Prop 2 1/2 Override Shot Down In Beverly: Where To Now?
I’m ashamed to say, I was on vacation when my little seaside town voted against overriding Prop 2 1/2, the measure that limits property tax (read “school funding”) increases to 2.5% per year. Not that it would have mattered if I’d been here to vote for the override, as the the much-needed funding measure failed by a wide margin. And before you start (you know who you are), I don’t have any kids, school-aged or otherwise, but I’m happy to pay for public education.
Luckily, in “Reality” wealthy private donors are going to step up and close the gap by paying private school tuition for all of those deserving kids, right? So, hold your breath and wish….
Dawn Hames, from Citizens For Fiscal Responsibility, is quoted in The Salem News as saying “As the children would say, ‘Awesome’.” What children are saying that, as they watch their schoolrooms crowd and their after school programs dwindle, might be a matter for contention. And even those that say “awesome” might not be able to spell it. But don’t let that stop you from gloating. I’d have to side with Centerville Parent Amy McCay: “I feel sad people think about their own pocket before the greater good,” she said. “They can’t see the big picture.”
No one has yet addressed the fact that multi-million dollar estates in Beverly Farms routinely assess for about 50% of their market values (the over $1 million real estate market remains relatively un-phased by the popping of the bubble), while the homes of less affluent families are assessing at near 100% right now. Now THAT makes me want to break out the torches and pitchforks. Will city assessors look to the affluent to pay their fair share? Keep holding it…you look good in blue….
Bos Evans says that Beverly Mayor William Scanlon has found a way to save the Cove school for another year, but that McKeown Elementary is done for. Those that claim that keeping property taxes at their current rate helps economic stimulus don’t seem to count the lost jobs that will follow.
It makes me sad and angry that many towns are progressive enough to see the value in paying for kids to have a positive, life-enriching school experience — but not ours. McKeown kids are going to swell the classrooms of other city schools, and that creates an environment of anonymity, institutionalizing kids rather than socializing them. One of my readers called public schools “prisons” — but that’s a self-fulfilling prophecy, and not some kind of universal law. Congratulations to all of you who are helping to make that happen.
After school programs are some of the few truly effective ways to keep kids on the straight-and-narrow, and they’re usually the first to go. So, I want to ask my readers to post comments about what’s being done to save them, and what volunteers can do to help save our community. Because we’re all at risk of losing something when we short-change the next generation.
Image links to saveBeverlyschools.org .
Warm Weather and Shore Traffic
