As per the provisions of Chapter 97 of the Acts of 2014 (the so-called Worthington withdrawal legislation), the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has established, in collaboration with district officials, a date to hold its “Needs Conference”. The conference will be held in Gateway’s Performing Arts Center on Wednesday, December 3 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. (with a snow date of Monday, December 8). The meeting will allow school committee members, school staff, town officials, and any members of the public to share with DESE how Worthington’s withdrawal from the district may impact district operations moving forward. According to the legislation, this involves DESE collecting information about: the long-term financial impact to the district and its member towns (including transportation, special education, vocational education, and personnel costs); the impact on the district’s enrollment, an inventory of district educational facilities, plans for the reimbursement of capital costs, the repayment of MSBA monies, the district’s administrative structure, fiscal recommendations to hold harmless the remaining towns, any potential for enhancing learning opportunities, and the district’s educational plan. This information is needed for DESE to report to the state legislature for potential action in mitigating the impact of the withdrawal on all of the students in our towns.
DESE has asked that written (either hardcopy or electronic) testimony be presented whenever possible so that they have all of the information to use in drafting their report to the legislature. Written testimony may be mailed to the attention of “Needs Conference, 12 Littleville Rd, Huntington, MA 01050”, dropped off in the Central Office, or emailed to myself ([email protected]) or Stephanie Fisk ([email protected]). If this information is provided before November 26th, we will ensure that DESE has the information before the meeting. Verbal testimony will also be taken, with a 3-minute time limit on each speaker. The DESE also asks that any specific questions that the community wants answered also be submitted in writing.
During conference calls with DESE staff, the purpose of this meeting was clearly defined as gathering information about the impact of the withdrawal and not to discuss whether Worthington should be allowed to withdraw, whether the legislation was legal or well advised, or to question DESE’s role in the process. My impression from the DESE staff was that they are responding to the letter of the law as introduced, amended, passed, and signed into law by the Governor. While I know there has been much discussion about the legislative process, and there are potential legal actions being considered by the towns, this meeting will not address those issues, in part because these DESE officials are just gathering information for a report to the legislature.
My hope is that many people will take the time and effort to provide written or verbal testimony to the DESE during this meeting, as it is likely the only needs conference to be convened regarding the withdrawal process.
