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Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents

3 days ago

🎓 M.A.S.S. officials sent a letter to leaders of the Healey-Driscoll Administration today outlining concerns about proposed new statewide graduation requirements, particularly the fiscal implications of any new initiatives when many school districts are facing significant budget gaps.

M.A.S.S. President Karen Crebase and M.A.S.S. Executive Director Mary Bourque urged state leaders to accompany any new mandates with adequate state funding to cover the costs associated with design, implementation, and staffing.

“As you know, many school districts and their partners in municipal government are facing significant budget gaps, as major costs continue to escalate more sharply than state and local revenue,” they wrote. “In many cases, district leaders are making difficult decisions to eliminate positions and programs in order to balance their budgets. Many communities are pursuing Proposition 2½ overrides, but even when they succeed, they provide only temporary financial relief. In short, districts are struggling to fund existing programs and services, let alone any new initiatives.”

The letter calls upon state leaders to conduct a thorough cost analysis for all of the components of the proposed framework and to include in their final recommendations a detailed plan for providing state funding to local districts to cover any new costs.

✉️ Read the letter to state leaders: bit.ly/4deqw3d

📋 Read the M.A.S.S. position paper on the proposed framework: bit.ly/4a71IZI … See MoreSee Less

Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents

4 days ago

Congratulations to these leaders selected for Superintendent positions!

Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical: Andrew Rebello | bit.ly/3PNPBKq

Northampton: Dr. Annie Azarloza | bit.ly/4tNz3RH

Reading: Dr. Henry Turner | bit.ly/3PSgTzk … See MoreSee Less

Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents

1 week ago

Amy McKinstry, Superintendent of Northbridge Public Schools and vice president-elect of M.A.S.S., published a guest opinion in the Worcester Telegram & Gazette about proposed new statewide graduation requirements: “For school programs, adding means subtracting.”

🎓 Superintendent McKinstry affirms her district’s commitment to maintaining high standards for all students but also cautions about some of the challenges associated with implementing the proposed new requirements. She notes significant funding gaps and the need to offer students a broad range of educational and career-focused opportunities in high school.

She argues that “effective implementation of any new plan will require a gradual, detailed, resource-based approach.”

📰 Read the column: bit.ly/3RrBivG … See MoreSee Less