Town still working for Chap. 70 funds
Published on November 16th, 2005
For any resident or town official who's ever tackled the issue, grasping at Chapter 70 or educational aid reform feels akin to trying to zip-up a winter coat while wearing a fluffy pair of mittens.
Over the past decade, many grizzled town officials chasing the State House's major players for an end to Stoneham's Chapter 70 funding inequities have thrown-up their hands in frustration after cornering the issue only to see it evaporate before their very eyes.
Voicing her own growing bitterness with the town's most recent grassroots effort to settle the issue once and for all, Stoneham resident Susan O'Neil recalled the difficulty she faced while trying to garner local support and enthusiasm for the State House lobbying campaign at a recent Selectmen meeting.
But for O'Neil and the town's citizen-led Chapter 70 Committee, their entrenched reluctance to abandon the efforts paid off on Nov. 3, when a band of local residents demanded reforms at a State House hearing on proposed educational aid adaptations.
"We're not giving up. I've made it very clear to our state delegation that we're not going to give up," the local resident said. "Our comments were received with rounds of unison applause. I provided a summary that basically says this is about accountability and responsibility and that the time to act is now."
Leaving no room for state representatives to confuse who the locals were and what their demands were, the dedicated band of residents marched into the State House hearing room decked out in tee-shirts labeled "Stoneham" with the traditional Spartan blue and white colors.
Further refusing to let the State House's leaders skirt or duck away from discussing the issue with the gathering of town officials and Chapter 70 Committee members, the delegation reportedly followed Speaker of the House Salvatore DeMasi straight into his office and plopped down a petition dotted with 900 pro-reform signatures.
"That was really the most memorable moment, having all these white and blue shirts labeled Stoneham following right behind him," O'Neil recalled. "We marched right into Speaker DeMasi's office and gave him a copy of all the signatures. He clearly knew that Stoneham was on the Hill last Thursday."
"We felt good about it. We really felt we definitely made a difference. If the people of Stoneham and other communities continue to be a voice on Beacon Hill, there is going to be a change," she added.
In addition to O'Neil, long-time Chapter 70 reform advocates such as Selectman Tony Kennedy, School Committee member Kristen Russo, and local residents Christopher Willard and Jeanne Mackay participated in the hearing.
According to Stoneham State Rep. Paul Casey and State Sen. Richard Tisei staff members, the town stands a good chance in changing the current educational aid arrangement with Senate Bill Number 345 — which was stymied by the House last spring after it earned Senate approval.
Specifically, according to Casey and Tisei staff member Michael Lindstrom, the legislation would pipe over $1 billion in additional Chapter 70 appropriations in Stoneham and other affected communities over a seven-year period.
But while the political atmosphere on Beacon Hill in regards to the bill has appeared to have shifted in Stoneham's favor — as two Ways and Means Chairmen in both legislative bodies would benefit from the measure — Stoneham's local representatives have urged that continuous pressure be applied on key legislature figures.
"We need movement now," commented Casey at a recent Selectman's meeting. "I'm very bullish on this. "
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