Stand Up For Our Fair Share Of State Aid!

As the legislative  session comes to a close, everyone should watch the school funding formula and whether Barrington gets its share of money from the new formula.

State Representative Joy Hearn ran for office on being a co-sponsor of that formula, which in our debate she called "THE LAW."  But recently Ms. Hearn  has run repeated articles in its defense of it being fully funded. Has she some sense that "THE LAW" is in jeopardy?

 In the articles supporting the formula, she states that Pawtucket and Woonsocket, who also are getting more money, are suing to get still more money. She doesn't mention Barrington. But people are not fooled. Even a cursory look at the numbers show that Barrington gets a larger share percentage increase than other towns. Not mentioning us really won't help. People are not that stupid.

The formula benefits us and there is no getting around it. Kate Brody's testimony was more honest. To paraphrase, she says we get more money and WE NEED IT! We get less than we should and have gotten less  for years, and we are careful with our money. Our spending is 33 out of 36 in state districts spending per student. Every dollar we get is needed.

The honest approach is best. Let us not be timid.  On this past week's TV show, A  Lively Experiment, Prof. Moakley decried that the new funding formula "Gives more money to Barrington" as if it were a crime against God and man,  exposing the ugly bigoted response that most of the state probably feels about us receiving our fair share of aid.   

At that point, Jim Hummel took great offense. I am paraphrasing again, but Jim said basically that we have been shorted on state aid for years, that we need to get our fair share! He did it in a strong defiant voice.

We have to stand up for ourselves. We have to be defiant. We are asking for less than our fair share, and being timid will get us nowhere! Or rather get us the same shaft that we have been for decades.