Your Local News in 7 Languages: www.advocatenews.net Vol. 32, No.18 -FREEwww.advocatenews.net Free Every Friday Whip Clark visits Revere Head Start to highlight vital role amid GOP threats Special to Th e Advocate O n May 3, 2023, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (Fifth District-Massachusetts) visited the Community Action Programs Inter-City, Inc. (CAPIC) Head Start program at the Irene O’Connell Community Center in Revere to highlight the devastating impact that funding cuts in the GOP’s Default on America Act would have on children and families across Massachusetts. “Every day, Head Start is making a direct, life-changing impact on kids and families here in Revere. Yet MAGA Republicans’ Default on America Act would gut this vital resource – and at a time when families are already struggling to find and afford child care,” said Congresswoman Clark. “Instead of putting everyday people fi rst, the GOP is endangering their fi nancial security to put even more money into the pockets of billionaires. Dem781-286-8500 Friday, May 5, 2023 Revere teen off to Nationals! Sabrina Visconti Heads to The National Gymnastic Championships Special to Th e Advocate F ifteen-year-old Sabrina Visconti competed in her level 10, Region 6, gymnastics competition at the MassMutual Center in Springfi eld, Mass., on Saturday, April 15. The regional competition highlighted the best gymnasts of Region 6. To qualify for Nationals, an athCongresswoman Katherine Clark reads to children at the Head Start program during a visit this past week. ocrats are standing in defense of the American people and against these devastating cuts.” “Slashing Head Start funding would cut off comprehensive early childhood education and services to our communities’ most vulnerable children and families at a time in history when they need it the most,” said CAPIC Head Start Director Dianne Curtin. “Young children – VISIT | SEE Page 14 School Board Ways & Means Submits First Draft of FY’24 Budget By Barbara Taormina T he Revere School Committee met this week to review a preliminary budget for 2024. It wasn’t easy. The School Department’s Ways and Means Subcommittee handed off a 140-plus page fi rst draft (available on the city’s website). “This was an introductory budget meeting, nothing is MICHAEL FERRANTE Ways and Means $2.99 GALLON We accept: MasterCard * Visa * & Discover Price Subject to Change without notice 100 Gal. Min. 24 Hr. Service 781-286-2602 Subcommittee Chair permanent,” said Michael Ferrante, who is chair of the Ways and Means Subcommittee. “We need a basis with which to start.” School Dept. Chief Financial Officer Matt Kruse presented some of the numbers and reminded the committee of some of the rules and requirements from the byzantine world of educational funding and formulas. The district is expecting $98,418,182 in Chapter 70 state educational aid, $13.9 million more than last year or a 16 percent increase. “Our idea is to present big-picture items and have the committee get their bearings on the upcoming budget season and how the budget implements the superintendent’s educational vision,” said Kruse. While the piles of pages with long multicolored columns of numbers isn’t always easy to follow, there are interesting nuggets of information throughout. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) sets the amount every school district in the state must budget. Municipalities with districts that fail to comply may lose state aid or face other penalties. DESE determines a district’s net spending by combining a school district’s annual surplus BUDGET | SEE Page 18 lete needs a combined score of 35 and to also place in the top seven in their age division. Sabrina fi nished in fi rst on Vault, fi rst on Beam and in sixth place All Around with a score of 36.325. Next stop is nationals – on May 11, Sabrina will travel to Oklahoma City, where the best gymnasts in the nation will come together to showcase their skills. GYMNAST | SEE Page 12 Fifteen-year-old Sabrina Visconti considered one of the best gymnasts of Region 6. City Council seeks ordinance citing concerns over Electric Vehicle safety requirements By Barbara Taormina R evere has been preparing for a future of roadways fi lled with electric vehicles. The City Council recently approved a motion to have the city develop an ordinance regulating the storage of EV’s. The motion was inspired by news reports of serious fi res caused by the batteries that power electric vehicles. This week the Parking Advisory Committee began to tackle the question of how much to charge EV drivers who hook into the city’s charging stations and how much to fi ne drivers who exceed their allotted time. There was not, however, a clear understanding of what it takes to charge an electric vehicle and how much electricity is required. CFO Richard Viscay tried to ask how charging a vehicle compares to rates for parking but it all depends on the vehicle make and model. CHARGE | SEE Page 18
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