Parent Group Meets with Mayor on School Budget

From left to right: Medford Mayor Michael McGlynn, Bonnie McFarlane of a4mps, and Noah Berger of the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center.

What: June 2, 2010 Forum on the Municipal Medford School Budget with Mayor McGlynn and Noah Berger sponsored by Advocating Medford Public Schools (a4mps).

At the recent meeting sponsored by Advocating For Medford Public Schools, Mayor McGlynn acknowledged the group in their lobbying efforts to pass the Hotel Meals tax, which has substantially added to the city coffers. But Mayor McGlynn also mentioned that this money would not go directly to the schools – but would go towards reducing the city’s overall deficit. This is just one of the highlights from the evening’s forum.

Nearly fifty people were in attendance as Noah Berger of the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center and Mayor Michael McGlynn presented information and answered questions about this year Municipal and State Budget and how it may affect our Medford Schools Budget.

Noah Berger spoke on the general condition of the State’s budget and how the Commonwealth does not do a good job at keeping our schools well funded; and how historically the Education Department’s budget has been in decline. Mayor Michael McGlynn spoke on several municipal items; parking meters, recycling and the Hotel Meals tax, all of which will either save the city money or create revenues, and which when realized would go towards reducing the State deficit.

The evening’s forum, hosted by Advocating For Medford Public Schools, is the first in what the group hopes will be many community education events.

The mission of a4mps is to ensure adequate funding and continuous improvement of the citywide school system. We do this by encouraging residents to become involved in public education: as volunteers in the schools, as advocates for school funding and policies that improve our schools, and as voters for candidates who believe that investing in public education leads to a vibrant, thriving community, not just for students and their families, but for everyone who lives, works, or even visits Medford.

More information about the group can be found at www.advocating4mps.org.

– Submitted by Matt Haberstroh, Advocating for Medford Public Schools