001Hello and welcome to Around the Clock. I'm your host Yolanda Greavves. We are doing a special instudio interview. It's been a while since we've done one of these with Claudia Bennett. Claudia, welcome back to Around the Clock. >> Oh, thank you very much. I'm happy to be here. We are here to talk about the override that was uh discussed at the budget somewhat at town meeting and the vote coming up on November 19th. Uh Claudia, you are a member of the board of selectmen. >> I am. But you are also part of the group for invest in Ashland. Oh yeah. So tell us real quick what that is and how it came about and how it's funded. >> Yeah. So that's a political action committee and um those form all the time to be proponents
002of variety of things and they um follow certain finance rules within the state. Um, and you know, we had a small group of citizens that were interested in um, you know, the the biggest part of this really is trying to make sure that people are informed. >> Okay. >> That sometimes just by having select board meetings and tri board meetings, fin meetings, it really doesn't provide the level of information that people really deserve. >> And so, um, this is a way to try to get the information out. Okay. >> And and that's what this is today. You and I having a conversation about the information and I've had people ask me questions and I'm I'm like, let's bring it to someone who you've certainly been much more involved for different reasons. Uh so let's let's
003get right to it. How did we arrive at the amount of $2.7 million for the override? 2.75 million for the override. Like I think I think people are wondering how did we get to that? >> Yeah. So, I think that, you know, first I really want to put a plug in for Mr. Adams. Um, and he recently did an interview similar to this with Makita Keegan, and that is something, you know, I did actually review it, and it's really very informative. So, I do recommend it. I think they're putting the QR code up um [laughter] for this broadcast to to show it because he really goes into great detail. M >> so the 2.75 million is indeed for the schools and basically um what it does is that it really gets us in a position
004going forward to be able to do things in a sound fashion. So currently um some there are many positions that are being eight teaching positions and I think $400,000 in operating funds that are being taken out of mostly school choice. >> Um which is a a one-time fund. It it it recurs based on how many students we have coming to this district from another district. >> So eventually if you're not keeping pace with that, that's a that's a lot. That's I think about $1.1 million to be taken out of school choice every year. So we can't continue to fund our positions etc at that level. Um what Mr. Adams has done is look at the school department and say okay what can we how can we get down to the bare minimum? Now some people
005would say that he we were already at the bare minimum. >> Um you know we are 362nd in terms of per pupil expenditures. uh compared to the entire state of 396 districts. So that's really low. We get tremendous um >> bang for our buck. >> Yeah, we get tremendous bang for our buck. All right. So, um, so but you know, one thing that I did look at recently was if you look at even some a town that gets 2,000 that's putting $2,000 more per student >> than we are, then that would basically take care of this inequity, right? I mean, I think it came to like $5 million. I should have wrote that written that number down someplace. But in any case, just the point being that when you're looking at 2,800 students, which is
006about what we have, if you know, every little bit could make a significant difference or right, you know. Um, >> yeah. So, so Mr. Mr. Adams looked at the budget and said, "Okay, here's what I'm going to do. I'm going to look really hard at some of these positions." And what he has done is he has looked at um 10 positions that were either not filled or there are people who were retiring. And he looked at those positions and he said this position person's retiring. It doesn't I don't have to lay somebody off and what would the impact be? So, um, he and he said, "Okay, I'm going to there's there's an impact, but he balanced it against what the the financial situation that we're in, right?" And he said, "Okay, we will lay off
007the we will not fill >> these positions, okay? >> And we will um, you know, we also were carrying some positions that were unfilled. So, we removed those positions as well." So, I just wanted to go back one second. So, there were positions that were being carried in the 2026 budget, >> right? >> That never got filled. >> Yeah. I'm not sure if they may have been filled at some point, but they're currently unfilled. >> Okay. So, >> so those positions he just wiped. He said, "Okay, we're managing." >> Makes sense, right? If you haven't filled them, they've been there for more than a year, you know, let's Okay, so that makes sense. >> How long, but Right. Okay. >> We're managing, right? Okay. And so, and then there were several positions. um a teacher
008at Warren um who's retiring. >> So is there an impact? >> Yeah. Uh you know we have stabilized the number of students there to some extent right now. So if you take and I don't know how many teachers at that grade level but say there were 10 and you take one teacher away say there were uh 20 kids in a class now you've got to divide that those 20 kids among the remaining nine teachers. Right? So does it have an impact on the class size? It does. Um, and you know, we have to be very careful around that because a couple of students here and there can really change um the education. >> But aren't we always, my understanding is we're always evaluating the number of classrooms per class per grade level. >> Oh, absolutely.
