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OPEN HEARING BUDGET MINUTES 2 FEBRUARY 13 1995 <br />Mr. Bob Donovan, President of the Reading Teachers Association <br />Mr. Donovan recapped the history of cuts for the past ten years. <br />He stated that the 9.63% increase of this year's budget may seem <br />exorbitant, it still falls shy of the state average based on per <br />pupil expenditures. He went on to say that under the mandates of <br />Ed Reform, education cannot and should not take a back seat any <br />longer. The Reading School System needs Town support to meet all <br />the mandated changes of educational reform. <br />Mr. Twomey stated that the per pupil spending was $ 625 below the <br />state average. If we could raise the per pupil spending average we <br />would have $ 2 1/2 million more. <br />James Biller, Coolidge Middle School Parent <br />He cautioned the School Committee not to make cuts. He said the <br />Town Manager is not Town Meeting. Property values will decline <br />with the decline of education. We need to get the schools back to <br />where we were before the cuts started. If we cut back Technology, <br />we do not even have pencils to fall back on. We cannot steal from <br />the schools to have the town stay afloat. <br />Mr Twomey outlined the budget process. The budget does go from the <br />Town Manager to the FinCom then to Town Meeting. He urged people <br />to attend the FinCom meetings and to call FinCom members. <br />Bruce MacDonald <br />He commended the School Committee on their tough approach. <br />Leadership comes from the School Committee. An override is a <br />possibility. <br />Al Hamilton, Parent <br />Mr. Hamilton noted that in other countries, children by the sixth <br />grade have mastered a foreign language and Calculus. We are not <br />hemorrhaging; we are bleeding to death. <br />Lorraine Horn, Parent <br />She supports the FY96 School Committee Budget. She asked Tim to <br />explain a line item. Tim explained that the line item was made up <br />of Special Education Transportation, Tutors, Nurses and out of town <br />placements. There are increased costs mandated by the Department <br />of Education and court systems. These obligations must be <br />fulfilled. <br />Mr. Dennis Richards, Assistant Superintendent <br />Mr. Richards explained that the mandated costs were not just <br />directly related to Special Education. The School district must <br />pay costs relating recertification for teachers and, in the future, <br />costs relating to the Time and Learning Commission. These are just <br />a few items that the school district must pay for. <br />