In case you weren't paying attention, it is budget season here in Lowell, Massachusetts. The Superintendent's proposed budget is based on funds coming from Chapter 70 (state aide) and funds allocated by the City of Lowell. There are lots of moving parts to this process, including budget hearings which are generally open to the public and to public participation. The result is a financial roadmap for the coming fiscal year.
This document links to the dates currently proposed for school budget presentations. Keep your eyes and ears open though, our New England weather may play a large role in adjustments to this meeting schedule.What is clear to me even as a retired educator, is that our school budgets are quite lean. I know this from personal experience: throughout my career, I spent in
EXCESS of $1,000 - and often closer to $2,000 - of my family's funds to supply my classroom with a classroom library, paper, pencils, folders and much more. I know that I was not alone and I know this "tradition" continues today.Each time I've led a literacy class here in Lowell, I've asked the participants what would appear on their classroom wishlist if there was no limitation to funding their classrooms. I encourage them to not self-limit: if one's opinion is that more staff would make things better for students, write that down.As Lowell goes through the process of funding schools and school programs, this too is interesting information that should inform decision-makers. These are some of the items educators, those who work closest with students, would like to see in the budget.Here is what the Fall participants put on their lists:
And here are the wishlists from the Summer participants
