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Town approves $86,625 from stabilization fund for new elementary special-education classroom
Summary
Lakeville approved a transfer of $86,625 to establish a tuition-based substantially separate elementary special-education classroom and a revolving fund, subject to conditions including a regional school district staffing commitment and an MOU between the selectmen and the local school committee.
Lakeville — Town Meeting voted overwhelmingly to transfer $86,625 from the stabilization fund to establish a tuition-based substantially separate elementary-level classroom at the elementary school named in the warrant and to create a revolving fund for the program’s administration.
The motion (Article 4) authorized the transfer of $86,625 “to establish a tuition based elementary level substantially separate classroom program for special education students at the Aswan's [sic] Elementary School,” with conditions: funds would not be expended until the regional school district funded a full-time special-education teacher for the remainder of the 2009–2010 school year and until the board of selectmen and the local school committee entered a memorandum of understanding regarding administration and operation. The revolving fund language directs tuition, fees and receipts for the program to be credited to the revolving account to be spent by the local school committee up to the $86,625.
Supporters, including Selectman Nancy Yates, said the program can keep some students in-district, might attract tuition-paying students from other communities and would generate at least some offsetting revenue. School and committee representatives said space exists despite an overall crowded building: Chair McQueeney (chair of the school committee) noted that while the school is full overall, some classroom space is available to house the program.
The finance committee recommended approval. The counters reported a recorded vote of 157 in favor and 3 opposed; the moderator declared the article passed by the required two-thirds vote.
Implementation notes: The warrant language requires the regional district to fund a full-time teacher before funds are spent and requires an MOU assigning administration, and the new revolving fund will accept tuition and fees for program operation placed under the school committee’s spending authority up to the approved amount.
