On Tuesday, April 1, I attended a School Committee meeting to hear a presentation about the school budget for next year. I have two children in Andover Public Schools and the school budget is a great concern of mine. After the budget was presented, there was an open question-and-answer period. Many speakers urged the committee to utilize the Phillips Academy Gift Fund and the Stabilization Fund to help balance the school budget. A member of the Finance Committee indicated that there were ongoing reviews of all budgets to find additional area where budgets could be reduced. Last year at Town Meeting, we had to cut an additional $1 million off the school budget. It seems that every year more ways are found to cut more from the schools.
Having lived through many years of debilitating budget cuts with two children who need a good education, I believe the budget cutting has to stop. While many people try comparing our school system to a business, I believe it's more fitting to compare our schools to managing a home and family. When times are difficult and I struggle to pay the bills, I try to eliminate unnecessary expenses like going out to dinner on Saturday night. If times were more difficult, then I would also try to be more frugal with my grocery shopping and avoid buying the extra pair of sneakers.
You can keep this up for a while, but soon you realize, I have made all the sacrifices that I can make. I still have to live, but now, I still can't make my mortgage payment. Should I foreclose on my house? Or should I take money out of my saving account until I can figure a sustainable long-term financial plan?
I ask the Finance Committee and the Board of Selectmen to consider the same question when it comes to solving the town's financial problems.
