Quabbin superintendent says state should be sued for more aid to schools

Quabbin superintendent says state should be sued for more aid to schools

By James F. Russell CORRESPONDENT

BARRE — The Quabbin Regional School Committee unanimously approved a $32,342,570 budget Tuesday, but not before Superintendent Maureen M. Marshall said another lawsuit should be filed against the state education department that could force the state to pay a greater share of local aid for public schools.

While the Quabbin budget represents a 2.5 percent increase, assessments to the five towns that make up the district will increase an average of 6.3 percent should town meetings in at least four of the communities approve the spending plan.

Ms. Marshall said more education aid is needed to close the gap between the percentage by how much a school budget increases versus the assessments towns pay to underwrite it.


The town's share of the fiscal 2015 Quabbin budget of $32.3 million is projected to be offset by $16 million of Chapter 70 state education aid.

"There probably needs to be another court case" to force the state to fund public education at higher levels and lessen some of the burden to municipalities, Ms. Marshall said.

Jami McDuffy was the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit that was the genesis of the 1993 education reform act.

The plaintiffs said affluent school districts were less able to fund education at needed levels, and the disparity violated the constitution.

"On June 18, 1993, the Massachusetts Education Reform Act was signed into law. This historic legislation creates the framework for unprecedented improvements in students learning, teachers professionalism, school management, and equity of funding," the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education website says.

According to data released at Tuesday's meeting, the projected assessment increases to the member towns are as follows: Barre, 5 percent; Hardwick, 7.74 percent; Hubbardston, 6.99 percent; New Braintree, 3.67 percent; and Oakham, 7.79 percent.