Massachusetts’s state foundation budget formula for public education has not been updated in 25 years. As a result, cities like Haverhill have not been adequately funded by the state in quite some time.
On Thursday, November 15th, HEA President Ted Kempinski will address the School Committee and ask them to adopt of the following resolution. Please join us for a short while at the start of the School Committee meeting (7pm) as we make a short statement in support of the resolution and full funding for the Haverhill Public Schools.
Resolution in Support of Full Funding for Our Public Schools
WHEREAS, free public schools available to all students without exception are foundational to our democracy and are required by the state constitution; and
WHEREAS, all of our students, no matter where they live, deserve high-quality public schools that teach the whole child and provide them with a rich school experience that addresses their academic, social and emotional needs;
WHEREAS, the state’s foundation budget formula, which determines state aid to each district, has been woefully out of date for years, thereby underfunding our districts across the Commonwealth by more than $1 billion a year for essential educational services; and
WHEREAS, an updated foundation budget formula would bring Haverhill up to more than $14 Million in additional state aid each year, allowing this district to move closer to providing all students with the education to which they are entitled as residents of the Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, the Legislature failed to pass any foundation budget legislation in the last session, leaving districts, educators and students without the funds necessary to support the schools our students deserve in every district in the state;
THEREFORE, be it resolved that the School Committee of Haverhill Public Schools urges the Legislature to approve and fully fund a new foundation budget formula by May 1, 2019.
Adopted November 15th, 2018, by the School Committee of the Haverhill Public Schools
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