Local rep. busy at state level

To the Editor:

Academic year 2007 was both extremely busy and productive for the Regional Schools Committee of Massachusetts Assocation of School Committees (MASC) beginning in September with guest Representative Cleon Turner (Chair, Regional Schools Caucus). My colleagues and I asked him to file legislation on our behalf to amend the Capital Outlay Exclusion Expenditure (H. 586). As of this writing, that bill has been enacted by both the House and Senate, and it awaits the Governor's signature. In addition to countless school committee members from across the state who contacted legislators at pivotal times, I wish to acknowledge the efforts of Rep. Turner and the Caucus, and especially Ashburnham-Westminster's legislative team of Representatives Lew Evangelidis and Robert Rice and Senators Robert Antonioni and Stephen Brewer. Without this collaboration, this bill would have gone nowhere.

Jay Sullivan (DOE) met with the Committee to discuss the legislative directive for DOE to perform a study of regional school transportation during FY07. The Committee was able to point out a number of areas of bureaucracy that are adding costs to regional transportation budgets that are unnecessary and wasteful. Currently, all school superintendents are being asked to complete the study committee's transportation survey. It is hoped that this data will cause policy changes, which will help lower costs, as well as generate transportation blueprints outlining best practices in this area.

Our discussions regarding Top Performing Regions included a formal presentation in January to analyze academic as well as socio-economic data, followed in April by a panel discussion outlining challenges faced and best practices utilized to improve student achievement and enhance the overall quality of school communities.

The Committee's legislative agenda for FY'08 included the following:

1) 100 percent reimbursement of eligible Regional School Transportation costs,

2) Updating the Foundation Budget formula to reflect factual costs of education,

3) Passage of "An Act Streamlining the Regional School Budget Process (H. 586),"

4) Healthcare Access Option for Regions via the GIC, and

5) Amend MGL Chap. 71, Section 16 (m).

At this time, the Legislature has enacted or funded the following for FY'08:

1) Prior year eligible regional transportation costs to be funded at 91 percent,

2) Enacted H. 586, and

3) Enacted the healthcare access option for regions via the GIC (waiting for the board to be appointed and the procedures to be promulgated.

Our legislative efforts were greatly enhanced this year through our collaboration with the Regional Schools Caucus. Rep. Turner invited me to speak on two occasions to the Caucus about our legislative priorities and address challenges faced by our membership. Dr. Mohler-Faria, the Governor's Special Advisor on Education took part in the second session and stressed the Administration's commitment to work with us.

As we concluded our work this year, we outlined an equally aggressive agenda for Academic Year '08. Our year will begin with a meeting with Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray to continue discussions regarding regional school issues and seeking ways to increase our collaborative efforts. I am again honored to serve with a wonderfully committed and engaged 21-member committee, and look forward to a productive year ahead.

Ellen Holmes, Chair, Regional Schools Committee

Massachusetts Association of School Committees