NORWOOD – In a rare and “unified” display of advocacy, the Norwood School Committee and the Norwood Teachers’ Association (NTA) have co-signed a letter to State Senator Mike Rush and State Representative John Rogers, warning that the Governor’s proposed budget threatens the stability of local classrooms.
The letter, approved on March 18, marks the fifth consecutive year the two bodies have collaborated on legislative priorities. However, the tone this year carries a new sense of urgency, specifically regarding a dramatic projected drop in state aid.
The primary point of contention is Chapter 70 funding, the state’s primary program for aid to public elementary and secondary schools. According to the committee, Governor Healey’s FY27 budget proposes an increase of just $265,500 for Norwood.
To put that in perspective, the last four years included more than a million: $1,029,803 for fiscal year 2025; $3,654,816 for fiscal year 2024; and $3,414,809 for fiscal year 2023.
In the letter, school officials argue that while overall enrollment may not be increasing, the complexity of student needs is. Currently, 55.8% of Norwood Public Schools (NPS) students are classified as “High Needs,” with 40.3% meeting low-income thresholds and 15.5% identified as English learners.
“This is the first time in recent years that Norwood has been held harmless,” the letter states, arguing that the current 4.5% cap on aid prevents funding from keeping pace with actual inflation.
The advocates are also setting their sights on the Special Education Circuit Breaker, the mechanism the state uses to reimburse districts for high-cost special education cases.
The joint letter outlines three specific demands for Special Education:
- Increased Reimbursement: Raising the reimbursement rate from 75% to 90% for cases exceeding the cost threshold.
- Lowering the Threshold: Dropping the eligibility “floor” from $52,000 down to $39,000 to capture more of the district’s rising costs.
- Transportation Costs: Fully incorporating specialized transportation into the reimbursement formula.
The committee noted that special education costs across the Commonwealth have surged by 29% since 2021, a rate that far outstrips the growth of state reimbursements.
The letter also touched on “unfunded mandates” regarding student discipline and mental health. Recent changes to state law (Chapter 71, Section 37H ¾) require schools to utilize restorative justice and alternative practices rather than simple suspensions.
“It has been an unfunded mandate on schools for the last three years,” the letter reads, calling for the state to provide the actual resources needed to implement these restorative practices effectively.
School Committee Chair David Hiltz, Jr. and NTA President Joshua Bell indicated they are seeking a formal meeting with Senator Rush and Representative Rogers to discuss these items before the state budget is finalized.
Members of the community interested in joining the advocacy efforts are encouraged to review the letter and reach out to their state representatives. -RD
Letter:
Dear Senator Rush and Representative Rogers,
We are writing this letter, unified as the Norwood Public Schools’ School Committee and the Norwood Teachers’ Association, to ask for your support for our students. This is our fifth year collaborating to advocate for your legislative support around important issues. The following are all issues, as you know, that we have been advocating for and discussing with you since 2022.
First, please support a thorough review of Chapter 70 funding with the goal of rectifying the funding formula to properly account for inflation and to continue fully funding the Student Opportunity Act. It is essential that Chapter 70 increments continue to be funded appropriately. Unfortunately, in the FY27 Governor’s Budget, Governor Healey is proposing Norwood will receive an increase of only $265,500 in Chapter 70 funding. This is the first time in recent years that Norwood has been held harmless and had Chapter 70 funding only increased by the minimum amount. For perspective, last year in the Governor’s budget, Norwood’s Chapter 70 increase was $1,103,545 . For FY25, the increase was $1,029,803. For FY24, the increase was $3,654,816; and for FY23, the increase was $3,414,809.
Although our enrollment numbers aren’t increasing overall, Norwood’s students’ needs continue to increase. Continued Chapter 70 funding increases are justified and necessary to support our students. Currently, NPS has 55.8% of students who qualify as High Needs. 40.3% of our students are low income; 23.5% of our students have disabilities; 15.5% of our students are English learners; and 29.5% of our students have a first language other than English.
Key points we are asking you to consider regarding Chapter 70 funding include:
● Current 4.5% cap prevents aid from keeping pace with real inflation;
● Lost funding is never restored under current law;
● Allow aid to “true up” in low-inflation years;
● Ensure districts receive full SOA-promised funding as Chapter 70 growth slows.
Further, we are requesting a Comprehensive School Funding Commission be convened. It has been over a decade since the last full funding review, and the law requires review at least every 10 years.This review needs to go beyond the foundation budget and establish a long-term, equitable funding roadmap.
Second, we encourage you to support proposed changes to Special Education Circuit Breaker. Currently, Circuit Breaker provides 75% reimbursement for special education cases over $52,000 in cost. We are seeking that this be increased to 90% reimbursement.
Additionally, currently the threshold is roughly 4x the average per pupil cost. We are seeking to lower this threshold to 3x ($39,000). Full funding of the Circuit Breaker is critical in today’s economy. Out of District program costs are rising- Special education costs have gone up in Massachusetts by 29% since 2021- while our student needs are also becoming more complex. Reimbursement growth far lags cost growth. Therefore, we are advocating for a continued phased- in approach of special education transportation being incorporated into Circuit Breaker.
Legislation we ask you to support:
● SB430 was filed by Senator Jake Oliveira; HB691 filed by Reps Scanlon and Kusmerek; An Act relative to the long-term fiscal health and sustainability of special education in the Commonwealth;
● SB454 (attached to SB430);
● SB442 (also attached to SB430);
● HB691 (House version of SB430).
Third, regarding Special Education Reserve Funds, there have been proposed bills the last three fiscal years that would permit schools to save up to 5% of their Net School spending amount (instead of the current 2%) in a reserve fund. This will not require any additional funding sources; but rather, will allow districts to save and plan more efficiently for challenging situations. We ask you to sponsor bills this year on this topic.
Fourth, we are asking for your support around the retention of Medicaid Revenues. Currently, regional districts receive this money directly; but in Norwood (and other districts), the municipality receives it. We believe that all school districts should receive and retain Medicaid and other reimbursements for Special Education, nursing, and counseling services that are provided by the schools and covered by Medicaid/MassHealth and Medicare. In Norwood these services have been significantly increasing. It is Norwood Public Schools staff who are providing the services to the students and who are also completing the paperwork and process for the reimbursement. Retention of Medicaid revenues within the school district will directly support the Special Education programming that NPS is mandated to provide.
Lastly, we encourage you to continue to advocate for more mental health funding for students, staff, and their families. Further related to this request, it is important to note that the changes made to General Law Chapter 71 Section 37 H 3⁄4 around discipline and suspension has been an unfunded mandate on schools for the last three years. We request funding and resources to offer restorative justice practices, mental health support, and other alternative practices as dictated by the law.
If you have any questions or would like more information about how our school district is currently impacted, please let us know. We would be happy to find a time to meet and discuss.
Thank you in advance for your support and advocacy.
Sincerely,
David Hiltz, Jr, Chair of Norwood School Committee
Anne Marie Mazzola, Vice Chair of Norwood School Committee
Teresa Stewart, Member and Chair of Budget Subcommittee
Dr. Joan Giblin, Member and Chair of Policy Subcommittee
Judith Bromley, Member
Joshua Bell, NTA president
Jody Smith, NTA Vice President
