Rich_Rohan-2 School Committee to meet this afternoon remotely (4:15) to consider additional request of ~$1.3M a portion of which is designated for piloting studies of literacy programs.
William_Band-5 https://www.winchester.us/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03252025-6200 Fincom Meeting Tuesday, March 25, 2024 7:30-9:30 pm. In-person- Waterfield Room FY26 Budget Discussion Guests: Representatives from Education budget to join
William_Band-5 https://winchesternews.org/20250328_tweaked-winchester-school-budget-process-equals-more-engagement-more-time/
Rich_Rohan-2 Here are the two meeting recordings of the Finance Committee: March 20th: https://youtu.be/HAaHsUTZgDA March 25th: https://youtu.be/OjkCKD-I7Sc
Carol_Savage-5 Rich_Rohan-2 Thank you to Finance Committee for providing meeting recordings. These were important discussions, and there are more to come.
Brian_Vernaglia-4 Rich_Rohan-2 Yes, this is huge. I would love to see every committee in town that doesn't already record / broadcast their meetings follow in FinCom's suit. The debate should always be about issued not access.
Rich_Rohan-2 Here is the link to the Finance Committee meeting for 3/27/2025. https://youtu.be/enbpjbD71Jw
Carol_Savage-5 Interesting Boston Globe article worth a read - - Winchester is not the only MA town facing serious budget deficits and feeling school budget pressures driven by salary increases and other inflationary factors, especially difficult in towns towns with little commercial tax base, low state aid and with revenue growth rates limited by prop 2 1/2. "Even well-to-do towns like Milton are hard hit by school fiscal problems" https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/03/27/metro/milton-schools-budget-override-deficit/#bgmp-comments
Brian_Vernaglia-4 Carol_Savage-5 They should have passed MBTA 3A! ;) But seriously, it is an issue all around and only getting worse.
Brian_Vernaglia-4 Rich_Rohan-2 Yes. I have seen elsewhere (Andover maybe), but I can't read because it is paywalled.
Carol_Savage-5 Try this link to The Boston Globe article -- let me know if this works: "Even well-to-do towns like Milton are hard hit by school fiscal problems" https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/03/27/metro/milton-schools-budget-override-deficit/?s_campaign=8315:varf Also, here is another interesting article: Why do those groups care about our local elections?’ In Andover, MTA and MassGOP enter electoral fray. https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/03/24/metro/andover-massachusetts-teachers-association-massgop-school-committee/?s_campaign=8315:varf
Brian_Vernaglia-4 Carol_Savage-5 Thanks, these work. As far as the second article, hey, if libertarian billionaires can give millions toward elections, why not the MTA?
Carol_Savage-5 @Brian_Vernaglia-4 Haha, point taken. Suffice to say the federal, state and local context this year is making it an unusual budget season.
Rich_Rohan-2 Here is an article on how the situation in Washington DC could affect Massachusetts schools. https://www.wcvb.com/article/trump-cuts-massachusetts-school-funding/64353028
Rich_Rohan-2 Finance Committee 4/01/2025 https://youtu.be/eltEtd8TbeA Next regularly scheduled meeting will be Tuesday, 4/08/2025.
