If I’m correct, and please feel free to correct me, I am not an expert in municipal law, your Utopia would be built on the following:

1. An assumption that familiarity and close proximity does not breed contempt; and

2 the hope that a mutual man crush develops, or in the case of the hiring of a Ms. Town Manager, something akin to a “man crush” but not “scandalous” develops thereby resulting in all parties drinking the same kool-aid and making joint recommendations to their respective boards.

If only it were that easy! I know they can’t consummate the lease which is why I would like answers on the need to sell. You have asked for answers long range and I think leasing the property is a start.

If your referring to a capital spending fund, towns set up funds for many reasons. Its how we funded the town hall project.

Right now, the school district does not have the right to lease out property according to Mass Law. There supposedly is a provision that the town can accept, but it has not as of yet.

I also question the continued use of the two buildings, in that we need to review if they are also compliant with the ADA. We’ve been sued regarding 5 or 6 buildings, and have replaced or rebuilt to solve that problem. But when you look at the admin building, the Parker, and even the Greenmont, you have to wonder. Thats millions more in money to upgrade those buildings.

oh.. and Karen is a bit on the slow side… its all that walking in the woods.

I agree that a stabilization account makes sense.

Although in theory your idea of Utopia has it advantages, is it even permissible under the current framework in Massachusetts? Does any other municipality work this way?

I knew you would post before Karen responded, lol!

I hate the talk that goes something like “how do we split the money…. a 60 40 split.. etc.”

It seems to say we are two different groups fighting over something.

The schools are part of the town. We are one. This would best be shown by putting the Superintendent and Business director in the town hall.

The money would go to the town, probably in a capital fund, and be allocated with all the other revenues as the town decides.

I know that town leadership sees something like the sale of an asset as something you would put into another asset.. like boiler replacement, roof repair, sidewalks, parking lots, etc.

You don’t take one-time money and use it for operations.

This is why we have a capital planning committee, that has a five year plan, makes the best decisions on behalf of the whole town, and carries those projects through.

Further, I would hope that if the override passes, they would not put it all into spending, but also create a “stabilization fund” of sorts that could help with evening out the variations in sped and other highly volatile spending accounts.

As I’ve said, I would like to see a long term plan.

We agree on a couple of things. The Parker School issue should have been resolved prior to this year, and there needs to be more cooperation/discussion rather than finger pointing.

With regard to the Parker School, the can was kicked down the road probably for a couple of reasons. First, I think it was politically uncomfortable. Second, we had no real leader in the role of superintendent. If you recall, after Mrs. Espindle was voted out. we were left with Dr. Mullin, who had no real interest in leadership. When he left suddenly, it was clear that he was only waiting for the magic day that he could retire. As I recall, there was a real mess at that point. I think Dr. Scott had the Parker School on his radar, but because of other difficulties created by Dr. Mullin, it was decided that redistricting could wait a year. The delay also solved some political concerns because it gave people some notice that the school was going to close and allowed those almost ready to move on the opportunity to finish. It should probably have happened during the Mullin era.
As you will recall there was town wide hostility towards Mrs. Espindle’s contract. I never understood it, I thought from a financial perspective she was worth every penny. I think the woman was printing money in her basement. If the override is approved and there is grant money available, maybe the school committee would be wise to ask her to consider the position. An excellent point was made yesterday on the radio, that if the grant writer doesn’t make his/her salary plus for the school, you can always find another grant writer.
With regard to the departure of Dr. Scott, it is unfortunate and I do believe that if you sign a contract you ought to honor it for the duration. The sad reality is that today most people don’t. However, he saw the writing on the wall, the federal stimulus money that was keeping us afloat was going to dry up, and without additional funding we would find ourselves in the position we are in–which is desperate.
Dr. Stone has posted a document on the school website that indicates what he intends to do with the funds the first year. Much of his plan at least in the first year is not a wish list, but it instead restores curriculum such as gym, art and music back to the early grades. It also provides for approximately $700,000 to go towards technology which is woefully inadequate. Many school systems are switching over to the use of ipads and electronic textbooks, Dracut doesn’t even have a wireless system or enough traditional computers for its students. I’m not certain, but there may be a cost savings in utilizing electronic textbooks. Kids are also going to need to get used to reading and studying in this fashion, because it is becoming standard operating procedure in colleges.
I agree there is a lack of cooperation, but I’m not certain that the current school committee is at the root of the problem. The BOS continues to push for the sale of the two buildings we have been discussing and I don’t know why. I would like to know what they are going to do with the money.

With regard to the argument that if the properties are sold, we will be able to lure business and increase our tax base. I’m not sold that this proposition is the panacea. If a business were to purchase the property, what is the price? I also think I knew this, but I hadn’t given it a lot of thought until someone brought it to my attention recently, the commercial tax rate is the same as the residential tax rate. (I’m not advocating a change let’s be clear.) Obviously, there is an opportunity to create employment. However, are you really going to realize enough of a tax benefit to offset losing buildings, one of which is occupied and that you might need for whatever purpose (school/town) at a later date? Why not lease it out, and collect the revenue. It warrants more discussion and should be separate and apart from the override debate. If the override passes and the sale makes sense maybe a 60-40 split is appropriate, I don’t know.

