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I was there. The School Committee (SC) meeting last night. I saw genuine pain on the faces of all five members of the SC. I watched carefully as they agonized over necessary cuts to their budget and I honestly appreciated their efforts. I have criticized their actions many times in the past but last night they showed what appeared to be genuine concern for the 80,000 taxpayers that are paying the tab.

There was one area that I felt they should have cut but it seemed to be off limits for anyone except Karen Bachus. The administration. Why, I kept asking myself, wasn't ANY mention of a nominal cut there? How about all the members of the administration making six-digit incomes? Why couldn't they do their fair share and take a 5% or10% cut, if only to show good faith? The taxpayers have given the SC OVER A BILLION AND A HALF DOLLARS since 2009. The SC was supposed to use that money on educators. For years, they refused. Finally,when they agreed to pay by December 20th, (4 days before Christmas), they reneged. And now anonymous critics like CrickeeRaven, are trying to blame the teachers for the mismanagement of funds. How? They never had "funds" to mismanage? But the SC did. And it just seems to me that they could have, and should have taken a few dollars out of their pockets FIRST. At least those at the very top of the income range. That's how I feel, and I have heard from hundreds of taxpayers over the last three years, who feel the same way.

Happy Summer everyone.

Rick Corrente

The Taxpayers Mayor