Selectmen Place Prop. 2 1/2 Overide on Ballot for Schools

With 138 days to the spring annual town election, one contest has already surfaced. The Board of Selectmen voted at their regular meeting Monday night to include a Proposition 2 1/2 override ballot question for the purpose of providing the school department with additional funding.

Dr. Robert Sullivan, Superintendent of the Middleborough public schools, spoke briefly at the meeting with members of the school committee and department, principals and parents in the audience. Sullivan spoke of the 138 days as ample time to educate the voters of Middleborough was to why the override is necessary.

Selectman McKinnon suggested that the board wait until all members were present at the next meeting prior to making a decision. (Selectwomen Brunelle and Duphily were absent) but Selectman Rullo said that he disagreed and that Dr. Sullivan has made a suggestion and he supports his department head. Chairman Patrick Rogers also suggested that since they were only voting to place the question on the ballot, that a full board was not necessary and that at a later time the full board could vote whether or not to support the initiative. The present board members unanimously approved the ballot question.

The school committee will be meeting with Dr. Sullivan in the coming weeks and will release the exact figure for the override sometime in mid-December. A tentative figure of around $2.0 million was discussed as the rough number.

The Town Manager has asked for all departments to consider a level funded budget and a budget with a 7.5% cut which for the school would amount to about $1.8 million.

A group of about 15 concerned people have started to meet informally to discuss their support for the override. Dr. Sullivan said that he is only providing facts to this or any group as he is an employee of the community and will expend no public funds during this initiative.

The Town of Middleborough annual spring election is scheduled for Saturday, April 3, 2010.