Where’s the Money?

Medford Loses out on $168 Million in Federal Recovery Funds for Education

Story Updated 5:49PM, Friday, March 20, 2009

– Allison Goldsberry

Despite being forced to cut a half million from this year’s school budget and possibly three times as much from next year’s budget, Medford is one of many districts in the state that will not receive any of $168 million in federal recovery funds.

Governor Deval Patrick announced the federal cash infusion on Thursday. One hundred and sixty-six districts will receive money to help keep programs in place and to prevent teacher lay-offs.

Arlington is receiving $914,048 of the money; Malden, $1,670,201; Everett, $3,795,080; and Winchester, $801,501.

According to the announcement, the money is supposed to help school districts obtain the legally required “foundation spending levels” for the upcoming school year.  Schools have a mandatory minimum funding threshold so that students receive a “fair and adequate” education.

According to State Representative Carl Sciortino (D-Medford, Somerville), because Medford has met its foundation budget requirements it will not receive any of the $168 million.  However, Rep. Sciortino said the funding is only one source of stimulus money coming from the federal government and Medford can expect to receive some aid, including two allocations under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) that total $821,987 and $31,956 specifically for preschools.

“Nevertheless, I think it is completely fair to say that even with Medford being above foundation, the lack of resources at the state and local level have left Medford and many other communities struggling to meet our budgets,” said Rep. Sciortino, who is a member of the House Ways and Means Committee.

Mayor Michael McGlynn was not happy that Medford is not receiving any of the money.  He sounded off on in an interview with Channel 5 news during Thursday night’s hockey banquet.

“It doesn’t make any sense that wealthier communities than us are getting millions when we’re getting zero,” said Mayor McGlynn.

Mayor McGlynn said he will continue his beef on Beacon Hill with the current funding formula system for education, a formula that the mayor and school superintendent have opposed for years.

Medford is one of eight communities that is receiving less state aid than it did in 2002, and according to School Superintendent Roy Belson’s recent calculations, it is second only to Somerville in the drop in aid it has experienced. The other communities experiencing a squeeze due to the state funding formula include Beverly, Falmouth, Gloucester, Newburyport, Saugus, and Wakefield. What is happening in Medford and these other communities is that the state is scaling back its share of the school budget from 37.5% to 17.5%, while wealthier communities that were below the 17.5% level are being brought up to it with additional funding.

Rep. Sciortino would like to remind his constituents that he is co-sponsoring an informational forum about the state budget with colleagues Sean Garballey (D-Arlington, Medford), Paul Donato (D-Medford, Malden), and State Senator Pat Jehlen (D-Somerville, Medford)  on Wednesday, April 1, from 7PM-9PM at Century Bank, 400 Mystic Avenue, Medford.