Two Deadlines to Note!

Tickets for the 5th grade fundraiser, West Parish"Money Madness," are due this Wednesday, March 28th. Tickets are $10 each. Call Laura Rogers 978-283-5483 or Marcy Plante, 978-281-7079 for more tickets or information. Win prizes daily and help support the 5th graders of West Parish!

Sign-up forms and deposits for the West Parish PTO Golf Tournament are due this Friday, March 30th. Please click here for more info. We need commitments from a minimum number of golfers by Friday to hold the event. Grab some friends and Tee up for the kids of West Parish!

Two Crucial Chances to Support School Funding, this Wed 3/28

This is a reminder that there are two important events happening in the city on Wednesday, March 28, that concern everyone.

• First, Governor Deval Patrick will be visiting Gloucester at 2:15pm at the Cruise Port (Eliot’s Wharf). Please take advantage of this rare opportunity to make the highest-ranking elected official in the Commonwealth aware of your concerns about the funding of public schools.

• Also, at 7:00pm in Fuller School Auditorium, the Gloucester School Committee will be holding a PUBLIC HEARING. This is a chance to make your views known regarding the proposed closure of elementary schools, teacher lay-offs, and increased class sizes. Note: Childcare will be available in the Fuller Parent's Center.

Please come and bring your friends and neighbors with you.

After-School Program available during Governor's visit

As the Governor's visit to Gloucester at 2:15pm on Wednesday at the Cruiseport takes place at an awkward time for West Parish parents, Becky Simpson has kindly agreed to make the After School Program available for parents wishing to attend the "polite protest" for more equitable school funding.

The cost is $5 until 4pm or $8 until 5:15pm

If you wish to put your child in the After School Program for the afternoon, contact Becky Simpson at 978-546-1688 and leave a message, or send in a note via the backpacks, Attn: Becky Simpson.

More info Governor's Visit

Governor Deval Patrick will be visiting Gloucester's waterfront tomorrow, Wednesday, March 28th . His visit presents an opportunity for us to demonstrate our concern for our schools. Let's turn out a crowd and show the governor that this issue - and Gloucester - need his attention.

WHEN: Tomorrow, Wednesday, March 28th, 2:00 - 3:30 pm,

WHERE: Rogers Street, in front of the Cruiseport, Elliot's Wharf (across from Capt. Vito's)

WHAT TO BRING: Yourself, a friend or two and, if you can, a sign with a message about Gloucester's Schools

Some possible examples:
"Build a Foundation for the Future: Our Kids"
"Fix the Formula"
"Gloucester's Students Need Help NOW"
"Casting Our Nets for More State Aid"
"Immediate Relief, Real Reform""
"Close Those Tax Loopholes"
"More $$ for Education"
"Together We Can - Gloucester Needs Your Help"
"Make Kids the Priority"
"Save our Schools"
"Be a Voice for the Children"
"We Need Your Leadership"

Be creative! Be positive and encouraging.

Notice is short, but this an opportunity in our own front yard to voice our hopes for Patrick's future help, and concerns we may have over for his current budget proposals. PLEASE COME.

How Gloucester is hurt by the State Funding Formula

If you want more information about how Gloucester is affected by state funding formula's, you might find the following message from Carolyn Kirk of the Gloucester School Committee informative . . .

"I have compiled a few examples which illustrate just how fairly Gloucester is being treated in the state distribution formula. Please pass along.

Hope to see you all on Weds. [at the "polite protest" for school funding reform during the Governor's visit at 2:15pm at the Cruiseport, Elliot's Wharf]. . .

Carolyn Kirk

• Gloucester has not been brought back to previous funding levels. We are still reeling from the 2002 cut in local aid. We do not understand how new spending can be justified when Gloucester is still making cuts in education with no hope in sight of bringing back what’s been lost such as funding for athletics, k – 8 librarians, and reasonable class sizes.

• There is a house for sale in Gloucester for $8 million dollars. Our largest elementary school has 52% of its students on free and reduced lunch. Because of the weight given to property value in the formula, Gloucester is treated as a wealthy suburb. We are not. We cannot provide adequate resources to our most needy children such as tutoring services, after school programs, reasonable class size.