009>> Because of numbers, right? We've seen the change through the district of a class that's a little bit lighter, a class that's a little bit heavier. We've moved teachers around. But you're saying for this for this discussion, there's a teacher retiring and we're just not going to replace that. >> Just not replace that. That makes sense. Okay. There's um there are three teachers at at Mendes. There's a special education teacher. Um >> there's a classroom specials teacher. They're both retiring. >> Okay. >> So, um they're not being replaced. you know the specials that provides not only is it good content areas you know the specials are music and PE right um >> what generally has to be done is sometimes the schedule might need to be altered a little bit because they all that also
010helps or supplies >> um teacher breaks or meeting times or their planning period gives them a planning period and so sometimes the spe the other specialists have to be work in worked in to pick up that additional workload. Now, it might mean that you adjust the schedule by reducing the number of minutes or it might mean um that you just are able to add a period to each of the other >> specialist. So, 13.2 positions that are going no matter what. >> No matter what. Another one, just to finish that one, there's a director of social emotional learning. That's a position that um came on board somewhere in the neighborhood of COVID. um has done remarkable work in the district. I think that you know we all understand that the social emotional needs of our
011our student population have increased. Some of it's the result of co some of it's the world we live in. There's a lot of pieces to that. I think that in general schools um have to take do more of a social role than ever. Not certainly when we were kids it was I mean that was that's what I was going to say it. I think that For a lot of people, they're like, "Well, why can't we just stay stick to certain basics?" Well, in the world that we live in, we can't because of of what we're dealing with with kids that are coming into the school, >> right? The social service need for social services sometimes falls on the school department. And I think, you know, we, you know, both have seen >> having spent time.
012Oh, yeah. Yeah. Okay. Um, so even with the 2.7.5 million, we're still making these reductions. And the goal is that by making these position reductions that long-term it's not just a one-year fix, it's going to be a multi-year fix. >> Right? So then that what that does is allow him to get to the $2.75 million which >> is a lot of money >> and nobody's right. I mean we all know that's a lot of money. But what it what it does is reducing these positions and then being a so that we don't have to draw down from our one-time funds that aren't necessarily being replenished at the rate we're withdrawing. Um it allows us to then move forward >> and in without you know hitting the fiscal cliff as as Mr. Adams says or um
013depleting them entirely. So at that point, we're in a much more serious position. >> So it's been, you know, are there other cuts that could have been made or other decisions that could have been made in regards to other programs so that it wouldn't have had to be it wouldn't have to be a $2.75 million override? Could it have been less? >> So I I >> And I'm asking you to summize even though >> I mean I am, you know, I'm not in the weeds anymore, but I've been in the weeds. Yeah. And um you know we have a very lean school district and and I again I know sometimes that is hard for people to understand, hard for them to hear. >> Um >> but it's the case that's why we're 362nd out of
01439 in spending per pupil, right? >> And so that's an average and that's average student, right? Like that's average student. We know that per average per pupil spending we're 362nd out of 396, >> right? So the other thing that's been discussed is that structural changes have been made. So are these the only structural changes that have been made reducing these positions, moving some other that at the schools to allow them to be work because yes, the 2.75 million if if the override passes will be there moving forward, right? >> But we also know that costs will go up moving forward. So what other structural changes have been made to allow this to be a longer term solution than just one year? >> Yeah. So this is a structural change because [clears throat] operational overrides continue,
015right? It doesn't go away. It becomes part of our tax base. So that is how it is a a structural um change. It's it is a way to you know affect that um that deficit. >> Um does that answer? >> Well, but like so we have this 2.7 if if this override passes, it's going to cover this year's budget. >> Right. Next year we're going to have contracts that are more Right. So, how how other are there other things that have been done within the school department besides these positions besides these things? Right? Are they looking at combining programs or or or is it really just these positions? Right? Because we have other programs that are not funding themselves or not supporting themselves, >> right? So, that we're having to pay extra more money toward.
