Superintendent’s letter on Override Public Hearing

We’ve been asked to pass along the following letter from the superintendent:

February 4, 2008

Dear Parent/Guardian:

As you may know, the Selectmen commissioned the Override Study Committee “to evaluate whether substantially more revenue capacity than what is currently projected is unavoidably necessary in order to maintain desired levels of services.” In January, the Committee issued their report, which is available on our website.

The Selectmen will hold a Public Hearing on the proposed budget override on Tuesday, February 12, 2008 at 8:00 p.m. in the Old Lincoln School (Town Hall) Auditorium. Specifically, the public will have the opportunity to comment on at least three major questions that were raised in the Override Study Committee report:

  • Should there be an override question put to voters as part of the FY09 (2008-2009) town and school budget development process?
  • If so, what specific issues should be included as part of the ballot question? For example, the Override Study Committee has recommended that the Selectmen consider the current structural deficit, estimated at $2.1 million for FY09, as well as issues concerning roads, parks, building maintenance, additional time in the school day, and elementary world language programs for consideration in the question.
  • Would the issues be incorporated in a single ballot question or as part of multiple questions?

As I wrote in my letter to you last October, much of the override discussion has focused on the schools, specifically our proposal to lengthen the school day in order to increase student-teacher contact time and make us more competitive in attracting and retaining teachers. In addition, we have worked closely with the Committee and Selectmen to examine the proposed elementary world language program and the annual challenges in creating our operating budget. Specifics of the FY09 School Department budget will be detailed in the Superintendent’s Budget Message, which will be presented to the School Committee on Thursday, February 14, 2008 at 7:45 p.m. in the Town Hall Auditorium.

I would encourage you to attend the Override Public Hearing, as well as the presentation of the recommended School Department budget, in order to learn more about the various questions being discussed by the Selectmen and to express your views on the school and town budget possibilities currently under consideration.

Sincerely,

/s/ William H. Lupini

William H. Lupini, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools