WHAT CAN WE DO - about school funding?

The Gloucester School system needs $3.3 million in additional funds to preserve last year's levels of services. The School Committee is expecting only $750,000 more from the City of Gloucester due to Proposition 2 1/2, limited growth, inequalities in the State funding formulas., and unfunded mandates. That leaves up to 2.5 million to be cut from the schools!

On the table

• Closing Fuller School
• Laying off 22 classroom teachers, 3 specialists (art, music, gym), 2 secretaries, 1 nurse, plus custodians, etc.
  

What could this mean to the West Parish community?

• Perhaps 88 more students to welcome to our community
• Loss of our art and multipurpose rooms for new classrooms
• Lay-offs of West Parish teachers and staff who have less seniority than teachers at Fuller, including some of the amazing, innovative, and caring people that make West Parish such a great place for our children.
  

WHAT CAN WE DO?

1. Make your views known. Write a letter to the Editor or contact your legislator. The website for the Gloucester Chapter of Stand for the Children lists contact information for Federal, State, and City officials. If you have questions or suggestions for the Gloucester School Committee please direct them to Chairman Jonathan Pope at: jpope@mezel.net
2. Find out how to take action to make sure State legislators prioritize children. Attend the Stand for the Children Kick-off Meeting on Thursday, March 14th from 6:30-8:00pm in the Friend’s room of the Sawyer Free Library. Childcare available.
3. Get on the Bus! Sign up now for the Education Funding Rally and Lobby Day at the Statehouse on Wednesday, April 25 from 12:30-1:30pm. Free buses from Gloucester.
4. Talk to your friends and neighbors to build support for the schools locally. Do we need an override or debt exclusion to keep the schools and fire stations open?