• The education foundation budget assumes that we have about 3.8% of our students in need of Special Education services. In reality, we have over 20% in need of special education. There are almost 500 special education children unaccounted for in the foundation budget. That translates into a short fall of almost $3.9 million dollars.

• Gloucester spends money on the Massachusetts State Lottery like the working class city that it is. Last year we spent over $20million on the Lottery. We received back about 10% which is far below the average that other communities get back. The average sent back to cities and towns is 20% of their Lottery spending.

• The foundation budget suggests that we spend $172,000 dollars on nurses and health services. In reality we spend $450,000 dollars. At the middle school, the nurses office is run like a medical clinic while at the same time we try to get hundreds of uninsured children on MassHealth each year.

• The ruling in the Hancock case said that education funding is adequate. The ruling also admitted that the funding is inequitable but the judge said it was up to the legislature to make it right. They have not made it right for Gloucester. Last year’s legislative reform on Chapter 70 was to bring the state’s contribution to foundation budget up to 17% over the next five years. Gloucester is at 16%. Wealthy communities such as Weston and Wellesley saw big jumps in their Chapter 70 money because they were further below the 17%.

• Communities with greater access to wealth through their incomes receive extraordinarily greater amounts of Chapter 70 money: Franklin receives 52% of its foundation budget from the state, Dracut receives 48%. Dracut is a town about the size of Gloucester, has about the same number of children in its school system, and has a higher median income. Their Free and Reduced lunch population is 10% whereas Gloucester’s is 26%. Dracut receives $15million in education aid from the state. Gloucester receives less than $6million. How is that fair?

• Gloucester is and was an old, built-out city back when Prop 2 1/2 was enacted. Communities such as Marlborough which was farm land and located around Route 495 have been able to prosper. They have almost $30million more in their tax base to draw from. Gloucester yields $1.2 million off the tax levy. Health insurance alone and just for the school employees is rising $1million this year. This along with other increases skyrocketing on fixed costs means drastic cuts in services, school closures and high class size.

• Because of our proximity to wealthy suburbs such as Manchester-by-the-Sea, and Hamilton / Wenham, we experience one of the highest losses of students to school choice in the state. This is a trend experienced by other working class cities that are situated near wealthier towns such as Holyoke, Fitchburg, and Greenfield. This year we lost $1.2 million in school choice. Every year at budget time when our appropriation is less than the increase in our expenses, we make cuts to programs and services and we scare more families away."

Register Your Issues on Deval Patrick's Website!

Passing on a message from Jason Grow of the Gloucester City Council. . .

"The new DevalPatrick.com website has a feature called
MyIssue http://devalpatrick.com/issues.php
where voters can register and comment on issues they deem most important.

While I know there are many important issues facing our community and state, I would urge you all to take a moment and register concerns and votes for changing of the Chapter 70 formula as well as education funding. The Governor needs to hear how critical this issue is to our community and communities like ours where "adequate" funding is far from equitable. Take a moment and let him know how you feel, and encourage other friends to do the same

-- Thanks Jason"

Tee up Now for the WP Golf Tournament!

First Annual
West Parish PTO Golf Tournament

Saturday May 12, 2007
Meadows at Peabody
Shotgun Start Scheduled 1 PM
Scramble Format
25 Four person teams

$125 per person includes:
· Green Fees, Cart, Mixed Grill Dinner
· First, Second, Third Place Team Prizes
· Individual prizes for Longest Drive and Closest to the Pin.
· 50/50 Raffle ($5 per 1st ticket included in fee)
· Split the Pot Closest to the Pin ($5 per entry included in fee)
· Raffle of Donated items($15 per ticket, 1st ticket included in fee)

Sign up as foursome, twosome, or individual.

(Twosomes and individuals will be assigned teams at random)

TEE UP FOR THE SCHOOL -- BECOME A SPONSOR!

Sponsors will receive an Ad in the Program, & a 12" x 24" Sign on a tee.

Sponsorships are available for $125. Two sponsors per hole.

