Wow, 2023. Seems like a weird, sci-fi movie year. We should at least have flying cars by now.
Y2K was almost a full generation ago. Babies born in 2000 after their parents partied like it’s 1999, are now finishing their graduate degrees.
The good news? The Commonwealth is now about halfway done paying off the bonds for the Big Dig project. Just 15 more years and it’s all ours!
Locally, the town is going to hit the ground running, waking up from its holiday snooze and stepping on the express train to Town Meeting and Town Elections.
Town Manager Scott Lambiase and the Finance Committee has already started meeting with department heads about their Fiscal Year 2024 budget requests. But the real discussion starts tonight when the School Committee holds a public hearing on its proposed $30.1 million budget.
The preliminary budget request represents an 8.55% increase in spending over the current $27.8 million school budget. It includes more than $1 million for contractual increases, $548,000 in increased special education costs, $249,000 to replace student laptops and other instructional materials, and $103,000 in increased transportation costs. Superintendent Peter Schafer is also recommending a new special education teacher at the middle school, a new Spanish/Portuguese teacher at the high school, and several part time English learner and adjustment counselor positions – some of which will be funded through grants. There are currently 2,139 K-12 students in Abington Public Schools, which represents growth from a few years ago, but still lags behind historic highs.
“This budget maintains reasonable class sizes for all students PreK-12” while also addressing the needs of the district’s special education students, the growing number of English learners, and also increased mental health and behavioral challenges, Schafer wrote in his presentation to the school committee.
The school budget makes up more than half the overall town budget. School officials know they likely won’t get the full 8.55% increase but rather it’s a starting point for the larger municipal budget discussion.
The public hearing is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. tonight at the Middle/High School library.
TOWN MEETING WARRANT OPEN
Town Meeting is currently scheduled for April 3, at 7 p.m. Selectmen have already opened the warrant, meaning residents can propose articles for consideration during the meeting. So now’s the time to act on those lists of grievances many of you have.
NOMINATION PAPERS FOR TOWN ELECTIONS NOW AVAILABLE
Those interested in running for town office can also start collecting signatures. Nomination papers are available at the Town Clerk’s Office. Candidates need 50 signatures from registered Abington voters to make the ballot. Up for election this year are two seats on the Board of Selectmen, two seats on the School Committee, one seat on the Planning Board, two seats on the Board of Health, three seats on the Board of Library Commissioners, one seat on the Board of Assessors, one seat on the Board of Water Commissioners, and two seats on the Sewer Commission, as well as both the Town Clerk and Town Moderator.
AEF TEAM TRIVIA NIGHT THIS SATURDAY
After a two-year, pandemic-related hiatus, the popular Abington Education Foundation Team Trivia Night fundraiser returns this Saturday. This year’s event is going to be emcee’d by NBC10 Boston morning host and Abington resident Raul Martinez, with yours truly assisting. There’s still room for any charitable business interested in sponsoring a raffle prize or trivia round. Money goes to fund supplemental educational opportunities for Abington students. The event starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE CONSIDERING BOOK APPEAL TUESDAY
The school committee Tuesday night is expected to give final consideration about whether to keep or pull a controversial book in the Middle/School Library. Back in October, a member of the community formally objected to having “This Book Is Gay” in the school library. Under school policies, Superintendent Peter Schafer formed a review panel that read the book and ultimately recommended it remain on the high school side of the library. The resident appealed that decision to the full school committee. Based on past comments by board members, a majority seem willing to support the review panel’s decision and keep the book. The book has been targeted by parents locally and nationally over its frank discussion about sexuality and relationships insisting the content crosses lines into offensive and pornographic. However, the book has received praise from many others saying it helps older LGBTQ+ teenagers navigate a challenging time in their lives with real-world advice and cautionary tales.
HEARING ON HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN SCHEDULED FOR JANUARY 17
The Town of Abington is working with the towns of Easton, East Bridgewater, and Stoughton to update their Hazard Mitigation Plans. This plan includes strategies to mitigate natural hazards, reduce vulnerability and risk, and increase climate resistance. Potential natural hazards in Abington include flooding, wind storms, and heavy snow storms.
A virtual public meeting will be held on Zoom on January 17 from 6 p.m to 8 p.m. Please see the link below to join the meeting.
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81341004415?pwd=S1BoWk5JTDFsNDliakJMU01rVjZ0UT09
Meeting ID: 813 4100 4415
Passcode: 450272
GREEN WAVE ATHLETICS
BOYS BASKETBALL
Varsity
Tuesday vs. Cohasset, 6:30 p.m.
Thursday @ Silver Lake, 5:30 p.m.
Junior Varsity
Tuesday vs. Cohasset, 5 p.m.
Thursday vs. Silver Lake, 5 p.m.
Freshmen
Tuesday, vs. Rockland, 3:30 p.m.
Thursday vs. Silver Lake, 3:30 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Varsity
Tuesday @ Cohasset, 5 p.m.
Thursday @ Silver Lake, 3:30 p.m.
Saturday @ West Bridgewater, 11 a.m.
Junior Varsity
Tuesday @ Cohasset, 3:30 p.m.
Thursday vs. Silver Lake, 3:30 p.m.
Saturday @ West Bridgewater, 9:30 a.m.
BOYS INDOOR TRACK
Wednesday, Opponent TBA, 5 p.m., @ Wheaton College
GIRLS INDOOR TRACK
Wednesday, Opponent TBA, 5 p.m., @ Wheaton College
GIRLS HOCKEY
Wednesday, @ Hingham, 6 p.m., Pilgrim Skating Arena
Saturday, vs. Marshfield, 3:40 p.m., The Bog, Kingston
BOYS HOCKEY
No games this week
MEETING SCHEDULE
TUESDAY
School Committee, 7 p.m., Middle/High School Library. Agenda includes a public hearing on the proposed FY24 school budget, consider an appeal of a book, discuss whether to make the last day of school a half-day, and hold an executive session to discuss a lawsuit.
WEDNESDAY
Finance Committee, 7 p.m., Town Hall. Agenda includes a review of the budgets for the inspectional services, town clerk, veterans services, and water enterprise departments.