Voters need to bend pols’ ears
Published on September 7th, 2005
The town's Chapter 70 committee has made some headway in getting the state legislature to listen to Stoneham when it says it is seriously lacking in state aid, but the committee insists it's the voice of the taxpayers that has really been making a difference.
Chapter 70 chairman Susan O'Neill told the School Committee last week that the committee itself has not made the state take notice. Rather, it has been the efforts of all citizens who have written, e-mailed or called their state representatives to make them aware that Stoneham's state reimbursement is seriously below that of surrounding and like communities, and the situation is dire.
According to O'Neill, Stoneham is currently at a 12 percent reimbursement level while surrounding communities receive 20-25 percent in state funds.
"As a community, we have made a difference. The state legislature has acknowledged local aid as it is today is not funded sufficiently to help communities in the Commonwealth run effectively.Beacon Hill is asking the question 'What's going on in Stoneham?'"
Since the committee's formation, Stoneham has received and additional $50 per student for this fiscal year. O'Neill called that a beginning but insisted "it does not address the lack of funding and the inequity of funding local aid."
"It is important to make people aware that we cannot be complacent in accepting the tremendous cuts which have been made to date in addition to the fees instituted and the increases in current fees. This has presented a true burden and a very negative impact on our lives as a community and as tax paying citizens."
O'Neil explained that Stoneham found itself in this situation when the chapter 70 formula was being developed in the early 1990's. At that time, "the town of Stoneham did such a good job stretching a buck," that the formula figured in the town's positive position, and determined that it did not need state funds as much as other communities.
By being fiscally responsible, "we ended up hurting ourselves," O'Neil said. "Now everyone is hurting--seniors, children, working families."
"It's time that Stoneham got its fair share. We're not giving up."
School Superintendent Dr. Joseph Connelly added that a more equitable distribution of Chapter 70 funds would benefit the entire town by allowing tax dollars to be allocated to other departments that are hurting, such as fire and police. With more state funds coming in, the burden to the taxpayer could be lightened.
"It lessens the need for taxpayers to put more of their money on the table."
O'Neill, and her committee co-chair Marisa Raczkowski, encouraged the town to continue its efforts in letting its voice be heard and to work together with the support of town officials, the Board of Selectmen and the School Committee.
"The Chapter 70 committee is committed to helping the town of Stoneham. We will persevere but it will take the town has a whole.to be successful."
The Chapter 70 committee plans on distributing Stoneham's story to media outlets, develop relationships with other communities in the same predicament, and keep the pressure on state officials, all with the help of its residents and taxpayers. In addition, it will have a booth at Town Day for citizens to visit, learn more, and sign an informal petition to the State House. Its web site is accessible as well for more information at www. Chapter70.com.
"Stoneham may be an old shoe town but we will no longer accept being kicked around."
In other news, Connelly reported that the town has a Sept. 30 deadline to respond to a Request for Proposal from the SEEM Collaborative regarding a 10-year rental of the old Central School, possibly with an option to purchase.
The timing could not be better for Stoneham, Connelly advised, since the North Reading Batchelder School tenant will be out of the building as of June 30, 2006 and SEEM is looking for a lease beginning July, 2006.
Should Stoneham's proposal and ensuing negotiations be accepted, the deal would require Town Meeting approval, as the School Committee can only approve short-term leases of school buildings.
"I think this is a very viable tenant."
The old Central School building would meets SEEM’s requirement of about 50,000 square feet of space as well as being in close proximity to SEEM’s offices in Reading. SEEM currently leases space at the North and East School buildings.
"This would be a perfect opportunity for us to rent it for 10 years, with the hope that at the end of that 10-year period we'd be in a better position to overhaul our other schools," said School Committee Chairman Marie Christie.
Timing is critical, Connelly said, as bids received after the noontime deadline on Sept. 30 will not be considered.
"It's not too often that we get a local educational agency that approaches us, so we can't lose that opportunity.
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