GOLD: $600 -- Foursome, Sponsor a hole

SILVER: 500 -- Foursome

BRONZE: $125 -- Sponsor a hole

Please check the backpacks for a flyer and sign-up sheet. Sign-up sheets and minimum $75 deposit per golfer

Due this Friday, March 30th!

Make checks payable to West Parish PTO (memo – golf).

Volunteers needed to solicit sponsors and raffle items.

$9,000 potential profit for West Parish.

Any questions? Contact Ed Dahlmer @ 978-281-6931 or 978-884-4264 or email at ed.dahlmer@vsea.com

SAT, 3/24 -- Community Gathering for Schools

A "Community Gathering for Our Schools and Our Children," will be held this Saturday, March 24th at 4pm, at the Gloucester High School Field House.

Jim Unis, an alumni of Fuller school, and the Fuller PTO are leading a community-wide effort to reach out to and mobilize the entire community of Gloucester in support of our schools and children.

Join other concerned parents, high school students, Gloucester alums, and community leaders in planning for upcoming events (such as the Governor's visit, the School Committee Public Hearing, the Education Rally at the Statehouse), and the future of our community.

The following message comes from Sybil Militello, Co-President of the Fuller PTO:

"Here is the Agenda proposed for Saturday. . . . I hope that you will all be able to make it, this is the beginning, we need to unite as one community and work for the future of our children and future of our community. I know that we are all busy but this is important, we need to organize ourselves and our community. . . Thanks Sybil

Saturday Agenda - GHS Field House 4pm

• Inform the community about the present status of our Education System
  
• If we do not invest in the future of our community and our children, when the children are adults and lacking in academic skills, there will be no community.
  
• short term/long term goals and objectives
  
• strategies and tactics
  
• First step, ACTION we make flyers, banners and signs at the high school during/after meeting
  

We need to mobilize and believe that we can create change! This is not an education issue this is a Gloucester Community issue!"

Governor Patrick to visit Gloucester

Governor Deval Patrick will visit Gloucester on Wednesday, March 28th at 2:15pm at the Cruise Port, Ellliot’s Wharf

Senator Bruce Tarr will be bringing Governer Patrick to Gloucester to discuss a number of the issues the City faces. As School Committee member Carolyn Kirk put it, "Here is our opportunity to come together as ONE Gloucester and send a message to the highest ranking elected official in the Commonwealth. . .The entire city should converge on the site of the Gov's visit."

For further information, you can call Senator Tarr's office at 617 722 1600 and check this blog for future updates.

School Committee Public Hearing, Wed, March 28 at 7pm

The Gloucester School Committee is holding a Public Hearing on Wednesday, March 28th at 7pm at the Fuller School Auditorium.

People from all across the Gloucester community will be gathering together at this hearing in support of our schools and children. Please consider joining them (and bringing your friends and neighbors).

April PTO Meeting- Tuesday, April 3, 6:30-8:00pm

The April Meeting of the West Parish PTO will be held on Tuesday evening, April 3rd from 6:30-8:00pm in the Library. Childcare will be available in the gym. Refreshments will be provided but please feel free to bring a snack or drink to share.

On the agenda:

• Updates on the school funding crisis and potential impact on Gloucester's children
• Education Funding Rally and Lobby Day, Wednesday, April 25
• West Parish Hands-on Exploratorium, Friday, April 27th
• West Parish Reads Festival
• West Parish Benefit Golf Tournament, Saturday, May 12th
• 5th and other grade level events and projects
• Officers/teammates needed to say "Yes" to the future of West Parish

March PTO Minutes

WEST PARISH PTO MINUTES
Meeting of: March 6, 2007

Yoshi Campbell, Co-President called the meeting to order at approximately 6:30 p.m.

