Oakmont Booster Club

Ashburnham/Westminster School District 2001 - 2002 Concerns

Due to the failure of the budget override for our district, the Oakmont Booster Club would like to make all parents aware of the following:

Important Issues:

  1. 88% of the parents of school age children are registered -- of whom only 45% voted in 2001.
  2. The Worcester Telegram listed Ashburnham and Westminster among the TOP FIVE communities to increase in real estate values in Central Mass.
  3. Our homes have gained value in large part due to our school system. Ashburnham and Westminster have become very desirable for young families, making existing homes worth more.
  4. Proposition 2 ½ limits our towns' spending -- an override is required by vote of the town for spending in excess of  a 2 ½ % increase.
  5. The average cost per high school pupil state-wide (FY 2000) is $6,807. Oakmont High School costs $6,156 per student -- 10%  below the state’s average.
  6. The increase in Special Ed costs for 2001 was $600,000 (state & federal government mandated).
  7. Oakmont High School was featured on CBS national news (6:30 pm, September 8) as having the highest user fees in the nation.

What we lost 2001-2002:

  1. Academically -- 17 teachers / support positions were cut.
  2. Extracurricular activities at Oakmont -- Academic Decathlon, Forum Literary Magazine, Odyssey of The Mind, Oakmont Environmental Action Club, Photo-Media Club, Spanish Club were all cut.
  3. Funding for The Oakmont Marching Band -- student-musicians now each pay $538. Futher, the Oakmont Jazz Band costs student-musicians $124 each and the Select Choir cost is $95 per student-singer.
  4. Funding for all sports at Oakmont & Overlook -- current per student-athlete costs for Fall sports: football -- $1030; field hockey -- $421; golf -- $639; soccer -- $412 and cross country -- $372.
  5. The entire district is affected by larger classrooms. Sports represented approximately 25% of budget cuts. Costs will now also be incurred by all town sports teams using gyms, fields etc.

Future Losses if adequate funding is not restored:

  1. Good teachers & coaches
  2. Accreditation
  3. Reputation -- both academic & athletic
  4. Loss in community property values -- due to deteriorating school system

What we need to do:

  1. Support our children’s education
  2. Register to vote
  3. Attend town meetings
  4. Vote
  5. Get Involved -- School Committee / PTO / School Council / Booster Club

Please join us in supporting our school system. Continued budget shortfalls to adequately fund full academic and sports programs will damage our school district for years to come.

Become an informed voter!

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