In the 19 years that I have lived here there has never been a request for an override. Parents are already paying bus, sports, and music fees, and they are likely to increase, I would guess, no matter what the scenario. We are paying it without complaint and don’t expect the override funds to be utilized to reduce our burden. I just think it is time, and it does not have to be forever, that statement is completely inaccurate.

I personally would like to see MORE local businesses in town so I don’t have to always run to Nashua or Lowell to get supplies. That would also equal more tax revenue for Dracut.

Great article by Warren! Will be visiting Shaw Farm / ML Shaws more this summer!

As far as I remember, when we put in the CPA we opted not to do the $100,000 exemption.
The idea was that you want everyone who votes for something to be responsible for paying for it. That way everyone has “skin in the game.”

But you are right, that would have been one option to reduce that tax.

The additional $1.3 for the town hall project was accepted because it was just an increase in the appropriation. The actual funds to pay for the project already exist in the budget without need for a tax increase.

At town meeting, I believe at any time 10 people can rise to challenge a vote and have it recounted or go to ballot.

That is the problem and it’s the same problem we’re seeing with the override question. It’s as if someone said, “Hey, let’s jump on the override bandwagon! Steven Stone, quick, give us a wish list and we’ll see how much it costs and see if the taxpayers will go for it.” There were no discussions over the last couple years about everything the schools need, tweaking the list, coming up with the best scenarios, seeing where money can be trimmed, and then having a few alternatives to place before the voters.

There doesn’t ever seem to be any type of long-term plan where the School Committee is concerned. When will that happen?

If you Google http://www.primaryresearch.org there’s quite a bit of information and research online regarding the cemetery.

Currently, the cemetery is under the care of Kim Zunino and the Lowell Historic Board.

I hope this helps.

Win or lose, I plan on raising my family in this town and will still believe and advocate for public education.

I listened to some of the clips and would agree with many posts, this is a very passionate matter for so many residents.

However, I don’t support the views and or ideas of alienating businesses and their staff. I am not sure who wins in that scenario.

I have had many conversations with Warren Shaw and while we agree that the schools need more funding, we disagree on how to get there, but we have done so over a grill cheese and diet coke.

Thanks
Joe

Great conversation on government.

Shawn, I’m impressed with your quick response to the Great Society program question I threw at you (though the Fed & the USDA were not Great Society programs).

It’s these types of conversations that makes democracy interesting.

When citing authorship, Kennedy is still the author of record. This isn’t an historiographical course so there’s no sense getting into Sorenson

Also, don’t make the mistake of taking people out of their historical context and applying current labels to them. JFK would be considered conservative today.

I am a Lincoln aficionado but just because he was a Republican doesn’t mean I’d agree with current Republican policies.

Come on. I’m not attacking anyone–just offering a definition of what it means to be a liberal.

It’s a philosophical conversation on the role of government.

A better retort from you would be this quote from Winston Churchill:

“Show me a young Conservative and I’ll show you someone with no heart. Show me an old Liberal and I’ll show you someone with no brains.”

I may have no brains but I’ve never attacked you or others because you don’t follow the crowd or enlist your basic right to freedom of speech.

Head start has been proven to provide no increase in student performance. It should go.

i dont know the elementary & secondary act, but I can say that ed reform seems to be creating huge unfunded mandates in Massachusetts. On the other hand, why is it the educatinal establishment is now focused on getting pre-k into the public schools.. (jobs program? taxpayer funded day care?)

The voting rights act is very important, but may need to be updated.. the facts of the times when it was created don’t seem to apply in all cases today. It should be updated and reduced as the negatives of the past have been corrected (some level should be set, you can never get rid of racism 100% I’m sorry to say (people are always more comfortable with others who are similar to themselves) .. you just need to make sure its not embedded into law).

Air and Water quality are good at this point, I don’t think I would change them.

F&D do a good job tracking food from farm to home, as well as testing. Just got to keep them from getting too out of hand.

And Medicare and Medicaid need significant reform. Everyone knows it, but everyone is afraid to touch it. I believe medicaid will be upside down and bankrupt within a decade or two… at that point it will provide benefits only to those who are connected enough to get the benefits (the aristocracy, as Tommy Byrne would say). The government will find a way to eliminate the rest.

You can’t keep giving away everything to everyone based on deficit spending forever. Priorities have to be set.

Defense and safety have to come first, for without them, you cannot have anything else.

Then you need education, so that you have an intelligent workforce, as well as an understanding voting base.

The question is, and always will be to me.. “what is the role of government in a free society?”

In the end, I believe in the value: “Give a man a fish, he eats for a day; teach a man to fish, he eats for a lifetime.”