Dighton-Rehoboth on the Precipice

Rehoboth Town Meetings
Over the past several months, voters in Rehoboth turned out in record numbers to various town meetings to vote on the Dighton-Rehoboth Regional School District budget. On May 28th, a record 699 voters filled the High School auditorium to support the recommended appropriation made by the Rehoboth Finance Committee. Many were confused to learn that their vote was disregarded and that we were headed to another vote on the same thing all over again. This lead to another historical turnout at the Special Town Meeting on July 16th where 1,031 voters filled the auditorium and overflowed into the gymnasium, once again, to support the recommended appropriation by a count of 838 for, 187 against.

That must be the end of it right? 82% voted to approve the recommended appropriation of $18,970,859 with the remaining $558,797 that the district is requesting contingent upon the passage of Proposition 2 ½ override. 1,031 voters at town meeting is a jaw dropping turnout to say the least. But it is still just a fraction of the registered voters in town. A ballot vote gives a voice to all voters in Rehoboth and negates the “stack the meeting” tactic so that Rehoboth will act according to the true will of the people. Surely this would resolve the situation and the School Committee would accept the results. Right? Wrong!

The “Tent” Meeting
According to state law, a contingent vote is still a ‘NO’ vote for the school budget. So the School Committee voted 7-3 at the 7/18 meeting to push forward with a district wide meeting where Dighton voters have a say in how much Rehoboth has to pay. Suffice it to say, the School Committee -- in particular the two members from Rehoboth that voted in favor of the district wide meeting -- do not concern themselves with the desires of the citizens, as is part of their responsibilities as elected School Committee members.

Many Rehoboth residents are once again confused, especially if they were among the 1,031 registered voters that came to the July Special Town Meeting. Many of those in attendance had never participated in town meeting before. I certainly hope that the disregard for that vote that so many people sat in a sweltering hot high school for doesn’t discourage those voters from continued involvement in the workings of our town. I humbly thank everyone that came out and I also encourage you all to not give up. We will have yet again, another important meeting to show up at a date and location that has yet to be determined. Be vigilant for that announcement and be ready to show up again to support Rehoboth!

Many may wonder “What are the potential outcomes of the district wide meeting?” The district wide meeting is run much like a town meeting. There is a moderator and a warrant. The warrant article will be presented to approve or reject the total district budget. There will be discussion and debate. It is possible that there are motions and amendments and other procedural items that tend to be time consuming and confusing. The important part is whether or not the school budget is approved or rejected by a majority vote of those present by a counted vote.

If the budget is rejected, either by a no vote or by an approval of an amount other than what the school committee put forward in the warrant, according to state law, the school committee can consider the result of the meeting and choose to ratify the budget approved at the meeting, or once again, reconsider, amend and resubmit their budget and reconvene… yet… another… district wide meeting. This is allowable by state law (MGL Chapter 71 Sec 16B paragraph 7 and 603 CMR 41.05(3)(f)). This can continue, at the will of the school committee, until December 1st, at which point the Department of Education Commissioner will take fiscal control over the district (603 CMR 41.07).

If the budget is approved, the towns must pay the assessments rendered by the school committee. That means Rehoboth will hold the ballot vote for an override to raise the additional funds to pay the assessment as a permanent tax increase to the annual levy. If the override fails, another Special Town Meeting will be called to cut the additional funds from the town budget.

The Sideshow
If you follow local social media channels, attend/watch School Committee meetings and/or have children in the district that participate in after school activities and sports, you are well aware of the situation we are in. If you are part of the latter group, you are upset, and rightfully so. Many have directed their anger at the Rehoboth Board of Selectmen for cutting sports and activities. This is misdirected anger. I would suggest a review of the tape of the June 4th School Committee meeting (it can be found on RehobothTV.org On Demand) where it was the members of the School Committee that decided to rescind 24 pink slips that were handed out to teachers and instead cut sports and extracurriculars as well as some central office personnel.

Listen closely. The reasoning behind this move was to get people to show up and vote for the school budget. Not because it was in the best interests of the students. Not because the Rehoboth Board of Selectmen told them to (they have no such authority). It was to use the students as pawns for political leverage. This was a gamble. Once they walked through this door, there was no going back. They have a contractual obligation to deliver pink slips to teachers on June 1st and June 15th in the event a budget is not approved. This happens nearly every year. It is an unfortunate reality of being a public school teacher and I do not in any way intend to diminish the emotional anguish this takes on the good people that educate our kids. As it turns out, the gamble failed and now they have painted themselves into a corner. If you’re looking to place blame for the sports fiasco, look no further than the school committee.

The decision to keep teacher positions over sports and extracurriculars, from a business standpoint, makes zero sense. Enrollment has been decreasing in the district, especially at the high school. Lower enrollment means fewer teachers are necessary. With sports and extracurriculars hanging in the balance, even more students may opt to attend other area school systems that provide these activities which will lead to even lower enrollment, and thus less demand for teachers. Through all of this, the school committee and administration have proven their short sightedness when it comes to the fiscal operation of the district. The pillars of the school administration are said to be Student Achievement and the Financial Stability of the Member Towns. With all the money Dighton and Rehoboth are being asked to spend each year, it looks like we are getting neither.

Aaron Morse

References
https://malegislature.gov/laws/generallaws/parti/titlexii/chapter71/section16b
http://www.doe.mass.edu/lawsregs/603cmr41.html?section=05
http://www.doe.mass.edu/lawsregs/603cmr41.html?section=07