PRESIDENTS’ REPORT

Recognition and appreciation goes out to Lori Smith for organizing Jalapenos night. It was packed, great turnout for eating in and taking out. Approximately $800.00 was made for West Parish. A big thanks to Kris O’Maley and Angela Marshall for organizing the PTO closet. Thank you to Vicki Lane for organizing the grade level bake sales. Our appreciation to Ed Dahlmer and John Churchill for organizing the West Parish Golf Tournament. Thank you to Tricia Reed for managing the 5th grade school store. Thanks to Theresa Whitmore, Maureen Collins, Gayle Movalli and Tonia Belanger for putting together the schools’ family directory.

Yoshi is looking for help with the school Newsletter. Friday morning coffee meetings are being planned for anyone who would like to help out with upcoming events. There are many big and little ways to help keep West Parish a great school for our children. These will be discussed at more length later in the meeting.

TREASURER’S REPORT

Linda Pata submitted the Treasurer’s report. There is $45,677.00 available in the general fund. $20,000.00 will be carried over for next year. Approximately $6000.00 in revenue will be received by end of year. Approximately $7000.00 is available for anything that arises during the rest of the year. Last month a motion was made and accepted to provide $1000.00 for the West Parish Reads program. The Treasurer’s Report was voted on and accepted.

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

Guatemala school playground fundraiser ends tomorrow. Students, parents and teachers have been very generous. Our goal is to reach $1000.00. The Gordon College students will leave on Friday. A Banner is being signed by West Parish students which will be accompanied by photos taken by Tess Whitmore. Stephanie Caddle set up the bulletin board.

MCAS for grades 3, 4, and 5 start in two weeks. Schedule to go home Monday.

SCHOOL FUNDING CRISIS

Guest speakers: Jonathan Pope, School Committee Chairman, Greg Verga, Vice Chairman, Chairman of Budget and Finance Committee and School Committee Liaison to West Parish and Louise Palazzola, School Committee Member.

This is the beginning of the budget process. What is known is that for a level service budget, where everything would stay the same, the School Department would need $3,313,848.00. This level service budget will cost 3.3 million dollars more than last year. Healthcare costs are rising by 21.2% which accounts for 1 million of the increase. The cost of an out of district SPED student of $160,000 that was not in last years budget must be included. Energy costs are increasing. Under the Governor’s new budget, Chapter 70 money will see a nominal increase but will be offset by an increase in healthcare and other expenses. Out of the Governor’s 200 million increase in Chapter 70 money, 170 million is to offset inflation so only 25 – 30 million of that money is actually additional funding. The City of Gloucester’s tax levy is 48 to 50 million dollars, because of Prop
2 ½, the city can only expect an increase in new revenue to total approximately 1.5 million. New growth will account for about $700,000 - $800,000 in additional tax revenue. As of yet, the School Committee has not had any indication from the Mayor as to what they should use for numbers pertaining to the budget.

Many factors need to be taken into account when determining the budget and possible cuts to be made. Cutting twelve teaching positions could save ½ million dollars. Usually positions are cut from the bottom which means these are the lowest paid people and those also least likely to have health benefits with family plans. The city would also be liable for unemployment bringing the cost savings lower. Teachers’ salaries and benefits comprise 2/3rds or 22 million out of the 33 million dollar budget.

The School Committee has looked at cutting other things besides teachers. The Management Audit recommended closing Plum Cove School. The Planning for Effective Learning Communities has also studied how facilities match up. They recommended that split site schools are not optimal. Also that the K – 5, 6 – 8 and separate high school model works best. The ideal school has 3 classes per grade level. The schools should also reflect the community with no more than 30% of the student population on free or reduced lunch in any given school. The School Committee has made a commitment to follow these guidelines as closely as possible.

Fuller School is not for sale. The Sam Park development is just a coincidence. The Planning for Effective Learning Communities initiative has been in the works for a long time. It is uncertain how Fuller will be used in the future but some options are as a Middle School or City offices.

At the High School level cuts have already been made in the past. There is only one gym teacher and one vice principal. High School students are required to have 990 classroom hours, study halls do not count. There is already a shortage of teachers making this requirement difficult to fulfill.

