When I come across a term I don't know, and one that is used with regularity at school committee meetings, rather than assume that I'm being lied to, I ask people who know more than I do. The term language based learning disability is known to any special education teacher, school psychologist, and anyone who works in the field of helping kids who have a learning disability. When I just asked my wife, a special education teacher, she did not skip a beat when describing what it is, how it may manifest, and what common interventions are. Next, my google search got me this: https://www.landmarkoutreach.org/strategies/what-are-lblds/#:~:text=Language%2Dbased%20learning%20disability%20(LBLD,basis%20for%20most%20school%20activities.
Public education has changed. The needs of kids have changed. Assessments have changed. Interventions have changed. Federal laws have changed. Terminologies have changed. The argument of "back in my day" is, to me, a tired trope. When I suggest that you attend a school committee meeting, I mean it...please do. At most meetings, the school committee invites input from teachers and administrators, who are some of the most talented, hopeful, and hardworking people you will find. You might be surprised at what you learn!
Thanks for the time and research you devoted to this article. People need facts to understand the need for raising taxes and that's what you provided and well done. My dad was an assessor and I am quite familiar with the perils of emotions over-riding facts. Having been a teacher in a neighboring community for 34 years and spending hundreds of dollars of my own funds to support my curriculum was a realization of how tight school budgets can be. I am 100% behind supporting the best education Melrose can give our children. One aspect of our property values is based on what young families feel the city is willing to invest in their children's education. That was the #1 reason we moved here 50 years ago.
Thank you so much for distilling this information down in straightforward facts and for showing the math on the average impact. In the comparison to Wakefield, I wonder basic things that would help me make it apples:apples (or not). Specifically, do students walk to school or does Wakefield bus? How do their athletics programs compare? I was surprised to learn they have less students but am not surprised that they have a larger budget. This is based purely on the ignorant assumption that they have proportionally more commercial tax revenues since they appear to have more businesses compared to Melrose.
As a side note. Melrose has about 4000 students in its public schools. Of that number, 800 are in language-based learning disability classes or programs. That 800 number is--what is the word? Hard to believe? Also, sneaking this prop 2 1/2 override onto the ballot on June 18th is despicable.
If the schools want more money from the residents, after holding out the cup only three years ago, politicians and their supporters should have the gumption to put the case before the voters on a normal voting day. This June "trick" doesn't speak well of anyone involved.
I'm not sure I understand your comment, so please correct me if I'm wrong. I think what you are asking is why does Melrose have so many students in special education? Our percentage is 17.3% of our students are in special ed, which is lower than the state average. It has increased since COVID because the pandemic has had significant impacts on some students' learning. It is not hard to believe if you have been following school committee meetings, which I strongly suggest you do if you want to hear what has been going on in the schools.
Saying the number in Melrose is lower or higher than the state average, or that it's the new norrmal, means nothing. The percentage itself is what's interesting. My career is in higher ed (retired college professor). I well know what has been going on in the schools.
It seems that the closing of the time window is the justification for holding an election in June. Correct me if I'm wrong, but a Prop 2 1/2 override is forever. I'm not going to go for a permanent solution to a temporary problem. Also, there are cuts and there are cuts. This isn't the forum for anyone to provide his views on education. That said, the curriculum at MHS could be pruned without harming students.
The June time window is in the hope that the teachers who are laid off on June 1 will be able to be rehired on July 1, and be able to here for the next school year. If the election were held in November, the school year would start with all of the cuts that have been outlined in the budget that was just approved. You are correct in that the new tax levy, with the override amount, is then used as the tax levy for the next year. This new levy amount will then increase by 2.5% in subsequent years, as it always does each year with taxes. The levy does not go down. This does not mean your taxes don't go down or that they always increase by the same amount each year (this is where new growth comes in, or additional commercial properties, but they are not huge additions). The override only increases the amount above the 2.5% for that one year, so the increase is not forever. Overrides are typically used for recurring costs, like for paying salaries for positions that will then be added to the city (whether in the school or public safety), not for one-time amounts. The levy is increased to account for these additional, recurring costs.
If it's for one year, I happily stand corrected. OTOH, taxes never go down. It is almost a law of nature (our property taxes have doubled). Sadly, Melrose will never have commercial development big enough to offset the property tax load. The city is too small, there are no big enough empty lots; worse, there's no reason to put a plant here. Melrose isn't Cambridge or Billerica or Burlington. Another dozen pizzerias won't reduce the tab either. And if by new growth you mean those dreadful new apartment buildings (5? 6? at last count)--well, that's a topic for another day.
Back when I was in school, which was when dinosaurs roamed the earth, such a number would more likely have been 2 out of 4000. Even when you factor in changes like mainstreaming, better diagnostic techniques, etc., that number, while it may be regionally or nationally "normative," strikes me as high. If I call up the term 'Language-based learning disability,' I see nothing. It's pure obfuscation. And when I see obfuscation, I head for the door.
