Letter: Ballot Question 2

To the Editor:

There are good educational arguments for both sides of Question 2 on increasing the number of charter schools. However one claim by the proponents of this issue is misleading.

They say that passage of the ballot question will increase the amount of state funding going to public education. It is true that the enabling legislation for charter schools calls for transitional reimbursement to the sending district for students going to charter schools.

The problem is that, like every state program, this reimbursement is "subject to appropriation." No ballot question can in fact bind the legislature, as it considers the state budget, to prioritize a particular line item. In 2015 the state funded only the first year transition requests. More charter schools means more requests for reimbursement. It does not automatically mean more money to meet those requests. In deciding how to vote on this question, consider educational issues, not the potential for additional state money to education. As a practical matter the latter does not exist.

Anne Skinner
Williamstown, Mass.

Williamstown Fire Committee Talks Station Project Cuts, Truck Replacement

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
05:17AM / Friday, April 26, 2024

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Prudential Committee on Wednesday signed off on more than $1 million in cost cutting measures for the planned Main Street fire station.

 

Some of the "value engineering" changes are cosmetic, while at least one pushes off a planned expense into the future.

 

The committee, which oversees the Fire District, also made plans to hold meetings over the next two Wednesdays to finalize its fiscal year 2025 budget request and other warrant articles for the May 28 annual district meeting. One of those warrant articles could include a request for a new mini rescue truck.

 

The value engineering changes to the building project originated with the district's Building Committee, which asked the Prudential Committee to review and sign off.

 

In all, the cuts approved on Wednesday are estimated to trim $1.135 million off the project's price tag.

 

The biggest ticket items included $250,000 to simplify the exterior masonry, $200,000 to eliminate a side yard shed, $150,000 to switch from a metal roof to asphalt shingles and $75,000 to "white box" certain areas on the second floor of the planned building.

 

The white boxing means the interior spaces will be built but not finished. So instead of dividing a large space into six bunk rooms and installing two restrooms on the second floor, that space will be left empty and unframed for now.