Springfield’s schools are in crisis – and you have the right to know why!

Here are the Facts:

School budget cuts have left students without the most essential supplies and resources, including paper and up-to-date textbooks.

Students cannot get the individual attention they need and deserve in overcrowded classrooms. And there are not adequate support personnel to help children with special needs.

Excellent teachers are leaving in droves for neighboring school systems, where they can earn between $8,000 and $18,000 more than they can in Springfield. During the last school year (June 30, 2004 – June 30, 2005), nearly 219 licensed, “highly qualified” teachers left and many of their positions are filled with unlicensed teachers that the federal government deems as not “highly qualified.”

Educational professionals in Springfield have not had a raise in four years, and they have even been denied increases that were guaranteed in their contracts. Is it any wonder they’re bailing out?

Prior to the arrival of the Finance Control Board, Governor Romney's budget cuts forced the elimination of more than 300 teaching positions and more than 200 paraprofessional positions. This led to fewer services for students and more work for the teachers who remain.

The crisis situation in Springfield schools has been made worse by state cuts to grants for class reduction, literacy programs, full-day kindergarten, school building assistance, school nurses, bus transportation and MCAS remediation.