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EDITOR’S NOTE: The following was submitted by eighth-grade students from the McCall Middle School for their annual civics project. These essays have not been edited by Winchester News for grammar or content. This essay is being presented by Emma Chu and Joe Chiavelli.
Are you aware of the current financial state of our school district? Winchester Public Schools are facing a serious challenge: the lack of school funding, which could leave a catastrophic impact on our community. This issue stems mainly from inflation, where the school revenue can no longer support the necessary amount of school spending, which maintains the quality of our school system. Teachers' salaries, facility expenses, and the cost of materials continue to rise due to the cost of living. However, under Proposition 2 ½, a state policy that limits property tax increases to 2.5% per year, the amount of taxes we pay remains inadequate each year, leaving the school budget insufficient as well. Overall, our schools struggle to keep up with the rising expenses, and can not ensure a well-rounded education system without a passed override of the proposition.
While many people may be unaware, the effects of this issue have already negatively impacted our community. For example, one of the four sixth-grade teams at McCall Middle School was recently eliminated, resulting in the loss of four teaching positions. Students from that team will now be absorbed by other classes, increasing class sizes, and making it more difficult for teachers to provide individual attention towards students who need extra support. The district does have a policy that gives teachers who have worked in the school district for longer than three years greater job security than newer teachers. Even so, it is still estimated that 32-34 teaching positions will be eliminated in the coming years to make up for the district’s budget deficit.
Athletic programs throughout the school may also begin charging higher fees because schools are not receiving enough funding to support these programs alone. Sports like volleyball and basketball could cost students several hundred dollars to join teams and participate in games and practices. This causes financial issues for families who are unable to afford the costs of allowing their children to play sports, especially those with multiple children or students participating in several sports. These costs can quickly add up to hundreds, if not thousands of dollars each year, limiting opportunities for students to participate in sports and activities they have a passion for.
Schools will have to cut many programs and funding for facilities to make up for the lost money, yet there are certain priorities that schools have to work their way around eliminating. Math interventionists and social emotional learning staff are likely to be cut first, as they are not seen as an absolute need for current school functionality. But at the core, IEP, 504, and other learning plan programs will continue to be preserved, because they are promised to Winchester families. They provide equal education for all students and ensure that certain students can receive the help that they need, even with a tight budget. As mentioned by John Bellaire, a member of the school committee, “The school district has a moral, ethical, and legal obligation to provide special needs students with the help they need.” Hopefully, our schools will gain more funding in the future, ensuring that Winchester can still offer these vital programs.
In the past, the Winchester Select Board has proposed to override Proposition 2 ½. If it had been approved, Winchester schools would have received more funding to help reduce the number of teachers losing their jobs, the number of programs being cut, and the amount of fees needed to pay for athletic extracurriculars. Overall, this override would have lessened the impact of the district’s financial challenges by a lot. But unfortunately, the majority of Winchester citizens voted against the override on March 21, Election Day. Specifically, 293 people voted against the override which directly impacts the schools and children of Winchester. It is debatable whether these people were aware of the severe effects the decision could have on our schools and community. Regardless, we now encourage you all to take action alongside our community by simply being informed and raising awareness about this issue in efforts to support the education given to students in our town. It can not be said enough, small actions can make a big impact.
If I told you that there would be another budget override, would you vote “yes” for the students, teachers, staff members, and families of Winchester, or would you vote “no”?
