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The YES for Wellesley campaign needs your financial
support NOW!
The campaign is planning on significant communications
efforts in the next two weeks. The goal is to communicate
effectively and frequently to the residents of Wellesley on
the need and the importance of voting YES on the override.
Your contributions are greatly needed to make this
happen: Printing, postage and signs are all necessary
expenses. Please send your contribution to: YES for Wellesley,
PO Box 812395, Wellesley, MA 02482.
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Our greatest concern -
COMPLACENCY |
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For many of us, it is apparent that the town needs to fully
fund the Town Meeting approved budget and vote YES on the
override in order to preserve our excellent school system and
town services.
However, this assumption often leads to low voter
turnout: People assume the override will pass. But we know
from experience, that complacency can lose elections. Last
year, the top-tier of the override lost by only 17 votes.
Voter turnout for that election was somewhat surprising:
- total town wide turnout was 53%, the same as in the
previous override election
- only 48% of all Wellesley Public School (WPS) households
had 2 or more voters turn out
- 24% of WPS households had only 1 voter turn out
- 29% of WPS households had 0 voters turn out
For this override to pass, we need residents to vote
and make their voices heard. Do not be complacent: Exercise
your right to vote and vote on May 16th. The time to
make a difference is now.
If you (or your spouse) will be unable to make it to
the polls on May 16th between 7am - 8pm, please request
an absentee ballot NOW.
As another option, voters who wish to vote in advance
of the election because they will not be able to vote at the
polls on May 16th may vote IN PERSON at the Town
Clerk's office Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm (Monday, May
8th until 7:30 pm). In-person voters are encouraged to call
ahead so that a ballot package can be prepared for them
(781-431-1019, ext 252).
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What exactly
is at stake? |
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If Question 1 fails, Town Meeting will have to reconvene to
approve a new budget --- a budget that is lower by $3.16
million. Town Boards have submitted their "gap lists," a list
of items they would likely cut if the override does not pass
(to see the detailed gap lists, click
here).
The real impact of these cuts is substantial: There
would be significant and long-lasting effects on the Wellesley
Public Schools and a fundamental change in the quality of
education delivered at all levels:
- Nearly 50 teachers and teaching assistants will
be lost, in addition to cuts in administrative, guidance and
support staff.
- At the Elementary School level, 16 teachers will
be lost, the equivalent of closing one entire school! Spread
across the school system, this is approximately 2 teachers
per school, at a time when enrollments are rising.
- Class sizes in over 40% of elementary classrooms
will be over class size guidelines. Not only does increased
class sizes reduce instructional quality, but it
fundamentally changes the teaching methods used and delivery
of curriculum.
- Reading Intervention will be eliminated. This is
a program with proven benefit: Approximately 623 students
currently in our school system received Reading
Intervention in their elementary years. Although
repercussions might not be felt immediately if this program
were eliminated, it is likely that students with reading
issues will continue to face difficulties as they progress
through the system.
- At the Middle School and High School, a total of 18
teachers will be lost. ALL classes at the Middle
School will be over guidelines.
- Athletic fees will climb to $400 per child per
sport at the High School. For a family with two children
playing 2 sports per year, this is $1600 a year! Despite
need-based subsidy programs, there will undoubtedly be
reduced participation in athletics with such onerous fees.
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QUESTIONS? |
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If you have any questions or outstanding concerns about
this override ballot question, please ask....contact us by
email or... go
to our website.
Voting day is MAY 16th, from 7:00am - 8:00pm.
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Committee for Education in the 21st
Century
