Please consider a donation to help us cover costs

Thanks to everyone who signed onto our Open Letter to the School Board. On Tuesday, January 10th, the School Board voted to restore funding for the Barnes principal and social worker into the proposed school budget for next year.

The Coalition placed the open letter in the Burlington Free Press on the morning of the 10th, which cost us a fair amount of money. The PTO fronted the money for the ad, and is consequently now accepting donations to cover this expense. If you are interested in helping out, please mail a check made out to "Lawrence Barnes School" to Lawrence Barnes PTO, Attention Melissa Parker, PTO President, 123 North Street, Burlington, VT 05401. Thank you!

School Board Finance Committee Proposal, January 9th

Our understanding is that the School Board Finance Committee, on Monday, January 9th, recommended to the full board a new budget proposal which retains funding for a full-time principal at both Lawrence Barnes and H.O. Wheeler, and for full social worker services for both schools. We encourage folks to come to the School Board meeting on Tuesday, January 10th, at 7pm at the Ira Allen Building (150 Colchester Ave.), to encourage the board to adopt this proposal.

This proposal includes an increase in the Burlington tax rate; for us to preserve our neighborhood, community schools, it is important to pass the school budget in March. Please contact us if you are willing to get involved in efforts to make sure the school budget passes.

Coalition Delivers Full List of Signatures on Open Letter

At the school board budget hearing on January 3rd, 2005, the Coalition delivered the school board with a final list of signatories to our Open Letter to the Burlington School Board, which included numerous state legislators, the President of the Burlington City Council, religious leaders, social service and medical professionals, and academics.

The School Board will be holding a final vote on their budget proposal on Tuesday, January 10th. Please contact members of the school board and let them know you support the position expressed in the letter.