LIL'LORI LEARNS ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL BUT WE'RE JUST NOT SURE ABOUT THE ENDING

Lori D'Amico‎Stanley Wotring

7 hrs · Edited · 

I have been communicating with Jeff Wulfson, Deputy Commissioner of the DESE via email over the past week or so. The following are his responses to my questions and concerns (I have copied and pasted them so they appear as if it is a single response, but it is not):

Lori –

Your recent email to our Program Quality Assurance unit was referred to me.

We do indeed monitor compliance with the Commonwealth’s net school spending requirements. Districts are required to submit annual financial reports to document their planned and actual spending. The next reports will be submitted this fall, documenting actual spending for FY14 and planned spending for FY15. These reports will be posted on our website, and we will review them to determine if districts are in compliance.

We are very much aware of the issues in Lynn. Legislation was recently enacted that will allow Lynn and other communities to begin reporting their expenditures on retired teachers’ health insurance for net school spending purposes. This will have a direct impact on our compliance determination.

I agree with you that a district must spend 100% of its requirement to be in full compliance. When a district reports that its spending falls short of 100%, we take appropriate action as specified in G.L. c.70, s.11. The action taken depends on the amount of the shortfall.

We have not yet established the process and timeline for acting on waiver requests.

Jeff Wulfson

Deputy Commissioner Jeff Wulfson
Mass. Dept. of Elementary and Secondary Education
75 Pleasant St, Malden MA 02148
Tel. 781-338-6500 Fax 781-338-3392
jwulfson@doe.mass.edu

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  Stanley Wotring So we are not out of the woods yet! We are being held hostage subject to the winds of political favor.

  7 hrs · Edited · Like
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  Stanley Wotring One has to wonder how the Mayor's recent media blitz will affect the willingness to give LYNN a waiver since the GOVERNOR has expressed a willingness to accept the UNACOMPANIED MINORS.

  7 hrs · Like
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  Lori D'Amico I do not think the recent media attention regarding the influx of unaccompanied minors and immigrant students will even be a factor in the decision making. And let's not forget that the Governor's willingness came because the shelter and support for these individuals are being paid for with federal funds, not state.

  6 hrs · Edited · Like
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  Stanley Wotring Thank you LORI for making my point. Lynn's chance of getting FEDERAL help is much better if they didn't take such a HOSTILE stance. The kids are coming anyway so you have to decide if you want to handle the PROBLEM or be part of the problem.

  6 hrs · Like