What Would You Do With 91 Million Dollars A Year?

What Would You Do With 91 Million Dollars A Year?

The Worcester School District is being underfunded at least $91,000,000 per year. This is according to the calculations found in M. G. L. Chapter 70 and the statutes for special needs education.

The purpose of this money is to ensure that school districts with low incomes and property values receive resources similar to the richer school districts. This makes sense especially in terms of the low class sizes needed for quality education and for the intense educational effort needed by some special needs students.

However for years or decades Worcester has been shortchanged by millions of dollars. Thinking of it as a tax refund might bring clarity. The State owes you a $2000.00 refund, but only gives you $1500. This is certainly unfair and possibly unlawful.

The excuse I most hear is the money had not been proposed in the Governor’s budget. This go along to get a long mentality is objectively harmful to the children of Worcester. I understand that several legislators have raised a fuss about the Governor’s education budget. Good for them, I hope that is a work example for the Worcester.

I was surprised when a person who supports Worcester Public Schools asked me what would the School District do with the money.

The answer I had for him was fairly easy, but also incomplete.

1.     Ensure the special needs students get all of the resources that are required for them to be successful.  

2.     Reduce the student teacher ratio so that all students can get more individualized instruction.

3.     Institute additional advance placement course to ensure that the students who seeking college preparation get it.

4.     Establish a school similar to the Nativity School in the Worcester Public School for children at risk.

5.     Repair and modernize the School district buildings.

6.     Establish an exam school for science and mathematics

There does not seem to be any urgency in our delegation to the State House, the City Council, or School Committee to get this money. In fact I have heard only four people in the City talk about it and two of them are in CPPAC.  Another person is in the teachers’ union.   Rep. Mary Keefe is the fourth.

This money would not only help the students be successful, but would add to the economy of the City. It would be a net gain as more money would come in than leaves.

It would also mean scores of new jobs. Hopefully most of these jobs would be obtained by Worcester residents.

The additional money and the improvements to the Worcester School District would have the additional effect of helping to stop the drain of money to the charter schools. A new exam school in Science and Math, a middle school based on the Nativity School model, additional Advance Placement courses, and smaller class sizes should make Worcester School very attractive, attractive enough for students outside the District to apply.

The children of Worcester would benefit more when the City Council stops its pipe dream of making Boston “jealous” and when the School Committee stops selecting candidates based on popularity.

I hope this wish list comes about within my lifetime.