School Department Letter Causing Controversy

A letter sent to parents by the School Department is raising some eyebrows in town.

The letter, signed by Superintendent Chris Hottel, discusses the warrants to be addressed at Special Town Meeting later this month, and urges parents to attend the meeting and vote. The letter also outlines the warrant article relating to and the warrant article calling for a

One part of the letter discusses the proposed meals tax to be voted on at Special Town Meeting.

Under "Key Points" discussing that warrant article, the letter lists:

• Other communities have not seen a decrease in restaurant revenues after implementation of the meals tax increase.
• The State Department of revenue estimates North Andover would receive an additional $400,000 per year in revenue.
• Based on the current split between the Municipal Departments and the School Department this could result in an additional $272,000 available for the annual School Budget.
• The impact on the consumer is an additional 75 cents for each hundred dollars ($100) spent.
• An additional $272,000 per year could allow us to keep 5 teacher positions that might otherwise need to be cut.

Is It Legal?

State law allows a town official to disseminate literature about a Town Meeting proposal, a long as it is about an issue that impacts that official's department. And the state's campaign finance law does not prohibit distribution of material relating to Town Meeting even if the material may influence voters.

Hottel defended the letter, saying he was just summarizing the school construction projects article and the meals tax article, both of which would impact schools. He also pointed out that the letter does not instruct parents to vote in favor of the meals tax and said he was asked to write the letter by the presidents of the local PTOs.

"I'm not advocating anything," Hottel said. "My responsibility as superintendent of schools is to let the community know the impact of things that affect school funding."

There is no guarantee that any money from the meals tax would go to the schools. Traditionally, schools get 68 percent of revenues, but that is not set in stone.

Teacher Cuts?

One line that drew concern was the one about the meals tax potentially saving five teacher positions.

The Massachusetts Department of revenue projects that a meals tax of .075 percent -- as proposed on the warrant -- would bring the town an additional $413,000 a year. If the schools received 68 percent of that, then that would be around an extra $270,000. That is how the superintendent came up with the figure of five teacher salaries.

But the town is already in the middle of the fiscal year, so budget cuts are not needed for this fiscal year. And Hottel said the School Department is not planning to cut teachers, so that part of the letter should not be taken to mean that specific teacher cuts are planned.

But Hottel said next year could be different, because the School Department is currently operating with More than $450,000 of federal money that is only slated for this fiscal year.

"My job is to explain to the community what we need in our schools," Hottel said.

At Town Meeting in June, a meals tax article was on the warrant as well, but it

It was also recently announced that the town would be receiving more than $125,000 for the state in one-time local aid. there is no word yet on how that money will be allocated.

The Special Town Meeting will be held Nov. 15 at