Funds may skip schools in poor areas

Stimulus formula invites questions

Governor Deval Patrick was welcomed yesterday at Woodrow Wilson Elementary School in Framingham by the principal, Robin Welch (seated to Patrick's left). (JOANNE RATHE/GLOBE STAFF)

It was pitched as a much-needed balm to help financially ailing cities and towns to avoid painful cuts in the schools. Instead, the $168 million in federal stimulus funds the Patrick administration announced yesterday sparked an angry backlash from local leaders who learned that, despite their budget problems, they will not receive anything.

"I hate to pit city against city, but this is the fourth or fifth time we've been shafted, and there's no rhyme and reason for it," said Mayor John Barrett III of North Adams, which is not getting any money. He said his city, the third poorest in the state, is closing a school because of budget problems.

The state published a list yesterday showing that 166 communities - including the relatively wealthy towns of Belmont, Wellesley, and Hingham - will share in funding, while more than 100 others - including Boston, Weymouth, and Hull - would have to do without.

Patrick administration officials say they were required by federal law to give the money to cities and towns in accordance with a funding formula set by the Legislature that takes into account factors such as changes in student enrollment and demographics. Any community whose education budget has not met the minimum funding requirements established by the formula was given a portion of the $168 million to make up the difference.

"Ideally, we'd like to be able to do more for every community in the Commonwealth," said S. Paul Reville, the state education secretary. "But the reality is, revenue is in a tailspin, and we're doing the best we can to apply this money judiciously and fairly."

That did not appease leaders of cities and towns left off the list, who said that any formula that sends more money to wealthy towns does not make sense.

"It's ridiculous," said Phil Lemnios, Hull's town manager. "If there's a formula that says the students in Wellesley are in greater need than the students in Hull, then there's something wrong with the formula. There's something fundamentally wrong."

Many local officials have long urged the Legislature to overhaul the formula, saying it is too complex and unpredictable.

"I don't begrudge the other communities," Barrett said, "but who in God's name came up with this formula?"

Mayor Robert J. Dolan of Melrose, president of the Massachusetts Mayors Association, said his city made deep cuts in other parts of its budget to bring education funding up to state-mandated levels. But rather than being rewarded, he said, Melrose is not receiving money.

"I feel at this point we're being penalized for doing the right thing and making hard decisions, and I have got a problem with that," he said. "It seems like you do the right thing and they don't recognize it."

To be sure, many poor communities are receiving funds. Springfield is receiving $13 million, Brockton, $5.6 million, and Lawrence, $6.7 million. But wealthier communities also made the list. Wellesley is receiving $1.2 million, Belmont $1.4 million, and Hingham $955,000.

"Those are communities that have experienced some changes in enrollment over the past year, so you find a place like Wellesley getting more money," Reville said. "We have the most progressive education finance formula in the nation. Is it a perfect formula? No. But most of the problems that come up with respect to the formula are a function of inadequate funding."

Mayor Michael J. McGlynn of Medford said the state's distribution contradicted the purpose of the federal stimulus package.

"What Congress said is, let's take this money and spread it through every city and town in the country and reboot the economy," McGlynn said. "Cities and towns are the economic engine that drive this country. But half of us, more than half of us, are not even allowed to start the car."

Dot Joyce, a spokeswoman for Mayor Thomas M. Menino, did not express displeasure that Boston was passed over, and said she expects the city will receive $17 million for schools in later rounds of stimulus funding.

Geoff Beckwith, executive director of the Massachusetts Municipal Association, said schools in the state can expect an additional $800 million in stimulus funding the next two years. "We need to make sure the communities that got zeros get much more than that," he said.

Eric Moskowitz of the Globe staff contributed to this report. Michael Levenson can be reached at mlevenson@globe.com.