The School Committee has worked hard to keep low class sizes at the Elementary level. If 22 teaching positions are lost, class sizes will go up across the district. Those numbers are as follows:


Grade Total Students Current # of Classes Future # 07/08 Avg. Class Size

K 277 15 12 23 students
1 276 14 12 23 students
2 247 14 11 22.5. students
3 244 14 9 26 students
4 265 14 10 26.5 students
5 264 15 10 26.5 students

Along with losing teachers and increasing class sizes, all schools would also lose art and music rooms.

Making all of these cuts will still not solve the entire problem. By closing Fuller School but keeping the Preschool and Administrative Offices where they are, the School Department would see a savings as follows:

22 Teachers $805,000.00
Nurse, Custodians, Admin. Staff 290,000.00
3 Specialists 148,000.00
Administration 131,000.00
Secretary 64,000.00
Nurse 35,000.00
$1,473,000.00

O’Maley will be reduced by 4 teachers to save $200,000.00.

The Facility needs for the entire city need to be assessed. The School Department cannot sell anything. If a facility is not going to be used by the School Department they can decide to give it back to the City as surplus. If a School is ever sold the money goes to pay off debt, not back to the School Department. Right now no decisions regarding Fuller School have been made. Greg Verga stated he would like to see the School Department hold onto it for a year so there is time to figure out what the best use of it will be. This could include renting the space, although the Maplewood School had been rented to the Head Start program for $1.00 per year. When they moved out, The School Committee declared it surplus so it reverted back to the city. The city now has the right to decided what happens to it. Putting temporary modular classrooms at Plum Cove and Beeman was looked at because of the amount of property at these schools but this was determined to not be cost effective.

This year it is anticipated that 1 or 2 Elementary Teachers are retiring. The Superintendent has been instructed to work with the Gloucester Teacher’s Association to provide incentives for early retirement as a way to retain some newer teachers.

Jonathan finished by stating that nothing will get better until the inequality of the Chapter 70 money distribution is fixed. This formula, based upon property values and average income is flawed. Three ways to solve the problem include:

New Growth in Gloucester
Changing the funding formula at the State House
Tax Override

School Committee members can be contacted by finding their information on the website http://www.gloucesterschools.com/. There is a link to the School Committee members on the left hand side.

Jonathan encouraged everyone to support the Stand For Children Organization. They are holding a meeting in the Friend Room at the Sawyer Free Library on Thursday, March 15th at 6:30pm. Stand for Children’s website is http://www.stand.org/.


BIG AND LITTLE WAYS TO HELP

Stand for Children: Attend the meeting at the Sawyer Free Library on Thursday, March 15th at 6:30pm.
Get on the bus: Represent our children at the State House on April 25th.
Say “Yes!” to the future of West Parish: Sign on to be an Officer/Teammate for 2007/2008 or 2008/2009.
Book Fair: Volunteer for a time slot at the Book Fair and help to raise money for the library.
West Parish Reads Festival: Help kick off the festival following in the footsteps of the Gloucester Reads program.
Earth Day Hands-on Exploratorium: Friday, April 27th from 5:00 – 8:00 pm. Become a volunteer to help make this a truly fun event for all!
Skate Night: Saturday, March 10th. Attend this fun event for the whole family, organized by Beth and Ed Dahlmer and Annette Spanks. There will be a bake sale offering goodies including Girl Scout cookies.
WP Golf Tournament: Find a sponsor, sign up a foursome or donate a raffle item. This great event is being organized by Ed Dahlmer and John Churchill.
Newsletter: Volunteer an hour or two to help get the newsletter up and running.
Bake sales: Support the grade level bake sales. Still to come: 5th grade on March 28th, 2nd grade on April 13th, Kindergarten May 8th and 4th grade on June 6th.


NEXT PTO MEETING

Tuesday, April 3 from 6:30 until 8:00 p.m.



Respectfully submitted,



Tonia Belanger, Secretary.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL VIGIL TUESDAY!

The elementary schools of Gloucester will hold a combined vigil and rally Tuesday, March 13, from 6-7 pm, outside of City Hall before the joint meeting of the School Committee and City Council. The Fuller PTO has especially asked for West Parish parents to attend and show their support. Please bring signs!