016will help too is that this will also start will support um athletics and and what you you historically we know has happened in the schools right is because we haven't had enough money to fund schools appropriately for public education which which is you know >> pro that and public safety are the two most important things that a a community um expects from their property tax right So um so this you know this these are how to address it in in terms of going forward it this absolutely does a huge has a huge impact on that because it does >> allow us to start using monies from those one-time funds to support maintenance issues and things like that that currently we we don't have the funds to take care of. >> Okay. Okay. Um so the
017other the other sort of question and that people will say okay well I don't support the override what and we and you know based on information is okay if the override doesn't pass the go the there's been discussion that we're going to pull another $1.6 million from one-time funds to cover this year's budget. So, we're sort of doing to ourselves what we've done for the last two years, right? Pull onetime funds in to do stuff. So, if if the override doesn't pass and we pull in the $1.6 million, what's the impact on our schools? Like, what's the diff, you know, between having $1.6 million in stabilization funds and $2.75 million from an override? >> Well, I think >> what's that difference? I think the biggest difference right is that >> in a year >> when
018we don't have that money then to take from stabilization accounts from to take from school choice you know to take from these one-time fund areas when we don't when that money is gone >> then we have to go back to the community and it's more it's more than $2.75 million at that point or it's in the neighborhood of 20ish teachers um I you know, Mr. Adams has tried to figure that out what that number would be and it it would probably be close to around $5 million to get the schools whole again. >> So, so the fact that you put it in place now and then you you are building on it because it does a repeat, right? You know that and you maintain some of these one time >> increases our our our current
019levy, right? So we're instead of being allowed to >> increase by X, we're now going to be we'll we'll always have that 2.75 as part of our number and we just increase above that. >> And and nobody I mean nobody wants and I understand people are against the override. I I understand that nobody wants to pay more money in taxes. You know, none of us do. And this is a really hard decision. But as members, you know, Mr. Adams, the the school committee, the finance committee, the select board. It it is our responsibility to try to really look hard and come forward with the best possible um approach for the community and I understand that there are some people in our community that don't have the money, >> right? >> And I I think we
020all understand that. Which leads me to my next question because one of the other questions I've heard from people is okay well usually I know that my taxes might will go up by two and a half%. If this override passes what percentage will my taxes go up so it's not 2 and a half%. So, and is it the full because now it'll be like six, is it 6%, is it five and a half percent? What is >> So, if you look at it in numbers at the at the for the average family home value of $737,000 >> and you think it the >> what the current two and a half% raises is $1.4 million. And that's about, you know, um $224 maybe per on that $737,000 average home. >> Okay. >> And this this override
021adds um about $428 to >> Okay. So, if my if without the override, my usual increase would be to about $224 because of the 2 and a half%. You're saying that now I could see a $600 increase to my, you know, no one has, you know, the average amounts and stuff like that. >> Correct. >> Um Okay. Okay. >> Um what how did we get here? I mean, we've talked a little bit about the one-time funds and what discussions what what should we have been doing differently? because you keep saying you you are saying that even if we do this 2.75 million that moving forward we may have to use onetime funds again. >> Is there something and this is philosophical and if you're not sure then >> yeah that's not the plan right the
022plan is that this fixes it and Mr. Adams again in his um you know conversations um that with Wacka TV. >> Yes, >> he explains that pretty well. Okay. >> Um this is intended to be like a fiveyear, you know, or better fix. Okay, >> that's what it's intended to be. How did we get here? Well, here's what happens in in years leading up to this, right? Is >> there's a lot of history around chapter 75 in this community. And yes, you know, I know sometimes I say it, but you know, you and I live this >> quite a bit. And you know, Senate, the Senate President went to the state house to fix Chapter 70, right? >> Listen, she it's been improved. >> Um, but a couple of things about that. First of all,
