Tri-County superintendents, school committee members and representatives from the legislative delegations for the Tri-County communities attended a Legislative Breakfast on March 3 at Newton City Hall. (Courtesy Photo) 
Medfield Public Schools Superintendent Jeffrey Marsden speaks at the Tri-County Superintendents Legislative Breakfast event on March 3 at Newton City Hall. (Courtesy Photo) 
Medway Public Schools Superintendent Armand Pires speaks at the Tri-County Superintendents Legislative Breakfast event on March 3 at Newton City Hall. (Courtesy Photo) 
District leaders thanked legislators during the event for their support during the pandemic, and shared concerns and challenges districts are facing for the upcoming budget year. (Courtesy Photo)
Medway Public Schools Superintendent Armand Pires and Medfield Public Schools Superintendent Jeffrey Marsden, as co-presidents of the Tri-County Superintendents Roundtable, are pleased to share their participation in a recent Legislative Breakfast.
The event was held on March 3 in Newton City Hall. In addition to the approximately 50 superintendents who attended, school committee members and representatives from the legislative delegations for the Tri-County communities were present. Superintendents shared their gratitude for legislators’ continuous support, as well as concerns and challenges districts face in the coming budget year.
The event began with a welcome message from the Mayor of Newton, Ruthanne Fuller. The superintendents then reflected on accomplishments in the districts and thanked legislators for funding support that created the necessary flexibility and gave districts resources to address student needs post-pandemic.
District leaders shared concerns about the state’s Operational Services Division (OSD) proposed 14% increase for private special education tuition. The increase, which is greater than the average yearly increase of approximately 2%, would dramatically impact many districts’ budgets for the coming year.
Superintendents also requested that legislators support pending legislation in three areas: lowering the Circuit Breaker cost threshold, increasing the Circuit Breaker reimbursement rate from 75% to 90%, and establishing a statewide Special Education Commission.
“We greatly value the partnerships we have with private special education schools, which offer important services and accommodate students with needs beyond what our district may be able to provide. We recognize the need they fulfill, and also know that the proposed funding increase would be a challenge for our budget process,” Superintendent Marsden said. “We appreciate our legislators’ consideration of our requests, and look forward to continuing to work together to support our students.”
Since the event, the bills have gained additional co-sponsors representing the Tri-County communities.
“We are incredibly grateful to our legislators for recognizing schools’ needs during the pandemic and providing the additional funding and support that helped us to address student needs districtwide,” Superintendent Pires said. “We thank the legislative delegates who attended the event and were receptive to the concerns and challenges we shared. We appreciate our legislators’ support as we continue working to address the pandemic’s impacts on learning.”
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