School advocates renew push for money

With schools facing more challenges than ever, Pam Richardson believes the state has to start giving communities more support.

''School buildings are closing. Students are being consolidated into overcrowded classrooms . . . They need to give our public schools more money or they are going to watch us fail," the Framingham School Committee member told a crowd assembled at the State House last week.

Richardson was one of several local officials and residents who gathered to lobby legislators for more state aid to schools, and for changes to the formula that determines how much money communities receive. The formula has not changed significantly since the state's sweeping education reform plan was implemented about 12 years ago, and many communities say they have been routinely shortchanged and left to shoulder an unfair portion of the costs.

School officials and advocates have long lobbied for changes to the funding mechanism, but those discussions have quieted over the past few years as communities have grappled with across-the-board cuts to revenue and programs.

With talk of extra cash in the state coffers this year, school advocates across the region are renewing their push for more local aid, arguing that it's time to boost lean budgets that are supported largely by local property tax revenue.

In his State of the State address last week, Governor Mitt Romney discussed his plans for education, which include programs such as merit pay for teachers and laptops for middle and high school students. He also mentioned a new formula for education funding that would give extra support to growing school districts.

The state Department of Education, which allots aid to school districts, agrees that its method for distributing money is outdated and unfair, and is aiming to make some revisions in time for this year's state budget process.

''Everyone agrees that we need to make some changes to the formula," said Jeff Wulfson, an associate commissioner with the department.

The state's education reform plan was meant to help level the playing field among communities of varying wealth. The state determines a ''foundation budget" for each town, and calculates how much the community can afford to contribute. The state makes up the rest through so-called Chapter 70 aid.

Many legislators in Boston's western suburbs agree that the formula has placed a heavy burden on their communities, many of which have passed tax increases to cover their costs. But most also agree with the idea that communities that can afford to pay more should.

''Nobody is saying let's underfund the urban school systems," said state Senator Pamela Resor, an Acton Democrat whose district includes Marlborough, Hudson, Maynard, Stow, Southborough, Westborough, and parts of Sudbury and Northborough.

Wulfson said there is ''not a lot of rationality" in the formula. In its review, the department has been looking at state and local contributions, and whether the foundation levels should be revised in light of new educational standards such as MCAS.

''We know a lot more about what school districts need," Wulfson said.

A recent report by the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center shows that the total amount of Chapter 70 aid has fluctuated since 2001, from a high of $3.55 billion in fiscal year 2002 to $3.27 billion in fiscal 2005. In fiscal 2006, the total was $3.29 billion.

Wulfson does not want to restore any aid until the state has a new formula in place. But some legislators say their communities can't afford to wait for additional money.

''These towns can no longer make ends meet," said Representative Susan Pope, a Wayland Republican. ''We need immediate help."

After 12 years of lobbying, there is optimism that change is imminent.

''Many of us are hopeful that this is the year," said state Senator Susan Fargo, a Lincoln Democrat.

Emily Shartin can be reached at eshartin@globe.com.