March 29, 2024

Cold War in Rehoboth

Selectmen at War with School Committee

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Tensions between the Board of Selectmen and the Dighton-Rehoboth Regional School Committee have been exacerbated after last week’s vote for a Proposition 2 and a half override.

The school committee voted last Thursday to proceed with scheduling the district wide meeting – otherwise known as a “tent” meeting concurrently with the pending override vote. The school department is seeking an additional $558, 797 on top of the $18.9 million already appropriated at the May 28 town meeting. That amount is slightly over $1 million more than last year and $3.4 million more than the town is required to pay under the state minimum net school spending mandate.

“The district wide meeting is the next step after two failed attempts at a town meeting,” said school committee chairwoman Katherine Cooper. “Passing a vote contingent on an override is considered a “no” vote.”

If the district-wide meeting fails to approve a school budget, the state’s department of education would assume operational control on December 1.

Selectmen chairman Gerry Schwall believes the whole funding dispute could have been avoided. Schwall had met with School Superintendent Anthony Azar prior to the May town meeting.

“Had the school committee listened to their superintendent, we may have been able to reach a compromise,” Schwall explained. “The school committee turned him down flatly.”

Schwall hopes the school committee will approach the selectmen with a funding solution.

“We are always open to discussion,” Schwall said.”I can tell you categorically that I have never been reached out to by the chairperson, the vice chairperson of the school committee. (Katherine Cooper) has not reached out to us.”

“Something needs to be done,” Schwall continued. “This is not healthy for any of us. It’s not healthy for the students, it’s not healthy for anyone in the town. Everyone should truly work together.”

Finance committee chairman Michael Deignan was more blunt in his assessment of the school committee.

“It is disturbing to view the callous disregard Rehoboth's elected school committee officials have for the will of the people,” said Deignan. “The actions of the regional school committee and their administrative staff exhibit a shocking level of arrogance, contempt, and, dare I say, vindictive behavior towards the town and those residents they purport to represent.”

The town approved an override of Proposition 2 and a half in 2018 to provide an additional $2.1 million for the school budget.

If the override is approved, voters will pay an additional $120 per year in taxes.

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  • Michael_P_Deignan

    For the record, Mr. Siegel asked me via email to view the last 15 minutes of the July 18th School Committee meeting and asked my opinion/reaction thereto. My response to him, in its entirety is quoted below. Hopefully this provides the proper context for those reading this article.

    "It is disturbing to view the callous disregard Rehoboth's elected school committee officials have for the will of the people.

    The July 16th special town meeting was a historic event never before witnessed in the annuals of Rehoboth's history. A total of 1,031 residents attended the meeting and voted overwhelmingly -- 82% in favor -- to direct a path of action for their elected officials to follow. That path was to hold a Proposition 2 1/2 override election which, if passed, would ensure the Dighton Rehoboth Regional School System would be fully-funded at this year's assessment with a recurring source of revenue that will be present for years in the future.

    The actions of the regional school committee and their administrative staff exhibit a shocking level of arrogance, contempt, and, dare I say, vindictive behavior towards the town and those residents they purport to represent.

    Hopefully Rehoboth's residents will remember the actions of these officials when it comes time to cast a ballot in the April town election and hold them accountable."

    Michael P. Deignan

    Tuesday, July 23, 2019 Report this

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