Parents Respond Emotionally to School Budget Shortfall
The Shrewsbury School Committee held a public hearing on their budget last night.
With Shrewsbury Public Schools facing a $4 million budget shortfall parents responded emotionally at last night's budget hearing.
"Several parents Wednesday night choked back tears and pleaded with the School Committee not to cut any more teaching positions," The Worcester Telegram and Gazette reported.
Their pleas may not help though because according to the Telegram Superintendent Joseph Sawyer has already said everything, including cutting 23 more teachers, is on the table.
Some parents suggested raising taxes and looking to a proposition 2 1/2 override while others suggested increasing fees. At least one parent even suggested parents band together and make donations to the schools for the good of their children.
What do you think about the budget gap? What revenue sources or cuts would you like to see the school administrators explore?
SameOld
3:52 pm on Friday, March 15, 2013
Maybe next time a business wants to come into town the nearby residents greet it with open arms instead of chasing it out. We need a bigger commercial tax base but it's always NIMBY. Our commercial tax base is about 11%. Residential real estate rates cannot keep up with rate of increase the schools need.
Sarah B
5:23 pm on Friday, March 15, 2013
shrewsbury does not know how to market itself to new businesses. we have super-low property taxes and very reasonable electric & water rates. we are close to Rte 9, I-290 and not far from MA pike. why have our neighbors in Northboro and Westboro attracted new shopping plazas with stores our residents will drive to? The only HOT new businesses recently proposed were a cheapo motel, a dangerous med waste business and a flea market. try to find something that will DRAW people to the town, not send them running!
Ron king
12:04 am on Saturday, March 16, 2013
Sarah, Well said! My guess is that we have lot sizes that abuts residential neighborhoods, so the commercial zone is not as deep. As for Allen Property, water and sewer issues prelude it. Tough bind. Sad to say one of the only School Board Members who just left, had some of the right anysers and steeped down. Gee, wonder if it was because his voice fell on deft ears.?
Steve Whiz
6:15 pm on Sunday, March 17, 2013
It's sad to hear about tears at a budget meeting. Expect a lot more tears though. The simple reality is that teacher wages are increasing faster than tax revenues. Don't blame the taxes, blame the raises. Why aren't the parents crying to the Teachers Union? It's not fair to parents, students or taxpayers that teacher raises are double the rate of raises in the private sector.