West Parish Reads

The West Parish PTO presents
WEST PARISH
READS
A Reading Festival Celebrating Literacy and Gloucester’s Maritime Heritage


Join us as the West Parish community reads a book together!

The Serpent Came to Gloucester,
by M.T. Anderson, with illustrations by Bagram Ibatoulline

Due to the generosity of Candlewick Press, discounted copies of this beautiful hardcover retelling of a Gloucester legend will be available to West Parish families at the discounted price of $10 (List Price $16.99)

Or win a FREE copy at the

Kick-Off Event

Wednesday, March 14, 5-8 PM
At the Book Fair in the Library

Featuring

The Music of Daisy Nell
Klutz Build-a-Book Craft Kits (Cost: $6)
Popcorn and Drinks

Every purchase from the Scholastic Book Fair during the Kick-off Event comes with a FREE raffle entry for a $50.00 Gift Certificate to THE BOOKSTORE.

Watch for more upcoming family fun nights, activities and community events as part of our “West Parish Reads” Reading Festival!

West Parish Reads was inspired by the Sawyer Free Library’s “Gloucester Reads” Program.
_____________________________________________________
NOTE: A couple more Volunteers able to help with kids’ crafts, book or popcorn sales, and clean-up would be MOST appreciated! Please contact Yoshi Campbell, 978-281-5674, yoshitom@comcast.net, or Lisa Ryan, 978-283-5159, lryan15@comcast.net

Take a Stand for Our Children

Stand for the Children Meeting
Casting Our Nets for More State Aid: 2007 State Kickoff
Thursday, March 15th, from 6:30-8:00 pm
at the Sawyer Free Library
in the Friends Room, next to the Children’s Room

Frustrated by the school funding crisis? Feeling powerless because you don't know what to do? Come learn how you can help ensure that elected officials on Beacon Hill prioritize children. Find out why it is important for us to take action at the state level. Join the effort to help the schools of Gloucester get more State aid. And don’t forget to sign up for Stand’s critical Education Funding Rally at the State House in Boston, Wednesday, April 25, from 12:30-1:30, Buses from Gloucester will be available.

Childcare will be available for Thursday’s meeting Please contact Tess Whitmore at 978-281-0111 if you know in advance you will need it.

For other questions about Stand for the Children, contact organizer Ellie Beck by email or at 617-460-9236. Or check out their website.

Get on the Bus!

School Funding Rally and Lobby Day - Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Save the Date and Sign up Now!

In 2005, Stand for Children members across Massachusetts joined together on a statewide campaign to increase state aid to public schools. 100 people from Gloucester, including many from West Parish, rode down together on buses from Stage Fort Park to a Rally and Lobby Day at the State House.

There we took part in very moving rally that got a lot of useful press coverage. We also met with legislators, some of whom reported that nobody else was knocking on their doors to lobby on behalf of the state’s children. It was a tremendously inspiring day that helped bring about a $216.6 million increase in Chapter 70 education funding for the 2006-07 school year.

Please, if you are at all concerned about school funding, and can only do one thing this spring to advocate for your children – sign up now to get on the bus. Our children need us to go knock on those doors and speak up for them.

West Parish Hands-on Exploratorium - "Our Earth"

SAVE THE DATE! JOIN THE FUN!

The Second Annual West Parish Hands-on Exploratorium will take place on Friday, April 27th from 5-8 pm.

The focus of this year's hands-on science fair will be "Our Earth" -- in honor of Earth Day, April 22, and in keeping with West Parish's annual theme of responsiblity to the earth.

Last year's Exploratorium was the sleeper hit of the West Parish PTO season, with hundreds of kids from West Parish and the Cape Ann community getting their hands into (and brains engaged by) tables of parent-run activities, special exhibits and shows from local museums.

Come join the fun this year as our school turns once more into a science exploration museum with over 15 activities, special student -produced shows, a raffle of cool science stuff, pizza supper, as well as sale of organic chocolate, earth friendly cleaners and light bulbs. Proceeds will benefit science programs at the school.

