on making towns regionalize their school districts. Now they are planning to offer fiscal incentives to regionalize. This better mean they will not be allowing any more small charter schools. There is no way that the small charter schools are doing a better job than most of our small towns in Massachusetts.
Posted on Wednesday October 8, 2014 at 12:31 PM | Reply
I agree 100%. This after DESE and Sen. Brewer promised to include local officials on the panel. With a panel comprised of teachers and superintendents along with handful of state politicians.
The massive burden the state places on the small towns is overwhelming. The state has dramatically cut local aid while forcing the towns to pay evermore in school funding. The state sets the towns school budgets removing any ability to negotiate with the unions on a level field.
The current model is devastating to small towns with little ability to change revenue. And regional districts force one town to pay more for the same service as a neighbor. New Braintree residents pay nearly $1,000 more per student than Barre residents for their students yet receive the same education in the same buildings by the same teachers.
The massive burden the state places on the small towns is overwhelming. The state has dramatically cut local aid while forcing the towns to pay evermore in school funding. The state sets the towns school budgets removing any ability to negotiate with the unions on a level field.
The current model is devastating to small towns with little ability to change revenue. And regional districts force one town to pay more for the same service as a neighbor. New Braintree residents pay nearly $1,000 more per student than Barre residents for their students yet receive the same education in the same buildings by the same teachers.
Posted on Wednesday October 8, 2014 at 10:49 AM | Reply
(3)
Not a single Selectman or Finance Committee member on the panel. That is a shame. The burden on towns to meet these rising education costs is huge.
Local officials should be a vital part of these discussions.
Local officials should be a vital part of these discussions.
Posted on Wednesday October 8, 2014 at 9:38 AM | Reply
(3)
Panel will re-examine school spending formula...
And not one member of this "panel" is an elected rep from New Englands 2nd largest city - Worcester - which is the 2nd largest school district in the state...
That is wrong...just plain wrong!
And not one member of this "panel" is an elected rep from New Englands 2nd largest city - Worcester - which is the 2nd largest school district in the state...
That is wrong...just plain wrong!
Posted on Wednesday October 8, 2014 at 6:54 AM | Reply
(3)
(1)
In my opinion compulsory education has been the downfall of the American way of life as imagined by the Founding Fathers. youtube.com/watch?v=okPnDZ1Txlo The Underground History of American Education by John Taylor Gatto is an excellent place to begin the dialog on this subject.
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