Tewksbury school cuts ahead, even with override

Firefighter, police, teachers layoffs, user fees, after school programs. There is a common theme here. No state or federal revenue to local cities and towns. 2 reasons- flat job growth, jobs going overseas both causing reduced tax revenue, retirees not contributing but receiving, under the table contractors and handymen not paying any taxes, and jobs going for 12 per hour. Sal Dimasi preventing casinos until his boys get their cut, and no action on raising the cigarette tax another dollar, old people not wanting to contribute to the community anymore and always crying poormouth. Oh, the Iraq war in its 5th year costing 12 BILLION EVERY MONTH. Towns, states and country in bad shape, but the wealthy get their tax cuts compliments of Bush and McCain, my friends.

How about cutting the stipends altogether? Not that it would make a difference in the current situation, but 10% is less than symbolic.... In Billerica, the stipend for school committee is $0 and the Selectman each receive $1,800 with the chair receiving $2,000. No wonder Tewksbury is such a mess.

I moved in to the next town in 1975 because of fiscal mis-management in Tewksbury. Even back then there was no recognition that schools are important. Triple sessions at the high school, losing their state accredidation. Tewksbury has never been able to get by its townies and bring substantial tax revenues in through inviting businesses. Once upon a time they actually put a mall in, but of course noone could find it so that only lasted a couple of years. Surrounding towns have been busines friendly and have overcome these problems a couple of decade back.

You can forget this override ever passing with all the fiscal mismanagement over the years. Cressman should resign or be fired. That would cut one major bit of overhead in the town.

LOOSE THE STIPENDS ... how can you ask all residents to pay more and still accept the stipends.

the SC paid the outragous salary to the super - thats insane -- have them take the pay cut!

i'm glad i do not live there

Just an FYI....two of the five School Committee members already do not take a stipend, preferring to donate it back to the schools.

The School Committee members really are for the kids especially Mr. Rauseo. It's just that their hands are tied when it comes to working with everyone else.

Once the town managers learn how to be financially responsible it will be a lot easier for residents to support these increases. Noone denies that we need a new high school... we do not however need the taj mahal...And now is not a good time to be asking people to pay more. Many residents are living check to check and cannot afford to pay for any of this. You have to take into consideration the financial status of the residents...not just the ones who are well off.

We gave them money once to buy furniture for the high school and they blew it on other items.

And by the way...where are all the laptops purchased last summer? Rumor has it they never made it into a classroom but rather they found a way to mysteriously walk out the door.

The laptops I believe were stolen. they had unused desks in the elemetary schools, that could have been used for the high school but we had to buy new, what ever did happen to that cash?