2017 Report on Resolutions

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The following is a report on the actions taken on the resolutions that were considered by the MASC Delegate Assembly at the annual meeting in Hyannis on Wednesday, November 1, 2017. There were 91 districts represented at the Assembly.

RESOLUTION 1: MOVEMENT OF THE CHAPTER 70 FUNDING ENROLLMENT DATE TO MARCH 15

(Submitted by the Framingham School Committee)

BE IT RESOLVED that the Massachusetts Association of School Committees file for and support legislation that will implement the movement of the Chapter 70 funding enrollment date to March 15th.

An amendment was proposed that would have the enrollment date be December 31st, rather than the original proposal of March 15th.

Prior to voting on the amendment above, a motion was made to postpone consideration of the resolution.

The vote to postpone the resolution failed on a vote of 67-21.

The amendment above was then further revised to change the enrollment date to January 31st.

The revised amendment passed on a vote of 51-35.

The resolution, as amended, was approved on a voice vote.

The resolution, as amended, was approved unanimously on a voice vote.

RESOLUTION 2: REFORM OF CIRCUIT BREAKER FUNDING

(Submitted by the Framingham School Committee)

BE IT RESOLVED that the Massachusetts Association of School Committees file for and support legislation that will support the provision of reform for Circuit Breaker Funding and support the recommendations of the Foundation Budget Review Commission.

The resolution, as presented, passed unanimously.

RESOLUTION 3: LITIGATION FOR FAIR SCHOOL FINANCE

(Submitted by the Framingham School Committee)

BE IT RESOLVED that the members of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, through its delegate assembly, authorizes the Board of Directors to:

1. Reassess the need for a new round of litigation to secure funding to guarantee an adequate appropriation of funds, and
2. Assess the viability of a lawsuit to secure such funding, and
3. Join with other parties at interest to plan and file such a lawsuit if it is determined that there is likelihood of success, and
4. That the Board of Directors shall be authorized to use the reserves of the Association to help underwrite the cost of such litigation.

Following brief discussion, the resolution passed, as presented, on a voice vote.

RESOLUTION 4: PRIVATIZATION OF PUBLIC EDUCATION AND THE OVERSIGHT OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS, INCLUDING SMALL AND REGIONAL DISTRICTS

(Submitted by the MASC Board of Directors)

BE IT RESOLVED that the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, recognizing the provisions of the state constitution, oppose any state or federal legislative initiative to authorize the use of state funds for education to subsidize the tuition or costs of private schools, except where specifically authorized for students in special education programs, or students with disabilities.

Further, MASC opposes any state legislative initiative that expands the authority of the Commissioner of Education, the Board of Elementary Education, or the Secretary of Education over schools and school districts beyond those already imposed, and that MASC further opposes the alteration or conversion of any school or district status beyond that permitted by current law without the consent of the city, town or region in which the school or district is located.

MASC supports the protection of small and rural school districts from modifications in their governance format and regional structure without the consent of the member communities, and, further, supports recognizing the special financial requirements of these, often geographically large and difficult to access parts of the state.

The resolution, as presented, passed unanimously.

RESOLUTION 5: USE OF FEDERAL FUNDS

(Submitted by the MASC Board of Directors)

BE IT RESOLVED that MASC urges the legislature to restrict the ability of the Commissioner, Secretary of Education or Board of Elementary Education to take for its own purposes or use by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, such as but not limited to administrative overhead of the state agency, any share of funds disbursed by the federal government under ESSA, the Perkins Vocational Technical Education Act, or programs under the oversight of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and, further, that those funds be directed specifically to schools and school districts.

Following brief discussion, the resolution passed, as presented, on a voice vote.

RESOLUTION 6: FOUNDATION BUDGET

(Initiated by the Worcester School Committee; Sponsored by the MASC Board of Directors)

BE IT RESOLVED that MASC calls upon the legislature to enact the recommendations of the Foundation Budget into law, and further,

• That the legislature order the Commission to reconvene in order to conduct further deliberations and make such recommendations as the FBRC may propose, and further
• That the FBRC shall address and make recommendations toward the overall accuracy of the adequacy of the overall Foundation Budget.

The resolution passed, as presented, on a voice vote.

RESOLUTION 7: AFFORDABLE CARE ACT & MEDICAID

(Submitted by the MASC Board of Directors)

BE IT RESOLVED that MASC urges the Congress to preserve the Affordable Care Act and its expansion of Medicaid programs for the states, and further that

MASC urges the General Court to require that 100% of Medicaid reimbursements to cities and towns be provided in full amount to the public schools of each municipality to underwrite the cost of providing an adequate education.

An amendment was proposed to strike the first sentence (that MASC urges the Congress the preserve . . . programs for the states, and further)

The vote on the amendment fails on a voice vote.

The resolution passes, as originally presented, on a voice vote.