Folks, under the Wachusett Regional School District Agreement if TWO (2) of the 5 member Towns vote down the WRSD’s FY 2025-2026 outrageous, unconscionable, out-of-control BUDGET, THEN the extravagant, incompetent, gutless WRSD Committee will forced to re-submit a SMALLER BUDGET for a re-vote.
WE HAVE A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY TO DEFEAT THE WRSD FY 2025-2026 BUDGET BECAUSE THE TOWN OF PAXTON HAS DECIDED TO MAKE ITS WRSD BUDGET PORTION SUBJECT TO A PROPOSITION 2 ½ OVERRIDE VOTE. YAY!!!
SEE: https://www.townofpaxton.net/home/news/fy26-budget-and-override-overview
Since that Paxton announcement was made the Paxton Select Board voted to push back the Paxton Annual Town Meeting to 16 June 2025.
https://www.townofpaxton.net/home/news/annual-town-meeting-june-16th
AS FOR STERLING PROPERTY TAXPAYERS, THE EXTRAVAGANT, INCOMPETENT, GUTLESS WRSD COMMITTEE AND SUPERINTENDENT WANT TO SCREW US WITH A DISCRETIONARY (ABOVE THE STATE-REQUIRED ‘MINIMUM NET CONTRIBUTION’ AMOUNT) ASSESSMENT TOTALLING $3,348,824—UP 15% FROM LAST YEAR!
SEE Page 6– https://www.sterling-ma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif1266/f/news/05_05_2025_atm_warrant.pdf
REMINDER: The Social Security cost of living increase this year is 2.5%.
REFRESHER: WRSD total student enrollment has fallen by 936, from 7493 to 6557, since Fiscal Year 2010-2011, 119 in just the last year, or 12.5% per cent, WHILE the WRSD total budget increased 50%, from $81.3 million in FY 2015-2016 to $121.9 million THIS Fiscal Year 2024-2025.
THE PROPOSED WRSD TOTAL PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FY 2025-2026 IS AN ABSOLUTE INSULT AND OUTRAGE—UP MORE THAN $7 MILLION FROM LAST YEAR, TOPPING $129 MILLION.
MEANWHILE, THE TEACHERS’ UNION AND OTHER COLLECTIVE BARGAINING UNIT ASS-KISSING SUPERINTENDENT AND SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEMBERS, GUTLESS, VAPID, VIRTUE SIGNALLING POSEURS ALL, REFUSE TO CUT ANY OF THE WRSD’S BLOATED PAYROLL TOTALLING 1040, AND, IN FACT, PROPOSE TO HIRE 17 MORE TEACHERS NEXT YEAR!
They lack the integrity and fortitude to implement Reductions in Force (RIFS), corresponding with the 12.5 % student enrollment drop-off, as authorized by Mass.Gen.Laws Ch. 71, Sec. 42—
https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXII/Chapter71/Section42
For them it is easier to screw us property taxpayers than to confront their unionized employees. They are abject cowards bereft of ethical standards.
And while we’ve been paying for all of this USELESS BLOAT–
https://sterlingmassachusettsoverwatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/employee_salaries_022425-2.pdf —
the posing, posturing Superintendent and WRSD Committee ADMITTED to the 5-Town Select Board Chairs, Finance Committees, and Town Administrators, on 4 February 2025, THIS, as reported by a source:
“-all 13 WRSD buildings are falling apart, have been for years. Cited “lack of planning and deferred maintenance”
-Student reading levels are THREE YEARS BEHIND (9th graders reading at 6th grade levels).
-Student assessments are far below average across the board in all subjects.”
YA,YA, Folks, we District-wide property taxpayers are supposed to pony up $7 million more for this total, ongoing incompetence and unaccountability.
WELL, if, like me, you’ve had waaaaay more than enough of pissing your hard-earned money down the WRSD rat hole, PLEASE come out to the 2025 Sterling Annual Town Meeting and vote in favor of Warrant Article 43 –
–so we can then vote down the WRSD FY 2025-2026 discretionary budget request that is over and above Sterling’s state-required net minimum contribution.
See you there.
J.G.
STERLING, MASSACHUSETTS, OVERWATCH 