Charter school's offer denied

Sounds like Superitendent Yeoman is more of a liability than an asset for the Chelmsford Public School system. Maybe the school committee should fire him and keep a few teachers.$500,000 is a lot more than $80,000, if you look at Yeoman's argument why he wouldn't even engege in conversation with the Charter school. He doesn't make fiscal sense. He depicts the charter school to be the equivalent of a looting band of thieves, looking to steal students and money away from Chelmsford.
Well Mr. Yeoman, what's you class size now??

This is why school and town administrations are hurting financially. They do not know how to run a business.

"When a charter school moves into your town, they suck away some of your students and the money that goes with them," Yeoman said. "So the public schools are not so interested in having charter schools in the neighborhood."

If the district receives about $8,000 per student, Yeoman said losing 10 to a charter school would also cost the district $80,000. That's $80,000 less to pay for teachers' salaries, he said.

Note the last line there... Yeoman said:
That's $80,000 less to pay for teachers' salaries, he said.

Should he have said...

That's $80,000 less to educate our children.

The first thought is about the teachers salaries !

Charter schools are the way to go !

It is unlikely that the number of Chelmsford students attending IACS will vary significantly with its move to Tyngsboro, especially when one considers the fantastic facility and grounds there. So, if Yeoman is losing tuition, he has also passed up on a rather significant revenue opportunity, all-the-while telling the voters there was nowhere to cut and no revenue to be had.
And did you notice that once again he "forget" to mention the reimbursement. To quote a school business manager, "I've never once heard a politician mention the reimbursements."

Kids go to Charter schools because they aren't getting what they need from the publics. Get it? Don't blame the Charters...It seems like a fair trade to get some on-going revenue. What's the matter with this guy?

charter schools relieve to burdon of the small percentage of the kids that arnt getting the enough out of the public program.maybe the super should take a buisness course.and start thinking about the childs ed.

Yeoman=Donkey

I wonder why charter schools "suck your students away?" Do they have something better to offer? Why would you be turning revenue away? Do you think you'll need the entire Westlands school for recreational programs when you jack the prices up as high as you've threatened? Why are the charter schools growing so fast? They seem like a well kept secret. You seem very bitter Mr. Yeoman, but you're wallet isn't hurting. Cha ching. Tisk tisk

I wonder what would have happened had they proactively closed Westlands, saving that $1.1 million that Dr. Yeoman identified there, then leased it to Innovation Academy for another $500K. They could have shown some good faith effort to cut costs and bring in revenue and then reduce their override request to $1M. My guess is that the override would have passed, and Sam Chase would still be Selectman. This all or nothing attitude has got to stop!

extremely disappointing that the schools hid this from the voters otherwise this would have been a no brainer.....the super cost chelmsford a few cops and fireman all for rolling the dice to save westland....not good

The previous Chelmsford school administrator with the blessing of the school committee got us into Charter schools because of his ego - they refused to listen to any input from the parents - well now yeoman is going to do the same thing - great just great

This crap has to stop. As someone else said here the schools are now bringing down public safety because they are so arrogant. Shame on Chelmsford for letting the schools bamboozle them out of fire and police personnel. It seems pretty evident that these people are more interested in protecting their nests than doing what's right for the community. After reading this I'm glad the override failed, but I'm annoyed that public safety had to be compromised.

Lets see if all the cuts really happen. some money will be found