Acknowledgements
We want to offer our appreciation to the following organizations and individuals who provided data and information, sat for interviews, and shared their views on the challenges and opportunities for increased local aid to Massachusetts communities. These stakeholders, along with their staff members and subject-matter experts, provided significant context and data that we used in this report, although the findings and recommendations contained herein solely reflect the opinions and are the work of the Office of the State Auditor.
- Glenn Koocher, Executive Director, Massachusetts Association of School Committees
- Mary Bourque, Director of Government Relations of the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents
- David Koffman, Legislative Director of the Massachusetts Municipal Association
- Jackie Lavender Bird, Senior Legislative Analyst of the Massachusetts Municipal Association
- Noah Berger, Education Research and Policy Specialist of the Massachusetts Teachers Association
- Sean Cronin, Senior Deputy Commissioner of the Division of Local Services, Massachusetts Department of Revenue
- Lisa Krzywicki, Deputy Bureau Chief of the Division of Local Services, Massachusetts Department of Revenue
- Dan Bertrand, Director of Administration of the Division of Local Services, Massachusetts Department of Revenue
- Julie Kelley, Research Analyst of the Massachusetts Association of Regional Schools
- Nerissa Wallen, Vice Chairperson of the Triton Regional School Committee
- Connor Read, Town Administrator of the Town of Easton
- Zachary Crowley, Chief of Staff to Massachusetts State Senator Jason Lewis
- Dennis Burke, Legislative Director and General Counsel to Massachusetts State Senator Jason Lewis
- Emily Warchol, Director of Policy of the Office of Federal Finance and Revenue, Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services
- Robert O’Donnell, Director of School Finance of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
- Jay Sullivan, Associate Commissioner of School Finance and District Support Center of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
- William Bell, Senior Associate Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
- Tom Moreau, Assistant Secretary for Policy and Planning of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Education
- Diane Johnson, President of the Massachusetts Association of School Business Officials and Financial Manager of Facilities and Transportation at Cambridge Public Schools
- Margaret Driscoll, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Association of School Business Officials
- Stephanie Fisk, Business and Finance Officer of the Gateway Regional School District
- Tammy Crockett, Human Resources and Business Manager of the Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School
- Cynthia Mahr, Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations at Wellesley Public Schools
- Stephen Presnal, Director of Finance and Operations of the Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District
- Dolores Sharek, Director of Finance and Business Operations of the Keefe Regional Technical School