2009-2010 School Calendar
Click here to see all school dates and start times for Sept. 2009-June 2010.Save the Date!
-
Board of Selectmen
Town Hall, Room 14
1st and 3rd Mondays each month, 7 p.m.
School Committee
Middle School Library
7 p.m. on alternate Mondays
Town Meeting
Monday, Oct. 5, 2009 at 7 p.m.
NRHS Auditorium
Go to the "Meetings" tab for important details.
It is critical for citizens to stay involved and exercise their vote in the direction and decisions that affect education in North Reading.
- Note: For more details go to meetings menu
Financial Support
Last year on a budget of just
$1,300, NRUE's advocacy convinced town leaders to recommend a budget that returned more than $700,000 directly to North
Reading Public Schools, restoring valuable programs.
We need to continue our advocacy, but we cannot do so without financial support. Please help us with a minimum suggested donation of $25 made payable to: North Reading United for Education
and send to Pete Kaepplinger, 9 Fieldstone Way, North Reading, 01864
Important News
Read Gabrielle Gurley's article "Municipal
meltdown" from the
Fall 2007 issue of CommonWealth Magazine
Key Links
NR Public Schools
NR Town Web Site
Stand for Children
Rep. Brad Jones
Dept. of Education
Dept. of Revenue
Governor Deval Patrick
Notable Quote:
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
- Margaret Mead
Why isn't there enough stimulus funding to maintain education in North Reading?
Listen as the WBUR report tells how MA spent its education stimulus dollars too fast to make them last!.
Listen as the WBUR report tells how MA spent its education stimulus dollars too fast to make them last!.
Stay Informed !
Sign up for email about relevant events and initiatives. Use the form below or email us at info@nrue.org
Privacy Policy in brief is that your email will only be used by NRUE for NRUE related notifications and not be sold or distributed to any other organization.
NRUE Thanks NRMS
Student Erin T. for
Designing Our Logo
Town Meeting Correction:
Finance Committee Budget Recommendation
The Finance Committee voted two in favor, five opposed to the North Reading FY10 budget, as proposed, at Town Meeting on June 8. The Finance Committee took this position because the majority of committee members felt that passing an unbalanced budget sets a bad precedent. NRUE stated in error in its June 11 e-mail that the majority of the Finance Committee was in favor of the budget as proposed. Citizens having questions about the Finance Committee's position on the budget or other North Reading financial matters may contact Chair Abby Hurlbut.
Help NRUE Support Balance, Focus on Teachers and Curriculum, and Affordable Contracts and Benefits
At public meetings and in communications with elected leaders at the state and local levels, your involvement helps NRUE promote:
1) A fair and equitable budget that shares the responsibility for meeting the challenges of these tough financial times equally among all citizens and employees of North Reading.
2) A school budget directing funds toward maintaining basic education during the school day, including managing class size, programs, and curriculum to give all students the best education possible.
3) Affordable contracts and health-care agreements across the schools and the town to manage budgets for the long-term.
4) Ongoing evaluation of revenue sources, cost savings, and efficiencies that bring stability and balance to budgets in the near and long term.
Bail Out North Reading Students!
As North Reading plans for the 2009-2010 school year, students face the likelihood of significant cuts to education . . . again. While the recession has clearly pressed our local budget to the breaking point, our national and state leaders have completely failed in their promises to hold education harmless, save teacher jobs, and prioritize education.
Listen to our leaders say one thing while they do another.
The Massachusetts legislature has the authority to distribute stimulus funds -- known officially as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act or ARRA -- provided to states specifically for education funding. In Massachusetts, even though the state constitution says that all communities should be funded to a minimum "foundation level" for education and even though stimulus funds of $853,000 have been allocated to North Reading on paper to bring us up to this level -- the legislature has cut aid and the governor has played a shell game with the funds. Some of the funds are used to backfill a cut to FY09 Chapter 70 education aid, while others look like they will be mandated to be spread over at least two years and mandated to be used for new programs even though classroom teachers may be laid off and class sizes may grow.
This is not acceptable. These are our state and federal tax dollars. They belong back in North Reading to provide consistent, sound education.
What You Need To Do!
