Page 6 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE - Friday, February 15, 2019 Middlesex Sheriff Koutoujian elected Major County Sheriffs of America V.P. WASHINGTON, D.C. – Middlesex Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian has been selected by his colleagues from across the country to serve as vice president of the Major County Sheriff s of America (MCSA). A professional law enforcement association comprised of sheriff s of the nation’s most populous counties and parishes, MCSA members represent over 100 million people across more than 30 states. “I am honored to be selected for this leadership position to help showcase the innovative work being done by sheriff s from across the country,” said Sheriff Koutoujian. “I look forward to working with President Grady Judd, the executive board and membership to promote the incredible work our ANGELO’S "Over 40 Years of Excellence!" 1978-2019 Regular Unleaded $2.239 Mid Unleaded $2.639 Super $2.699 Diesel Fuel $2.839 KERO $4.759 Diesel $2.849 FULL SERVE HEATING OIL 24-Hour Burner Service Call for Current Price! (125—gallon minimum) Open an account and order online at: www.angelosoil.com (781) 231-3500 (781) 231-3003 367 LINCOLN AVE • SAUGUS • OPEN 7 DAYS • • • African-American Patriots® Tours and February School Vacation Week Activities February vacation is around the corner, and the Freedom Trail® has plenty of opportunities for the whole family to have fun and keep learning while school is out! Join in on Walk Into History® Tours to explore the history of the American Revolution and beyond, from Boston Common to Faneuil Hall, daily at 11:00 a.m., 12:00 noon, and 1:00 p.m. from the Boston Common Visitor Information Center (139 Tremont Street). Celebrate Black History Month on the Freedom Trail by experiencing the AfricanAmerican Patriots® Tours. Offered at 12:45 p.m. from the Boston Common Visitor Information Center on Saturdays and Sundays in February, these unique tours highlight the many contributions of African-Americans. Captivating stories of bravery, great risk, and defiance by black Bostonians unfold during the 90-minute walking tours, zigzagging through the Freedom Trail. For more information about tours or events, please call (617) 357-8300 or visit www.thefreedomtrail.org. Official Freedom Trail historic sites are off ering a full schedule of engaging procolleagues do on a daily basis to increase safety in our communities.” Sheriff Koutoujian, who had been tapped to serve in an acting capacity in mid-December by President Judd, was formally voted to the post on a permanent basis by his colleagues at MCSA’s annual winter conference on Thursday, February 14. “I am honored and excited to work shoulder to shoulder with Sheriff Koutoujian in the coming year,” said President Judd. “I believe Peter is a visionary with the strong leadership and fresh perspective that will propel the MCSA to next level.” A longtime state legislator and former prosecutor with the Middlesex District Attorney’s Offi ce, Koutoujian has led the Middlesex Sheriff’s Offi ce since 2011. During his tenure as sheriff , he has overseen the implementation of several statewide and nationally recognized initiatives, including a specialized treatMiddlesex Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian (left) was sworn in as vice president of the Major County Sheriff s of America (MCSA) by President Grady Judd on Thursday, February 14, during the MCSA winter conference meeting in Washington, D.C. ment unit for incarcerated military veterans, a medication-assisted treatment program and the launch of a groundbreaking new housing unit for incarcerated young ~ Op-Ed ~ Now is the time to fi nally fi x the school funding formula in Massachusetts By State Senator Jason Lewis J ohn Adams said, “Laws for liberal education of youth … are so extremely wise and useful, that, to a humane and generous mind, no expense for this purpose would be thought extravagant.” In drafting the Massachusetts state constitution (the oldest written constitution still in use anywhere in the world), Adams recognized that education is indispensable to the success and prosperity of a society, which is why he enshrined a right to education in this foundational document. The landmark Education Reform Act of 1993 put in place a funding formula, known as Chapter 70, that was designed to ensure that every school district in Massachusetts would be fairly and adequately funded and every student would have access to a quality education. First, a “foundation budget” is calculated for each Explore the Freedom Trail in February grams throughout school vacation week, from Saturday, February 16 to Sunday, February 24. The following is a list of the sites’ exciting activities along the Trail: Boston Common Frog Pond Winter Camp Sponsored by the Highland Street Foundation, Winter Camp provides free ice skating for children and families during February school vacation, Monday, February 18 to Friday, February 22, from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Admission includes skate rentals, skating aids, and free hot chocolate and donuts. Tickets to the camp will be given away daily on a fi rst-come, fi rst-served basis at the Frog Pond starting at 10:00 a.m. For more information, visit www. highlandstreet.org/programs/ community-events/wintercamp Boston Children’s Winter Festival The City of Boston’s annual Children’s Winter Festival will return to Boston Common, in partnership with the Highland Street Foundation, on Wednesday, February 20, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Children and families are invited to enjoy a day of outdoor fun with free games and activities, including a TOURS | SEE PAGE 15 school district to determine the resources needed to educate the students in that district. Then, the “local contribution,” the amount that each municipality must contribute from its own revenues, is calculated based upon local income levels and property values. Finally, the state government allocates Chapter 70 aid annually to fi ll the gap between the foundation budget and the required local contribution. Additionally, if it so chooses, each community can put more of its local resources toward education if it wants to spend an amount greater than the foundation budget. This formula worked well through the 1990s, with progress made in reducing inequities in school funding and closing student achievement gaps. However, we have been backsliding since 2000 because the foundation budget has become outdated and no longer accurately refl ects the true costs to educate our young people in the 21st Century. This is due to a variety of factors, including rapidly rising healthcare costs, greater special education needs, underestimating the challenges faced by students from high poverty neighborhoods and EDUCATION | SEE PAGE 17 adults (ages 18-24). Sheriff Koutoujian is also currently in his second year of a two-year term as President of the Massachusetts Sheriff s’ Association (MSA). Prices subject to change FLEET
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