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Scare
Tactics for Override must be Rejected
North
Andover does not have a revenue problem. It has a
spending problem. It has a priority problem. Worst of
all, there is an honesty problem.
In short, a debate about overrides to build new schools
and reduce class size is like rearranging chairs on the
deck of the Titanic minutes after being hit.
Of course, teachers and schools are important; nobody is
saying any differently. What's more important is the
fiscal well being of the town to be able to provide all
services (including schools) in the future. After all, if
the fiscal situation worsens locally, people will move
out of North Andover shrinking the tax base and putting
an additional burden on those who stay. For the sake of
fiscal sanity and long term planning for the town, the
override question must be defeated.
The fact is when Superintendent of Schools Dr. Allen was
asked what he would do with an additional 2 million
dollars last year he said, "I don't know. Maybe I
will buy library books" he didn't say, "I will
hire more teachers to reduce class size."
Yet, suddenly, a year later he says we are in a crisis
that demands an additional 4 million dollars from local
taxpayers? This just doesn't wash. Dr. Allen now says
that if the override is not passed teachers will have to
be laid off. Really? If that turns out to be the case,
it's because Dr. Allan and the School Committee would
rather lay off teachers than decrease the salaries of the
administrators or cut in other places.
For the record, the Superintendent just signed a contract
with the teachers giving them a substantial raise. He did
this before the town budget was approved, thus increasing
the demand for money for schools without knowing if those
financial resources would be available. Now he crying
poverty and begging for more money and I just don't buy
it. Neither should you.
There is no direct correlation between class size and the
quality of education children receive. It is a fairy tail
dreamed up by teachers unions to increase their
membership. It is a fantasy promoted by administrators
who know that their pay will increase when their
responsibilities and their budgets increase.
Well, don't be fooled! There are many schools throughout
the state with higher test scores and larger class sizes
than North Andover. There are others with smaller class
sizes that do far worse. These scare tactics about laying
off teachers and the so-called need to decrease class
size is no excuse to raise the property taxes of local
citizens. The fact is, there is no "need" to
lay off teachers if the override fails there is only a
need to decrease spending. Exactly what the School
Committee will cut if the override fails is up to them.
And since they work for you, that decision is in your
hands.
Think about this; if the override is passed this year, do
you really think the school department will be happy with
what they got and stop asking for more overrides next
year? If you do I have a bridge to sell you. Schools
always ask for more money and they always will. It's up
to the town to put the brakes on and determine what is
really a necessity and what is a luxury. Teacher s are
necessary, high priced administrators are a luxury.
In 2001, the tax bill for single family homes in North
Andover grew 10%. With no override at all, next year the
town will see an increase in property taxes by another
8.5%. And if the override passes, the increase will be
19.1%.
That's a pretty hefty burden to put on our seniors. It's
a hefty burden for everyone. The solution to North
Andover's fiscal problems is not to continue increasing
the burden on local property taxes. The solution is to
spend more responsibly. But I don't hear the override
proponents doing that. I don't hear people in town
talking about long term solutions like increased state
contributions for education. All I hear is quick fix
solutions to short term problems with no thought about
what will happen to the town tomorrow.
Well, tomorrow always comes. Think about that before you
decide to support another override. And while you are
thinking about that, think about the dozens of possible
overrides you will be asked to approve next year and
years following. Then ask yourself, if it doesn't stop
here, where will it stop?