The Massachusetts state budget for FY10 is now in its final stages. This stage, known as Conference Committee, is where House and Senate leaders hash out a compromise. While there are many problems with the legislation, the most important is that it cuts local aid too deeply and it fails to distribute ARRA funds in a way that will truly help North Reading. Please contact members of the Conference Committee, listed below, to tell them to restore local aid and SPED circuit break funding now! Tell the Governor to release ARRA (stimulus) funds quickly and with the flexibility for local school departments to use them to meet the most critical needs! Snail mail is best to get their attention, but e-mail or a phone call works as well.
North Reading Patrolmen's Union, Selectmen Sign "No Increase" Contract
The North Reading Patrolmen's contract for fiscal year 2010 will include no cost-of-living or step increases, under terms of a one-year contract signed by the Board of Selectmen at their meeting on Monday, March 9 and previously ratified by union members. The union also agreed to abide by any changes to health insurance made by the town during that period. The Patrolmen's Union includes all North Reading uniformed police employees, with the exception of lieutenants and the police chief.
The union agreed to these terms at the request of the Selectmen and the Town Administrator, as North Reading faces a deficit next year that could result in employee layoffs. Bob Mauceri, chairman of the Board of Selectmen, has stated that no layoffs will occur in general government employee unions that agree to forego cost-of-living and step increases for next year.
NRUE applauds the Board of Selectmen, Town Administrator, Patrolmen's Union leadership, and Patrolmen's Union members for taking this important step to maintain jobs and services in North Reading. NRUE encourages other unions - both general government and school - to take similar action to maintain jobs and quality services and education during this unprecedented economic downturn.
Once contracts are settled for next year, NRUE urges the Selectmen, School Committee, and all unions to focus immediately on future contracts and enter good faith negotiations to establish terms that are affordable, giving the town and schools the ability to maintain jobs and services for the long-term.
North Reading Stand for Children Members Hit the Road for Education Advocacy
North Reading education advocates joined forces with hundreds of education supporters recently for Stand for Children's Rally on Beacon Hill. After hearing about the state of education in Massachusetts from several experts and state leaders, advocates delivered more than 7,500 postcards to Massachusetts legislators urging fair funding for education for all students in the Commonwealth.
Attendees from North Reading had the opportunity to meet with Rep. Brad Jones after the rally (see photo).
On Monday, March 30, three North Reading members of Stand will join their counterparts from Gloucester and Hamilton-Wenham to meet with State Sen. Bruce Tarr in Gloucester. At this meeting, Sen. Tarr will hear directly the key concerns for education funding BEFORE the senate develops its budget later this spring.
Finance Committee Budget Recommendation
The Finance Committee voted two in favor, five opposed to the North Reading FY10 budget, as proposed, at Town Meeting on June 8. The Finance Committee took this position because the majority of committee members felt that passing an unbalanced budget sets a bad precedent. NRUE stated in error in its June 11 e-mail that the majority of the Finance Committee was in favor of the budget as proposed. Citizens having questions about the Finance Committee's position on the budget or other North Reading financial matters may contact Chair Abby Hurlbut.
Help NRUE Support Balance, Focus on Teachers and Curriculum, and Affordable Contracts and Benefits
At public meetings and in communications with elected leaders at the state and local levels, your involvement helps NRUE promote:
1) A fair and equitable budget that shares the responsibility for meeting the challenges of these tough financial times equally among all citizens and employees of North Reading.
2) A school budget directing funds toward maintaining basic education during the school day, including managing class size, programs, and curriculum to give all students the best education possible.
3) Affordable contracts and health-care agreements across the schools and the town to manage budgets for the long-term.
4) Ongoing evaluation of revenue sources, cost savings, and efficiencies that bring stability and balance to budgets in the near and long term.
Bail Out North Reading Students!
As North Reading plans for the 2009-2010 school year, students face the likelihood of significant cuts to education . . . again. While the recession has clearly pressed our local budget to the breaking point, our national and state leaders have completely failed in their promises to hold education harmless, save teacher jobs, and prioritize education.
Listen to our leaders say one thing while they do another.
The Massachusetts legislature has the authority to distribute stimulus funds -- known officially as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act or ARRA -- provided to states specifically for education funding. In Massachusetts, even though the state constitution says that all communities should be funded to a minimum "foundation level" for education and even though stimulus funds of $853,000 have been allocated to North Reading on paper to bring us up to this level -- the legislature has cut aid and the governor has played a shell game with the funds. Some of the funds are used to backfill a cut to FY09 Chapter 70 education aid, while others look like they will be mandated to be spread over at least two years and mandated to be used for new programs even though classroom teachers may be laid off and class sizes may grow.
