Gov. Maura Healey’s administration announced Thursday that her administration’s budget will contain “historic investments in local aid,” including fully funding the Student Opportunity Act, bolstering the state’s school system with more than $5 billion in Chapter 70 aid.
That investment trickled down to local communities, with Lynn and Saugus each seeing their allotment increase significantly. In Lynn, the city is set to receive more than $269 million in funds through Chapter 70, the state’s primary program of state aid to public elementary and secondary schools. The budget also proposes more than $26 million in unrestricted general government aid for the city. The proposed allotment in Chapter 70 monies for Saugus sits at nearly $12 million, with an additional $4.3 million in unrestricted general government aid.
“The Student Opportunity Act calls for a historic investment in our schools, our students, our educators and their futures,” said Healey in a statement. “Additionally, these funds will help cities and towns support their first responders, public works, youth violence prevention programs, housing production, cybersecurity and more.”
Lynn Mayor Jared Nicholson said in a statement that he was pleased “to see continued investment established by the Student Opportunity Act,” and that the funding will assist in making sure that students enrolled in Lynn Public Schools will have a quality education.
“Funding like this is much-needed, especially in our community, and will ensure that our students receive the quality education and resources that they deserve,” Nicholson said.
Nicholson also said that his office is currently assessing how the funding will affect the budget for fiscal year 2024.
Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler, who served as superintendent of schools in Lynn for four years, said that the increase in funding for the act will allow for all students to receive a quality education, and lessen gaps in the school system.
“By increasing funding for the Student Opportunity Act, we are taking a critical step toward closing the opportunity and achievement gaps that many Massachusetts students still face,” Tutwiler said. “This is an investment in every student in the Commonwealth, so that regardless of their ZIP code or their background, each learner can access the high-quality education they deserve.”
The $11.9 million figure for Saugus represents an increase of more than $2.5 million over fiscal year 2023, and could help school officials fund district needs not accounted for in the $31.6 million budget passed by the school committee last week. Committee members said throughout the budget process, which included voting down a $32.8 million budget proposed by Superintendent Erin McMahon, that they anticipated state funds would provide additional support.
Committee member Ryan Fisher, the chair of the finance sub committee, said the committee essentially took a two-tiered approach to the budget, “with day one basic needs first, and necessary enhancements second.”
“From transportation to new classroom teachers, the goal would be to put these priorities into practice,” he said in a statement.
Fisher’s remarks echo those of Committee Chair Vincent Serino, who said during a committee meeting last week that state aid for FY24 would be “substantial,” and could be used to fund some of the requests put forward by McMahon.
Roughly one third of the FY23 Chapter 70 money received by the town — $3.1 of the $9.4 million — was placed in a student support reserve fund crafted by Town Manager Scott Crabtree and approved by Town Meeting in October. Those funds have yet to be doled out to the schools, though Serino said warrant articles have been crafted to access that money.
Across the region, Healey and Driscoll’s proposed allocations include increases for most school districts. Lynnfield is set to receive $5.9 million, up from $4.9 million; Marblehead’s allotment increased from $6.19 million to $6.27 million; Peabody’s allotment rose from $30 million to $35 million; and Swampscott is set to receive $5.1 million, up from $4.6 million. Nahant, with only one school in town, is set to receive $553,963.