023we were seeing some increases >> y >> with in our chapter 7 funding and that was helping us in these years when, you know, you're only allowed to go two and a half percent. um it was it was helping us, but we've that's kind of leveled off now. >> Yes. >> And so that that's not money that isn't part of our levy that that's coming to us anymore or coming back into us terms of um you know, state aid. Yeah. >> You know, it's where what where it's reached and now it's leveled out. The other thing is, you know, the state plays with education funding and you know, um, some years you you they'll get do $150 per student, some years less. We're hoping, but right now that's not the number. Well, might be now,
024but it we're not sure where it's going to end up, right? Because that's not decided. >> And as we know, that's the other hard part, right? And this is again, I've seen people and I've heard people saying, well, they've just announced that they're going to give us additional money. And as you know and I know unfortunately we have to set our budget. We have to have our budget before July 1 and they could be voting the budget as late as the end of July which me and [laughter] we're not looking at 2.75 close to it. Right. >> Um you know >> it's just not even close to it. So that money could definitely help and it could maybe be returned to some of the stabilization funds or >> based on our budget process how that
025has to happen, >> right? But it certainly is nowhere near um >> one one other question. It's not necessarily part of the override, but it was part of the discussion at town meeting. The amount of money that was pulled from stabilization fund already for some of the general government and even some of the other departments. There was discussion early on about $750,000 and now when we look at that stabilization $1.6 million was pulled from the stabilization fund to cover basically general government. >> Yeah. So, you know, some of the reason our stabilization fund has increased dramatically in the last 10 years, I'd say, right? Um, and >> and that's something that the community can be proud of. Yeah. And it is intended to help in difficult times. And I think that the discussion and the
026feedback from the community >> was that minimize it. Minimize this as much as you can. And so that's why that was done is to take it from stabilization rather than adding asking for a 3 point because 3.5 million >> 3.5 million was on on the table at one point >> on the table, right? >> Um and so that was basically um what happened with that. >> Okay. So, and just again to talk a little bit about the state because >> um you know, I've I've written [clears throat] to the governor a couple of times this year um usually involving some of the 40B and the housing issues that we're we're faced with and the struggles there. But, you know, the other thing is this the state does is >> way down there in terms of
027>> in comparison [clears throat] to other states. >> Oh, and what they give back and what they give back. There's been lots of re recently, right? The Mass Municipal Association, which is we are part of, uh, did do a whole report back in the fall that they spent a fair amount of time on showing that we as as t cities and towns have not been getting our fair share of the the dollars that the that the state is is bringing in. And I think that what we heard this this report and this announcement that came on this past Monday about additional state aid. I think they're finally looking at the report and they're looking at the recommendations from that report to say look you need to give some of the money back to the to
028the cities and towns because we're doing the ground. We're doing a lot of the leg work. We're working with our residents. So >> well there's still some more work to be done there, >> you know, and it's really apparent at this point in time, right? Many many commu communities are going for operational overrides, right? And >> many are I would say most that I've seen are all well over $2.75 million. >> And it's because every community is faced with these same challenges, right? I mean, our tax levy allows us to raise 2.4 mil I mean, yeah, $1.4 million. Our our health and insurance and benefits number is increasing by $1.2 million this year. The salaries line for the school department is increasing by $1.5 million this year. >> We don't have the new growth that
029we've had in in recent years either, which also is a huge help to um you know, our coppers. We don't we don't have that new growth. And and the challenge there is a lot of people in our community don't want a whole lot of building or >> they don't want to see change. They don't want to see additional homes and things in the community. >> There's lots of >> Oh, yeah. That's a that's a whole other discussion, >> right? [laughter] And and and I I'm not in favor of these huge apartment buildings that really are all they do is give money to the developers. They don't really help with housing. >> Yeah. Um but it's those are all monies that that aren't there for us and those are choices that we make, right? And so