This is not acceptable. These are our state and federal tax dollars. They belong back in North Reading to provide consistent, sound education.
What You Need To Do!
The Massachusetts state budget for FY10 is now in its final stages. This stage, known as Conference Committee, is where House and Senate leaders hash out a compromise. While there are many problems with the legislation, the most important is that it cuts local aid too deeply and it fails to distribute ARRA funds in a way that will truly help North Reading. Please contact members of the Conference Committee, listed below, to tell them to restore local aid and SPED circuit break funding now! Tell the Governor to release ARRA (stimulus) funds quickly and with the flexibility for local school departments to use them to meet the most critical needs! Snail mail is best to get their attention, but e-mail or a phone call works as well.
| Budget Conference Committee Members (Click name to e-mail) |
Mailing address for all: State House (add Room # below), Boston, MA 02133 |
| Senate Members |
House Members |
| Steven C. Panagiotakos, Room 212, 617-722-1630
|
Charles A. Murphy, Room 243, 617-722-2990 |
| Stephen M. Brewer, Room 109-B, 617-722-1540 |
Barbara A. L'Italien, Room 238, 617-722-2380 |
| Michael R. Knapik, Room 419, 617-722-1415 |
Viriato Manuel DeMacedo, Room 124, 617-722-2100 |
The North Reading Patrolmen's contract for fiscal year 2010 will include no cost-of-living or step increases, under terms of a one-year contract signed by the Board of Selectmen at their meeting on Monday, March 9 and previously ratified by union members. The union also agreed to abide by any changes to health insurance made by the town during that period. The Patrolmen's Union includes all North Reading uniformed police employees, with the exception of lieutenants and the police chief.
The union agreed to these terms at the request of the Selectmen and the Town Administrator, as North Reading faces a deficit next year that could result in employee layoffs. Bob Mauceri, chairman of the Board of Selectmen, has stated that no layoffs will occur in general government employee unions that agree to forego cost-of-living and step increases for next year.
NRUE applauds the Board of Selectmen, Town Administrator, Patrolmen's Union leadership, and Patrolmen's Union members for taking this important step to maintain jobs and services in North Reading. NRUE encourages other unions - both general government and school - to take similar action to maintain jobs and quality services and education during this unprecedented economic downturn.
Once contracts are settled for next year, NRUE urges the Selectmen, School Committee, and all unions to focus immediately on future contracts and enter good faith negotiations to establish terms that are affordable, giving the town and schools the ability to maintain jobs and services for the long-term.
North Reading Stand for Children Members Hit the Road for Education Advocacy
North Reading education advocates joined forces with hundreds of education supporters recently for Stand for Children's Rally on Beacon Hill. After hearing about the state of education in Massachusetts from several experts and state leaders, advocates delivered more than 7,500 postcards to Massachusetts legislators urging fair funding for education for all students in the Commonwealth.
Attendees from North Reading had the opportunity to meet with Rep. Brad Jones after the rally (see photo).
On Monday, March 30, three North Reading members of Stand will join their counterparts from Gloucester and Hamilton-Wenham to meet with State Sen. Bruce Tarr in Gloucester. At this meeting, Sen. Tarr will hear directly the key concerns for education funding BEFORE the senate develops its budget later this spring.
Keep Informed on North Reading's 2010 Budget Process and Support Cost-Control Measures
While NRUE applauds the opening of school this year with a full five-day schedule and slate of programs for all North Reading students, NRUE also
realizes that we cannot assume that our mission is complete. Preliminary estimates by the Board of Selectmen and Finance Committee show an
operating deficit of between $1 million and $2 million next year, brought on by increasing costs and fee revenue curtailed by the weak economy.
NRUE will keep its members informed at critical junctures along the budget process, but we encourage all citizens to participate in the process. We
especially encourage citizens to exercise their votes at each Town Meeting and to support reasonable cost-control measures across all government. To see the Selectmen's meeting calendar, click here.
Please bookmark this website and check back regularly for important news and updates on
issues surrounding education in North Reading.
Take Action
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