1975-02-10-SC-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Page 47 February 10,19 Mr. Wadsworth compared our METCO enrollment with those in surrounding towns. He said he did not like to see the school committee acting like a charitable trust, adding that we have fulfilled our obligations. He added that if we are to go ahead with this plan, the citizens should have a chance to METCO vote on it. He didn't feel the program should be increased without some (continued) feeling as to how the citizens felt about it. Dr. Fobert said that legally the school committee has to make the decision. Mrs. Berchtold said Dr. Fobert's figures were, in a sense, arbitrary and felt that 50 additional students per year was too high. She suggested that the goal could be reached over a four or five year period. Members of the audience were allowed to voice their opinions on the proposal. Mr. Kent, Mrs. Trudeau and Mrs. Eccleston, along with other citizens, spoke in favor of Dr. Fobert's plan. Mr. Michelson offered some concerns in relation to the proposed tuition hike. He hoped that Dr. Fobert would be careful to see that any METCO tuition increase is justified and would reflect our true operating costs. He said it would be unconscionable for Lexington to derive a profit from the program. Another citizen opposed the METCO ex- pansion because she felt Lexington children were not getting needed attention. Dr. Fobert said the decisions in terms of our needs are not part of the budget for METCO students. The last citizen to be heard supported the proposal and ( said that a citizen referendum would constitute our "passing the buck" on this matter. He urged the school committee to vote tonight and added that if projections are correct, by 1980, we should fill 2500 seats with METCO students. Mrs. Davison made a MOTION, which was seconded by Mr. Rotberg., to approve the Superintendent's recommendations as stated above. Mrs. Berchtold MOVED to amend the proposal stating that 50 students per year was too high and recommended that we add 30 in September 1975, make the decisions on the buildings and then review the program next year. This was not seconded. A vote was called on Mrs. Davison's MOTION. Davison, Rotberg, YES, Wadsworth, Swanson NO, Berchtold ABSTAIN. Mrs. Swanson proposed we make a study to see how METCO costs are determined. Mr. Rotberg made a MOTION, which was seconded by Mrs. Davison, that the school committee approve a four year plan to follow the language stated in Point No_. 1 in the Superintendent's proposal adding 40 students per year for four years, that tuition rates be set at approximately $1200, $1400 and $1700 with actual tuition rates being set at another time; that the Superintendent prepare a METCO budget as stated in Point No. 4 of the proposal. A vote was called (Rotberg, Davison, Berchtold YES, Swanson, Wadsworth NO. Dr. Fobert will present the METCO budget and class distributuion to the . school committee in May.