030um we it really needs to be a time when communities are saying to the state, you need to step up, right? >> This isn't right. This isn't >> and and unfortunately, you know, our anger towards state government and to towards the federal government about all these things. And this is an opportunity that >> on the local level to take our money >> and do something for our >> community. I mean it it really is. And so I try because I feel a lot of anger about this. I can tell you that that's might be why the governor doesn't respond to me. [laughter] >> But um you know we we're trying to do the best thing we can for for our children and uh >> and for and and it's for the larger community too. It
031it does increase our home values and >> and you say, you know, um listen, we bought our home and I know you bought at a similar time 35 years ago, you know, for $235,000. >> Yeah. We've had we've had our house for 30 years. So >> So I mean, and you know >> Oh, yeah. >> So we have a a home that is worth a lot of money, but >> and we pay a lot of taxes as a result. >> And so, >> you know, and we're older. We're kind of not making a we have a little side hustle here or there, but um yeah, >> you know, it's there's and and I'm not suggesting that there's people in far worse situations and they have children and they young children. >> Um but it's just
032that >> the the world just two and a half% year after year after year >> um doesn't make it. I mean, many towns too have already had successful overrides. You well know that we we've not been >> we have never passed an operational override, >> right? And they they're different than they are very different than debt exclusions. When you're borrowing money, it's like a mortgage, right? When you buy, >> you buy you you build it, you're done with paying it, it goes away, >> right? >> But as you said, so um any before I let you go, so again, I've been chatting with Claudia Bennett and about the operational override that's coming. We've had early voting. People have already been voting on this and the final day to a vote is on Tuesday, November nope,
033Tuesday, May 19th. I'm pushing myself a little bit. [snorts] >> Tuesday, May 19th at the Ashlin High School. Polls open at 8, I believe. And >> 8 to 7 p.m. >> 8 to 7:00 p.m. >> Uh, and there's still early voting. Well, by the time you see this, early voting might be done. It finishes on it will >> today 3:30. >> Is today the last day? Uh, right. because it's Thursday. >> Yeah. So, if you didn't get to early vote, hopefully you can make it to the polls on Tuesday. And if you have any further questions or issues, go and check out the interview that was done with Makita Keegan with Jim Adams, go to the town website, go to the school website and get your information and reach out to any of the select
034board, finance, school committee, >> anyone who can help you answer questions about this over. know that if I don't have the answer, I will help you get the answer by with the right person. Um, again, this has been, you know, one of the hardest um times I've I've been in town government a few few times in my life and um this has been really a tough time because >> because I know how um everybody, you know, is experiencing >> the increase in costs and I I just don't want, >> you know, I know Facebook is all over the place and it's a struggle because lots of times there's a lot of misinformation put out there and um you know I I just want to make sure people when they go they they understand what what
035is being done here and um how it can help us going forward to to minimize um some of the pain so of these difficult times and and let's you know we need to get after our state you know I I I know that um Senator Spoker is certainly >> always working on our behalf and um has been representative Lewis >> and um and uh and I think the governor is feeling it a little bit too. >> Feeling a little pressure. >> Yep. So um >> I think we can keep applying that pressure. It would be the right thing. >> I think a little pressure is good, right, for all of us. >> Great. Well, Claudia, thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me. Thank you so much for watching this uh
036interview here on Around the Clock. I'm your host, Yolanda Greavves. greatly appreciate you taking the time and please reach out, ask the questions so that when you head to the ballot box if you haven't already, you are doing it in an informed way and then really considering what's right for you and your family. Thanks again for watching Around the Clock. >> Thank you.