The decision last week by the Hamilton-Wenham School Committee to seek at least a level-services budget for fiscal year 2009 speaks volumes about the impact of Support Our Schools, a local citizens group advocating to maintain standards against cutbacks.
School Committee chairman Richard Boroff said maintaining the current level of staffing and programs is likely to cost between $1 million and $2 million more than the current fiscal year budget, which is $24.6 million.
At its meeting last Thursday, the committee also left open the possibility that once its budget estimates are better defined, it might seek to restore or enhance programs that had been lost in previous cuts.
In its decision to move in that direction - which would require Proposition 2 1/2 override votes - the committee was responding to Superintendent Marinel McGrath's assertion that the budget had reached its "tipping point" and could no longer be cut without serious consequences. Boroff acknowledged that it was also listening to SOS, which has succeeded in getting parents involved in the budget process.
"Let's say that we received a tremendous amount of feedback that they want the district to maintain level services," said Boroff. "At the very least, they wanted voters to be given the chance to say, 'Yes, we'll pay for this.' "
Like many communities, Hamilton and Wenham have held several votes to override Proposition 2 1/2 in recent years. In one vote last spring, voters approved an extra $500,000 for the school district but drastic cuts were still required.
The realization that children would be losing teachers and programs created an outcry from parents and led to the new group.
"What most concerned people was that there had been no opportunity for voters to vote on what the override was going to be," said Nancy Peterson of Hamilton, one of three chairs for the organization. "It was presented as fact accomplished, which is that the override was half a million, which was far short of what was needed to get to the level-services number. It was decided basically by the town, by the FinCom and selectmen, based on what was politically feasible. That was what really shocked people."
The School Committee decision to propose a 2009 budget that is at least level-funded will give residents of the two towns that voting opportunity, despite tax bills that have the average homeowner in Wenham paying $7,959 (a $350 increase from last year) and $7,216 (a $367 increase) in Hamilton. Based on a property tax rate of $12.92 per $1,000 valuation, certified Thursday night by the state Department of Revenue, the average Wenham bill is the highest in the North region.
"I believe that people involved with SOS are willing to pay higher taxes in order to get a better quality of education," Peterson said. "We know it's going to be a challenge, and that we need to work hard to pass the override, and help other people in town come to the same point of view."
The group mobilized over the summer, first with an e-mail, telephone, and letter campaign aimed at restoring jobs in the district. The group solicited donations from individuals and companies. Most of the donations were $1,000 and less, according to Peterson, coming from 368 families, 10 businesses, and other organizations, including New England
Through its website, hwsos.org, and e-mail list of more than 1,300 people, it has maintained communication with parents and residents. As many as 85 people have attended municipal meetings on school budget matters.
"We feel there's enough support in the community to pass bigger overrides if you educate people in advance about why it's needed and what's going on," Peterson said.
Bill Bowler - chairman of the Hamilton Board of Selectmen and a member of the Joint Budget Process Committee that was formed with Wenham and the school district to foster better communication - said the group's interest has been welcomed. Although group members have been firm in their resolve, he described the meetings in a positive way.
"As they've gotten to a different point on the learning curve, they've become more understanding of the pressure both the selectmen and School Committee have to deal with," he said.
"They definitely want to get more funding for the schools, which I completely understand and support. They're committed people, but they're also very intelligent people. They still want a significant increase, and I understand that, but I'm heartened that we're all swimming in the same direction. There may be some disagreement about how fast to swim, but we're all going in the same direction."
Another focus of SOS is to lobby on the state level, where members have met with Representative Brad Hill to talk about lobbying for support.
Many have argued that the long-term solution lies with distribution of state aid.
Hill said that he and state Senator Bruce Tarr have fought for a more equitable distribution formula for suburban school districts for several years.
"We're getting minor victories, but we need people to lobby and advocate when we propose these ideas," Hill said. "My impression is that they're going to be a very strong voice on behalf of the schools, that's for sure."
