For Immediate Release
May 2, 2006
Please Contact: Michael Bloom, 617-722-1650

BARRIOS ANNOUNCES NEW SENATE PLAN TO BOOST EVERETT’S SCHOOL AID BY $2million

 While testifying before the Everett School Committee on school aid, Senator Jarrett Barrios last night announced that a new State Senate budget plan would boost state aid for Everett’s schools by $2-2.2 million.  It will also level fund additional assistance for urban communities like Everett – money that can additionally be used for schools.

“Every student deserves the best education possible and this proposed increase in state education funding will go a long way in helping Everett’s schools,” said Senator Barrios.  “I’ll continue to fight for more education funding because we can’t expect cities and towns to do it alone.”

At the school committee hearing Everett School Superintendent Frederick Foresteire testified that the increase in state aid that Barrios announced would likely be used to help guarantee universal pre-school and full day kindergarten for Everett’s students.

“This additional aid is good news for Everett.  It will enable the School Committee to implement the full day Kindergarten Program and Preschool for all three and four year olds.   This will give our children a real head start to prepare them to compete with other children.  These programs will enable our children to compete in future years with the children from the well-to-do communities,” said Superintendent of Schools Frederick F. Foresteire. 

The Senate budget plan is due out in the coming weeks but Senator Barrios was able to unveil the proposed increase for Everett’s schools at the request of the school committee last night.  Local education leaders lauded Senator Barrios for working with the Senate Ways and Means Committee Chairwoman Therese Murray to increase state aid for schools.

“This rise in state funding will go straight into the classroom and will make our dozens of early learners into strong competitors in the struggle they are already scheduled to participate in.  We are grateful to Senator Barrios; it is clear that he is fulfilling the shoes of one of the greatest benefactors of primary education, Senator Thomas J. Birmingham, who created the structure of Chapter 70 funding to benefit our children,” said Mr. David Ela, Everett School Committee member. 

After the Senate budget is released it will be debated in late May and then the House and Senate will meet in a conference committee to finalize the budget before it is sent to the Governor to be signed into law.

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