When I come across a term I don't know, and one that is used with regularity at school committee meetings, rather than assume that I'm being lied to, I ask people who know more than I do. The term language based learning disability is known to any special education teacher, school psychologist, and anyone who works in the field of helping kids who have a learning disability. When I just asked my wife, a special education teacher, she did not skip a beat when describing what it is, how it may manifest, and what common interventions are. Next, my google search got me this: https://www.landmarkoutreach.org/strategies/what-are-lblds/#:~:text=Language%2Dbased%20learning%20disability%20(LBLD,basis%20for%20most%20school%20activities.
Public education has changed. The needs of kids have changed. Assessments have changed. Interventions have changed. Federal laws have changed. Terminologies have changed. The argument of "back in my day" is, to me, a tired trope. When I suggest that you attend a school committee meeting, I mean it...please do. At most meetings, the school committee invites input from teachers and administrators, who are some of the most talented, hopeful, and hardworking people you will find. You might be surprised at what you learn!
Thanks for the time and research you devoted to this article. People need facts to understand the need for raising taxes and that's what you provided and well done. My dad was an assessor and I am quite familiar with the perils of emotions over-riding facts. Having been a teacher in a neighboring community for 34 years and spending hundreds of dollars of my own funds to support my curriculum was a realization of how tight school budgets can be. I am 100% behind supporting the best education Melrose can give our children. One aspect of our property values is based on what young families feel the city is willing to invest in their children's education. That was the #1 reason we moved here 50 years ago.
Thank you so much for distilling this information down in straightforward facts and for showing the math on the average impact. In the comparison to Wakefield, I wonder basic things that would help me make it apples:apples (or not). Specifically, do students walk to school or does Wakefield bus? How do their athletics programs compare? I was surprised to learn they have less students but am not surprised that they have a larger budget. This is based purely on the ignorant assumption that they have proportionally more commercial tax revenues since they appear to have more businesses compared to Melrose.
As a side note. Melrose has about 4000 students in its public schools. Of that number, 800 are in language-based learning disability classes or programs. That 800 number is--what is the word? Hard to believe? Also, sneaking this prop 2 1/2 override onto the ballot on June 18th is despicable.
If the schools want more money from the residents, after holding out the cup only three years ago, politicians and their supporters should have the gumption to put the case before the voters on a normal voting day. This June "trick" doesn't speak well of anyone involved.
I'm not sure I understand your comment, so please correct me if I'm wrong. I think what you are asking is why does Melrose have so many students in special education? Our percentage is 17.3% of our students are in special ed, which is lower than the state average. It has increased since COVID because the pandemic has had significant impacts on some students' learning. It is not hard to believe if you have been following school committee meetings, which I strongly suggest you do if you want to hear what has been going on in the schools.
Saying the number in Melrose is lower or higher than the state average, or that it's the new norrmal, means nothing. The percentage itself is what's interesting. My career is in higher ed (retired college professor). I well know what has been going on in the schools.
The alternative to what you call the June "trick" is to impose major cuts to the schools (and city) which would take effect on July 1.
As a voter, I would rather have the opportunity to vote on whether or not I want to see all of those cuts happen, rather than just have them happen.
It seems that the closing of the time window is the justification for holding an election in June. Correct me if I'm wrong, but a Prop 2 1/2 override is forever. I'm not going to go for a permanent solution to a temporary problem. Also, there are cuts and there are cuts. This isn't the forum for anyone to provide his views on education. That said, the curriculum at MHS could be pruned without harming students.
The June time window is in the hope that the teachers who are laid off on June 1 will be able to be rehired on July 1, and be able to here for the next school year. If the election were held in November, the school year would start with all of the cuts that have been outlined in the budget that was just approved. You are correct in that the new tax levy, with the override amount, is then used as the tax levy for the next year. This new levy amount will then increase by 2.5% in subsequent years, as it always does each year with taxes. The levy does not go down. This does not mean your taxes don't go down or that they always increase by the same amount each year (this is where new growth comes in, or additional commercial properties, but they are not huge additions). The override only increases the amount above the 2.5% for that one year, so the increase is not forever. Overrides are typically used for recurring costs, like for paying salaries for positions that will then be added to the city (whether in the school or public safety), not for one-time amounts. The levy is increased to account for these additional, recurring costs.
If it's for one year, I happily stand corrected. OTOH, taxes never go down. It is almost a law of nature (our property taxes have doubled). Sadly, Melrose will never have commercial development big enough to offset the property tax load. The city is too small, there are no big enough empty lots; worse, there's no reason to put a plant here. Melrose isn't Cambridge or Billerica or Burlington. Another dozen pizzerias won't reduce the tab either. And if by new growth you mean those dreadful new apartment buildings (5? 6? at last count)--well, that's a topic for another day.
What makes 800/4000 so hard to believe?
Back when I was in school, which was when dinosaurs roamed the earth, such a number would more likely have been 2 out of 4000. Even when you factor in changes like mainstreaming, better diagnostic techniques, etc., that number, while it may be regionally or nationally "normative," strikes me as high. If I call up the term 'Language-based learning disability,' I see nothing. It's pure obfuscation. And when I see obfuscation, I head for the door.
Thank you, George. I agree. We are being railroaded. Same old same old.
Do these property tax numbers include the police + fire stations "mortgage"?
My next article will discuss the impact of the debt exclusion on our tax rate.
Thank you so much, Sandy - I love getting these detailed numbers and comparisons