City celebrates the 96th birthday of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the annual observance of MLK Day of “Making the Dream a Reality” By Tara Vocino T he city celebrated the 96th birthday of the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr. and the annual observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of “Making the Dream a Reality” on Saturday at Emmanuel Baptist Church. Shown from left to right: Standing: Eric Henry, Ward 5 Councillor Ari Taylor, Councillor-at-Large Karen Colón-Hayes, State Representative Steven Ultrino, Ward 6 Councillor Stephen Winslow and Malden Catholic High School Dean of Community, Culture and Equity Erga Pierette; sitting: former Ward 7 Councillor Neal Anderson and Kristy Anderson Magras. Photo highlights on pages 12-13. Mayor helps Malden High Girls Basketball Team celebrate big win over Everett Malden Public Schools could benefit greatly from potential Mass. Chapter 70 school funding formula changes By Steve Freker T his could be the breakthrough Malden city officials have been talking about – and waiting for – in earnest for a number of years now. On Wednesday, it was announced that Malden state Sen. Jason Lewis (D-Fifth Middlesex) had filed new legislation seeking to create an ad hoc state legislative commission to review and consider an update to the state Chapter 70 school funding formula. The legislation is named “An Act to Ensure Adequate and Equitable Funding for Public Education (SD.1912).” For much of the past decade and beyond, Mayor Christenson – who is also the chairperson of the School Committee – and other key officials involved in the overall city budget process and the Malden Public Schools budget specifically – have lamented that Malden has not received its fair share of Chapter 70 funding from the Commonwealth. The Chapter 70 program is the major program of state aid to public elementary and secondary schools. In addition to providing state aid to support school operations, it also establishes minimum spending requirements for each school district and minimum requirements for each municipality’s share of school costs. Everyone – including MayThe Malden High School Girls Basketball Team earned a big Greater Boston League victory over visiting Everett, 44-28. On hand for the win was Malden Mayor Gary Christenson (center). Celebrating with the Mayor for Malden High were, from left, Aaliyah Ferreira, Ivana Marinkovic, Olivia Rodrigues, Maddy Cook, Sophia Rodrigues, captain Amanda Ebenezer, Ina Tolete, Janesa Perez Sims, Jazzhy Antoine, Manicha Exilhomme and captain Kim Tropnas. The Head Coach is Scott Marino. The story and many more photos are inside. (Advocate Photo/Henry Huang) or Gary Christenson, Malden’s municipal Chief strategy officer Ron Hogan, Malden Public Schools Director of Finance and Operations Toni Mertz, Councillor-at-Large Craig Spadafora, other City Councillors and School Committee Vice Chairperson and Budget Committee If this news was announced at the next meeting of either the Malden City Council or Malden School Committee meeting, it would deserve a standing ovation of applause. Malden Mayor Gary Christenson and his finance and budget team may have already done so when they heard it themselves. ~ News Analysis ~ Chairperson Jennifer Spadafora – in recent years and a number of public meetings have pointed to the Chapter 70 funding levels received by Malden schools as inequitable and, in turn, insufficient. All of these city officials as well as Malden’s State House delegation of Sen. Lewis himself and state Reps. Paul Donato (D-Malden, Medford, 35th Middlesex), Steven Ultrino (D-Malden, 33rd Middlesex) and Kate Lipper Garabedian, (D-Malden, Melrose, 32nd Middlesex) have agreed with these positions and pledged to work toward “righting the ship” as it pertained to Chapter 70 funding, and specifically, the formula used to determine the actual annual allocations. If Sen. Lewis’ legislation reaches fruition, a special commission is indeed created and somewhere down the road updates, revisions and/or changes are made to the Chapter 70 formula, which would reCHANGES | SEE PAGE 10
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