Voters to reconsider regional school budget

LAKEVILLE -- Lakeville voters will once again consider the Freetown-Lakeville regional school budget at a July 27 Special Town Meeting.

Voters will be asked to approve $1.3 million to fund Lakeville’s share of the Freetown-Lakeville school budget request at the meeting, to be held at 6:30 p.m. at Apponequet Regional High School, 100 Howland Road.

This meeting was called by the Freetown-Lakeville Regional School Committee after Lakeville voters approved a lower number than requested at the June 6 Town Meeting.

The regional school committee has the authority to call a second meeting if the original request is turned down.

The committee had asked Lakeville to fund $1.7 million of the school budget. Instead, the town opted to pay $350,000, leaving the schools $1.3 million short.

That lower amount, although the subject of some discussion and attempts to increase the figure, was ultimately approved by voters.

School committee members have said that the lower budget amount would result in significant numbers of layoffs that would impact class size and program offerings.

This could cause the New England Association of Schools and Colleges to look at the high school’s accreditation, school officials have said.

If the funding is approved, the town would take money from the stabilization account, often known as a "rainy day fund.'' Because the money is coming from that fund, two-thirds of meeting voters would have to approve the move.

One articleproposed by a town resident would also restore the funding by revisiting the overall town budget and taking money from a variety of accounts, including free cash, the stabilization fund, the septic loan program and the park enterprise.

Town Administrator Andrew Sukeforth said Town Counsel will review this article and provide an opinion at the July 21 warrant review. because the moves may not be legally allowed.  

If voters reject the new budget proposal, the regional school committee could accept the decision or call for a joint meeting of Lakeville and Freetown voters.

Freetown voters have already approved their portion of the school budget.