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APPROPRIATION COMMITTEE
DATE: February 24, 1977
TIME: 8:00 P.M.
PLACE: Town Office Building:
PRESENT: Edward E. Furash, Chairman, Donald White, Vice Chairman,
Howard Levingston, Harry Hall, Patricia Hagedorn, Richard
M. Perry, Comptroller, Ex-Officio
Board of Selectmen - Mary Miley
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School Committee - Patricia Swanson, Frank Michelman,
George Wadsworth, Otis Brown
High School - Dr. Jack Monderer, Geoffrey Pierson,
James Maclnnes, Richard Barnes, Mitchell Spiris,
N. Abelman, J. Hanson,
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Lawson
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Duuget ` s could be done without lowering R (o1'l IS
the quality of education,there is
Continued from Page 1 no question that your argument
three years time of 50 percent. is a strong one. But to close
Machines also explained that "We're not purchasing desks schools just to save money is not
during the last renewal period, and chairs,"replied Dr.Lawson. fie,"
Lexington had expected to pay "We realize we can transfer "This year we have spent 0.00--
$290000 for 23 buses. When_the some equipment from one school 000 more for teachers without ac-
number of required buses was to another." complishing a thing," Mrs.
cut to 17 for the present year,the "If they're not properly Swanson said to Michelman.
contracted amount fell to equipped, then let's close them "When we should have con-
$170,000. right now,"Furash said of school soh'dated(because of assignment
According to Richard Barnes, closings. enrollments), we had to keep
director of information and "Is it possible to run a school seven more teachers on the
federal funding, a declining system for 7500 pupils for $15 payroll."
enrollment also accounts for million?" he asked the Michelman admitted to being
reductions, and he reported that superintendent. a t odds with Assistant sells
it was found to be cheaper to use Superintendent MitchSpiris
cars(73 cents a mile)than buses. Needs tools and Superintendent Lawson over
During discussion of costs of this.
plant operation, it was pointed "Yes. It's like buying a Mrs. Swanson expressed con-
out that thermostats have been stripped down Chevrolet without fidence in the school ad-
lowered and attempts made to headlights,"Lawson replied. He ministration. "They are the ones
calibrate all of them,in an effort told the finance committee who make the educational
to save fuel consumption; but chairman that Lexington ranks decisions. They have worked
that electricity has shown the 10th or 12th in per pupil expen- very,very,hard to keep costs to
most drastic jump, although diture, pointing out that if Lex- a level where we are now.We're
schools are showing a decrease ington aspires to quality very dollar conscious," she said
in total kilowatt hours. education,it has to pay the price in conclusion.
Dr. Lawson also reported that "so that our students will be able
vandalism has been reduced by to compete with others.He needs
the addition of outside lighting the proper tools if we are going
and hiring of two additional to teach him to compete.
custodians last year. "In my best judgment,you will
"Improvements at the high lower the quality of education"
school are a result of the new ad- by cutting the equipment, he
ministration," he said, adding added.
that in all schools, when a "can you have quality educe-
,youngster has been identified as tion for 5500 kids for $15
,the vandal, his parents are million?" was Furash's next
'notified and costs assessed. question,pointing out a reduction
1"Word gets around," the in enrollment by one third and a
!superintendent said. budget reduction of only one-
' hate to tell you we told you sixteenth.
so," quipped Furash. "You can't judge it by that,"
school committee chairman
Equipment budget Patricia Swanson replied. "We
are attempting to cut where we
Hitting the equipment budget can. There comes a time when
again,Furash took strong excep- we're going to have to cut
tion with the purchase of 30 buildings as unneeded facilities."
I,calculators at$30 each("Did we "It's time we put the lid,on
used to supply slide rules ad in- regardless of complaints of the
finitum?") and $80 apiece for
two-door file cabinets ("Don't majority of the the minority.axpaIts is the
you throw anything away?") of taxpayers about
globes at Diamond,carousel pro- whom we must be concerned,"
tectors,an electric oriental wok, Fur"If closingh said.
hree overhead projectors at cschoolsetins the only
Franklin. way for cost effectiveness, that
"We equipschools each year," is what the appropriation coin-
"We mittee says we should do.
he said,pointing out the attitude "There is no sense spending
it reflects in terms of declining $13 million for teachers and not
enrollments and people struggl- giving them the equipment,"
ing with their tax bills. Mrs. Swanson answered.
"What is the philosophy behind "I'd be happy to spend $12
these kinds of expenditures?"he million and give them another
asked. $500,000 for equipment," Furash
I am not going to defend past responded.
purchases," the superintendent
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 andprm- 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." you want to see substantial
"I know teachers can find savings. That there are some
rationale to justify each piece of 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_
unc..,+ndina to ilr....Lawson s.` ---
-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