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Health & Fitness

North Andover Schools Celebrate Full Circuit Breaker Funding

Enacted as part of the FY’14 State Budget passed by the Legislature in July was a full funding to the Commonwealth’s Special Education Circuit Breaker for educating high-needs special education students.

The funding comes at a critical time for Massachusetts, which saw its monies for special education reduced by about 40 percent in FY’10. A failure to fully fund the Circuit Breaker would have resulted in reduced services for children with learning disabilities; tension between general and special education, as a lack of circuit breaker funds impacts all aspects of a school district’s budget; and a setback for Massachusetts as it tries to close the achievement gap and increase the graduation rate.

“We have time and time again documented the importance of adequately funding the Circuit Breaker for those who require special education,” said State Representative Diana DiZoglio (D-Methuen). "Parents, teachers and local officials throughout my district have met with me to discuss the impact this funding has both on families with children with disabilities, and on the school district as a whole. I want to thank House Ways and Means Chairman Brian S. Dempsey (D-Haverhill) for his advocacy in making this a top priority in the FY’14 Budget."

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Stanley Limpert, chair of the North Andover School Committee, anticipates that, as a result of the Circuit Breaker funding, North Andover schools will receive approximately $85,000 more than anticipated in their prior budgeting.

“The North Andover School Committee is gratified that our concerns have been addressed by the Legislature and that Circuit Breaker is being fully funded at 75 percent,” said Limpert. “Every dollar helps us in our efforts to address a growing number of Special Education students, with increasing needs. An additional area where we could use relief or additional funding is out-of-district transportation. The School Committee also wishes to thank Rep. DiZoglio for her efforts to pass this and other funding legislation, and her timely and helpful communication on the legislative process.”

Find out what's happening in North Andoverwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

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