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-gimes aruiamonu,carouser pro- jectors,an electric oriental wok, Furash said. r_ three overhead projectors at If closing schools is the only bUC Franklin. way for cost effectiveness, that •equip schools each year," is what the appropriation corn- "Wehe said,pointing out the attitude m"Thtee says we shouldndo." it reflects in terms of declining There is no sense spending enrollments and people struggl- givingi3 million for teachersegand not in with their tax bills. M . them the equipment," "What is the philosophy behind Mbe happyon answered.tospend P Y "I'd be spend $12 these kinds of expenditures?"he million and give them another asked.I am not going to defend past $500,000 for equipment," Furash responded. purchases," the superintendent p° said. "We have looked at every Responsibility to taxpayer category this year,and we have "We understand the school asked each person to defend each committee has a responsibility to piece of equipment requested. the taxpayer to make sizeable Replacement is necessary in savings where we can with no the eyes of the teachers andprin- educational set-backs," cipals,"he said. Michelman asserted. "You "It would be very safe to say proceeded to the conclusion that that this system is not well the thing to do is to close schools equipped in terms of giving the one, two and three. You stated teachers the basic tools to do the that you understood that three job," the superintendent stated. schools can be closed.This would "It's like hiring a policeman and involve a significant not giving him the weapons to reorganization." You also said protect property." "I know teachers can find you want see substantial rationale to justify each piece of savings. Thaatt there areetanti some savings is clear." new equipment," Furash said, Furash replied that such a "but teachers seem to teach just restructuring would get some as well without every piece of teachers off the payroll, 'equipment they ask for." resulting in savings there. ,Responding to Dr, Lawson's. statement that Lexington schools are poorly equipped, he said, "For ten years I have looked at lists just like this." In reply to his next question, Dr.Lawson said the system does have an inventory system, and does not have minimum or max- imum equipment levels. "But there is unevenness in some schools which we are trying to balance." The file cabinets are based on state bid prices, MacInnes said, to which Furash replied, "Everyone knows the state is not well run." "Style we can't afford" "What you're talking about is a style to which we can't say 'Whoopee'just because you have held it down to five percent. We're raising a question of the school committee as a whole.We object to buying things in quality and quantity according to a style that we can't afford as a town, even though we see some control put on the budget for which we're grateful." Harry Hall, III, of the appropriation committee noted that present enrollment is at 7500.In three years it is expected to be 5500, a reduction of about one-third.Last year,the expense budget was up 15.8 percent.This year it is up 14 percent. Next year it will be up by another 14 or 15 percent,for a total increase in