Helpers needed to make this a truly fun event for all:

• Activity managers (activities and supplies provided)
• Pizza and drink manager/servers
• Set-up Crew 3-5 pm
• Clean-up Crew 8 pm
• Raffle and ticket sellers
• Parents who can loan & deliver folding tables

Want to get involved? Need more information? Please fill out the volunteer form that went home in the backpacks, or contact Leslie Beaulieu at lebeaulieu@comcast.net

WP PTO Meeting Agenda/Volunteer Opportunities

West Parish Parent Teacher Organization --- Meeting, 3/6/07

AGENDA

Welcome and News
· Co-Presidents’ Report:
· Approval of Treasurer’s Report/ Secretary minutes
· Principal’s report

The School Funding Crisis
Guest Speakers: Greg Verga, Jonathan Pope, Gloucester School Committee

Planning Upcoming Events:
· 1st Grade Bake Sale, W 3/7/07
· Family Skate night, Sat 3/10/2007
· Scholastic Book Fair, Monday-Friday, March 12-16
· West Parish Reads Festival (Kick-off, Wednesday, March 14)
· Hands-on Earth Day Exploratorium – Friday, April 27
· WP Golf Tournament – Saturday, May 12
· June: Family Picnic, 5th Grade Events

Coffee and Planning Meeting: Friday, March 9 at 10:00am

***********************************************************************
Big and little ways to help keep West Parish a great school for our children!
· Go to the Stand for Children meeting, TH 3/15.
· Get on the bus! Represent our kids at the statehouse rally, W 4/25.
· Say “Yes!” to the future of West Parish – Sign on to be an Officer/Teammate for 2007/2008 or 2008/2009.
· Volunteer for a time slot at the Book Fair.
· Help kick off the West Parish Reads Festival.
· Run a table or help out at the Earth Day Hands-on Exploratorium.
· Find a sponsor, sign up a foursome, or donate a raffle item for the WP Golf Tournament.
· Join the committee for your child’s grade and plan a get together.
· Volunteer an hour or two to help get the newsletter up and running.

Questions? Suggestions? Offers of help?
Yoshi Campbell, 978-281-5674, yoshitom@comcast.net
Lisa Ryan, 978-283-5159, lryan15@comcast.net

Notes on School Funding from the March PTO Meeting

Gloucester School Committee members Jonathan Pope, Greg Verga, and Olympia Louise Palazzola attended the March meeting of the West Parish PTO on Tuesday, March 6, 2007 to talk about the current school funding crisis, the proposed closure of Fuller School, and the potential impact on West Gloucester.

What follows is my best understanding of their comments and may not be completely accurate or up-to-date.

If you want just a quick summary skip to WHAT CAN WE DO?

If you want more information, read on. . .

To maintain a level-services budget (meaning no cuts or increases from the current year), the schools need an additional 3.3 million dollars over last year’s budget.

This figure assumes that, although this is a in a contract year with the teachers’ union, there would be no raises for teachers or staff besides those already mandated.

Why are the schools short $3.3 million?
1) Fixed health care costs have risen 21.2% (this accounts for about 1 million)
2) SPED costs
3) A New ROTC instructor at the High School
4) Increased energy bills

Isn’t Governer Patrick increasing aid to cities and towns? Yes but the increased amount Gloucester would receive will be offset by School Choice increases and Teacher Retirement costs for a net loss.

It will be hard to get more out of the State. Last year the state’s revenues increased by 7.5%. This year only by 4%

More essentially, the formula for Chapter 70 funding is flawed.
1) Unfunded mandates: Gloucester has to pay SPED costs that the state does not reimburse.
2) The formula for distribution hits communities like Gloucester particularly hard, because we have a ring of expensive properties near the ocean, and little room for growth. If State funds were distributed according to a community’s income level instead of its property values, Gloucester would get much more help from the State.

City of Gloucester revenues are limited by Proposition 2 ½ which limits the amount taxes can be raised without an override, plus the relative lack of new growth.

The City can probably expect increased revues of only 2.1 -2.2 million this year. The School Committee has had no info to date from the City about what % the schools can expect, but are working with the assumption that they would get about $750,000 of the 3.3 million more they need to “maintain services”.

