Educational Excerpts

from

Mayor Cohen's State of the City Address

10/20/03

(click here for full address)

 

 

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    We face other challenges as well due to the times we live in. A recession and plunging state aid to cities and towns continue to challenge the ability of many communities to provide basic city services. Municipalities across the Commonwealth have been forced to impose broad service cutbacks, lay off police officers and firefighters, and some have even been forced to close schools and libraries.

    We in Newton have been able to maintain the high quality of our services, retain the same staffing levels in our police and fire forces, the same favorable class size ratio in the schools, and in a number of areas, actually enhance the scope of services we provide.

    We were able to meet the challenge through thorough planning: Some of the changes we implemented to balance this year’s budget took almost a year to develop. Sound management and rigorous control of expenditures: The measures we have introduced to control overtime city-wide are saving hundreds of thousands of dollars. And close cooperation with the School Committee and Board of Aldermen. I cannot stress enough that the work of School Committee Chair Anne Larner and the rest of the Committee, together with Superintendent Young, was absolutely essential in balancing this budget. And how essential the role of the Board of Aldermen was as well, in having first the foresight to approve the creation of our rainy day fund, and second the restraint not to try to use it until it was absolutely necessary this year.

 

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    But we will face this challenge from a position of strength as well. Newton’s triple A bond rating is a sign of our fiscal strength. We remain one of only two cities in the Commonwealth with such rating, a rating that was reaffirmed by Moody’s last August. In giving that rating Moody’s specifically pointed to our high school financing plan as a sign of our fiscal soundness.

 

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    This surplus, barely 3% of our budget, is the city’s insurance policy against further cuts in state aid and increased costs. In order to be ready for those possibilities, I propose to use the surplus first to replenish our rainy day fund. Second, I am directing Chief Budget Officer Sanford Pooler to develop preliminary revenue estimates by November first so that the budgetary planning process for next year will have a definite target. Third, by December 1st I will announce the allocation of that revenue between the Schools and other municipal departments.

 

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    We must provide a safe, clean, modern Newton North that meets the needs of 21st century students.

    We learned just how difficult that was when we had to scrap the original renovation plan because it just wouldn’t work. Nipping the original plan at the bud has given us an opportunity. We have the chance to build a Newton North far superior to that envisioned in the original plan. For, while we here today did not cause the problem with the Newton North building, we are determined to solve it regardless of the difficulties.

    Traveling the path that lies before us in an orderly fashion, while containing many steps, will provide us with the best opportunity to build a Newton North that solves the problems we’ve endured for over thirty years. The next four steps are as follows:

    First, after a series of joint meetings with the Board of Aldermen, public forums, and working meetings, seeking broad public input, the School Committee will recommend an option that it feels best meets the educational program which they have set forth. They have scheduled a vote for November 24th.

    Second, I will examine the option that the School Committee recommends and present the Board of Aldermen with a funding plan and a request for an appropriation for the design work on the project. I expect to be able to do this by the first of the year, when the new Board of Aldermen takes office.

    Third, the Board of Aldermen will decide whether to authorize the request for appropriation. They will also have the opportunity to examine the financial plan, the conceptual plans and any other aspect of the project that they feel will help them in their deliberations.

    Fourth, at the same time, the city will meet with the School Building Assistance Program to seek their preliminary approval for a revision in scope for the Newton North project. If preliminary approval is granted then the Newton North project will retain the same place on the funding list with reimbursement based on the revised project cost and we will proceed.

    I know that there has been much conjecture about our chances of obtaining SBAP approval for this change. Some have speculated that Beacon Hill politics make approval unlikely. Others have gone as far as to suggest that it is futile to even try. To those who would doom this effort before it is made, my response is simple. Stay the course.

    Christine Lynch, director of the of the SBAP, has stated for the record and specifically that none of the actions of the Legislature will in any way adversely affect Newton’s chances of approval.

    What is more seeking SBAP approval for this change is the course recommended by officials of the SBAP, itself. Every public school building built in the last fifty years has been built with state assistance. Seeking it in this case, remains the most prudent course to follow.

 

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    Our schools continue to be a magnet that draws young families to Newton and give us all a sense of pride. From the results on standardized tests, to the innovative programs, to our extraordinary teachers and students, to the Daytime newspaper at the Day Middle School, Newton Schools continue to set the standard on both a state and national level.

    In defense of the environment, Newton is the municipal leader in use of wind and solar power, we just received a $500,000 grant for solar panels at Newton South. And our fleet of vehicles now includes low pollution vehicles and will soon acquire more.