That’s the affectionate title of a Sinclair Lewis novel, a semi-satirical political book published in 1935. On the Mothers of Invention album Freak Out!, there is an a cappella song titled “It Can’t Happen Here”, which is about the social and political upheaval of the mid to late 1960s.
Fast forward to 2008, and public education in Massachusetts, and you just need to look at the town of Randolph to shout: “Let’s make sure it doesn’t happen here.” As reported in today’s Boston Globe:
A community once celebrated as having some of the best schools in the state [Randolph] now has schools rated among the worst. Amid an escalating financial crisis in recent years, 68 teachers have been laid off, two elementary schools have closed, and about half the classes at the high school have been cut. There are no more elementary school librarians. Most of the school buses are gone, as are freshmen and junior varsity sports.
To view the full story, click here.
Municipalities all across the Commonwealth have faced steep financial problems for years, and the impact has been felt hard in the public schools. As we review the budget for FY09, we in Franklin are mindful of what is happening throughout the state, and we will do our best to maintain high standards for excellence. But it is difficult to do on a tight budget.
The School Committee has begun budget deliberations for the 2008-2009 school year, which begins July 1. In order for the Franklin schools to offer the same services as we are providing to your children this year, the school budget must increase by approximately $4.1 million. The Town Administrator is currently proposing to increase school revenues by $800,000. If this proposed increase is approved by the Town Council, the Franklin schools would need to reduce their budget by approximately $3.3 million.
We want to ensure that all residents of Franklin are informed on the current status of the Fiscal Year 2009 budget and the potential impact of budget decisions on the services provided to the town’s public school students. Listed below are several links that will provide you with specific, online information regarding the budget. We hope you will use these sources to stay informed as budget discussions continue. As always, members of the School Committee are happy to answer any questions you may have.
School Budget Information Home Page
PowerPoint Overview on Proposed FY09 School Budget
Complete Proposed FY09 Budget by School
Franklin School Committee Web Site