That leaves them with the need to CUT ~2.5 million dollars out of the Gloucester Schools Budget.

Roughly, it takes laying off 12 teachers to cut 1/2 a million dollars.

To avoid having to cut more than 50 teachers, the School Committee is proposing to close a facility to save costs, and they have chosen Fuller School.

Why Fuller? The Audit done a couple years ago recommended closing Plum Cove. The Planning for Effective Learning Committee has recommended the following.
1) no 2-site schools
2) keep the K-5, 6-8. 9-12 structure
3) 3 classes per grade, neighborhood schools (like WP) work the best.
Problems with Fuller
1) Too big
2) Kindergarten facilities need upgrade
3) Schools should reflect community (disproportionate # of children qualifying for free/reduced lunch attend Fuller over other K-5s)

GV: This is NOT about the new Mall – the School Committee can close Fuller but can’t sell it. They could declare it surplus and give to the city, but the city would control where any money from sales went to. (Also the city has had trouble selling old school property).

JP: High school is cut to the bone. No vocational director, only 1 gym teacher (also AD), barely enough staff to teach required educational hours.

O’Malley would lose 4 more positions.

Impact on elementary schools
Fuller School closed. The School Committee plans to shut down most of the building but leave part open for the pre-school, district offices, etc. What to do with the field and the Auditorium is still under consideration. There was a plan to restructure Plum Cove as a separate K-5, but the modular classrooms needed may not result in enough savings. Fuller 5th graders might be sent to O’Malley instead a year early to save money and minimize the number of transitions they would face,

New average class sizes to expect across the city
23 – Kindergarten, 1rst grade, 2nd grade,-
26 plus - 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade

22 Classroom Teachers laid off!
3 Specialist Teachers laid off (Art, Music, Gym)!
2 secretaries, 1 school nurses, 1 custodian, etc. laid off!

What could this mean for West Parish?
~88 new students to welcome
Loss of our art and multipurpose rooms to make way for new classes.
Any of our West Parish teachers or staff with less seniority could be replaced by staff from Fuller and other schools. We could lose some of the wonderful, innovative, and caring teachers and staff that make West Parish such a great place for our children.

There would still need to be potentially 800,000 in additional cuts to be found. If the School Committee could negotiate an early retirement plan with the Teachers and other unions, a couple but not many positions might be saved.

Next year will probably be just as bad! Is there any long term planning?

What does the School Committee wish parents would do about this situation?

1. Go to the Stand for the Children Meeting on Thursday, 3/14 at the Sawyer Free Library to learn how to pressure the State to prioritize children.
2. Put pressure on the State to fund unfunded Special Ed mandates, and come up with formulas that are more equitable to communities like Gloucester.
3. Consider pushing for a Proposition 2.5 override or debt exclusion.
   

The School Committee is doing similar presentations at other schools.

• Tuesday, 3/13, 5 pm Veteran’s Memorial School
• Wednesday, 3/14, 5pm Beeman Memorial School, 6:30 pm Fuller School.
  

Feel free to attend and listen, but please let those communities get their chance to comment or ask questions. Have ideas or questions you wish you had a chance to present? Feel free to direct them to Chairman Jonathan Pope at jpope@mezel.net

Want even more information? Chairman Pope has forwarded some budget documents that show the range of options, issues, and implications the School Committee is weighing. Email me at yoshitom@comcast.net if you wish to see them.

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?

Upcoming Performances by West Parish Stars

Second Grade Show, Wednesday, March 27 at 9:30am and 1:15 pm

Ensemble on Tour, Wednesday, April 4 at 10:00am at the Rose Baker Center

Fourth Grade Show, The Lorax, Wednesday, April 11 at 1:15pm and Thursday, April12 at 9:30pm and 1:15 pm

Third Grade Show, Wednesday, May 2 at 9:30 and 1:15pm

Mad Hot Ballroom Dance Competition, Sunday, May 6, from 2-4:30pm

CDs of last year's Mad Hot Ballroom will be available from Mrs. Dailey for $20. All proceeds will benefit the Ballroom Dancing program.