John Kotch
Local President
Massachusetts Teachers Association
Dear John,
Since our inception, Hamilton-Wenham SOS (Support our Schools) has been fully dedicated to protecting and supporting one of our towns’ greatest assets — our school teachers.
We, and the citizens’ organizations that came before us, managed to pass seven overrides in increasingly difficult economic times on the strength of our commitment [...]
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1) This Thursday, March 5, at 7 p.m. at Buker School the School Committee will address three issues of importance to school supporters:
A revised FY10 school budget and a revised list of proposed cuts to school personnel and services. The numbers have changed now that the towns have made a preliminary vote to contribute [...]
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As you may know, the Federal Stimulus package is at a crucial juncture — the versions from the House and Senate diverge significantly, particularly over funding for education and aid to states. The differences are being resolved in the next few hours and days.
Stand for Children is asking school supporters across Massachusetts to email [...]
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At the next SC meeting, there will be a presentation of possible cuts in $500,000 incremental groupings by programs.
If the towns level fund the schools, and all other assumptions from the state remain, the school budget the will have a funding gap of approximately $2 million, which includes unemployment and associated costs.
To learn [...]
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At last week’s school committee meeting, several policies were voted on:
User fees for sports and extra curricular activities will remain at 100%
Class size policy will officially increase thru 2013 (the hope is this will be temporary)
Preschool 8-10 students
K-5 grades will have 22-24 students
[...]
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Monday, February 2 at 7:30 p.m., downstairs at the Community House
Our special guest will be Arthur Oberheim, chairman of the Hamilton Finance Advisory Committee.
Art will describe how town revenue, state funding, and other unique circumstances are likely to have an impact on this year’s school budget. The Hamilton Fincom is in the process of [...]
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Please attend tonight’s School Committee budget workshop (7 p.m., Buker Multi-purpose room). The focus of the presentation will be the Principals’ Budgets, School Choice and User Fees. At the end of the meeting there will be an opportunity for those who wish to ask questions and make comments. The meetings are also televised by local [...]
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We need bold action, and we need it now
Hi, everyone,
We’re ready to take the next step in trying to protect our school system from drastic budget cuts this year.
We’re encouraged to see that Stand for Children, the statewide advocacy organization with which we are in the process of becoming affiliated, has taken up [...]
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Please attend tonight’s School Committee workshop (7 PM, Buker Multi-purpose room). The focus of the presentation is the SPED (Special Education) Budget, Curriculum & Technology Budgets, Capital and Maintenance. At the end of the meeting there will be an opportunity for those who wish to ask questions and make comments.
Our elected officials [...]
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The House of Representatives is getting ready to vote tomorrow (Wednesday, Jan. 14) on whether or not to give Gov. Patrick expanded powers — known as 9C powers — to cut this year’s budget.
The governor is asking for the power to cut local aid and aid to schools (Chapter 70), among other areas.
We [...]
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