A series of meetings explaining Arlington's budget plight were held in January and February, the last at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, on Feb. 11, titled "Exploring Solutions: A School/Town Budget Forum." The host was ArlingtonFY11, a Yahoo e-mail group of concerned citizens advocating for Arlington's public schools. To subscribe, go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ArlingtonFY11/.

Guest speakers included Al Tosti (chair, Finance Committee), Joe Curro (chair, School Committee budget subcommittee) and Juli Brazile (co-president, Stand for Children's Arlington chapter).

During a moderated discussion, speakers provided a brief overview of the current school budget and explained the school and town budget processes and timeline.

How to educate yourself about the school budget

School Committee member, Joseph Curro Jr., chairman of the budget subcommittee, provided the following list of tips to parents on the Arlington FY11 budget e-mail list:

Educate Yourself and Others

* Attend upcoming budget forums.

* Follow School, Town, and State budget processes, and download and read posted materials from a variety of sources, including:

* www.arlingtonma.gov/Public_Documents/ArlingtonMA_Financial/budget\/index

* www.massbudget.org/

* Sign up for the ArlingtonFY11 Yahoo! group and mailing list here >> and encourage others to
do so.

* Help others -- particularly those who do not have children in the schools -- to understand the seriousness of the current situation and its impact. Listen to their concerns. Provide Feedback Regarding Your Priorities for the Arlington Public Schools.

* Speak at School Committee public participation sessions and budget hearings.

* Respond to the current Vision 2020 survey and planned School Committee survey.

* Write or call your School Committee members with specific concerns and questions.

* Offer ideas not only about what you want to preserve, but also about what trade-offs you are willing to consider.

Advocate for School Funding and Municipal Relief

* Engage in discussion at the municipal level regarding the next 5-year plan.

* Consider running for Town Meeting or another public office.

* Ask your state legislators to support initiatives, such as:

* Fully funded local aid:

* Chapter 70 education aid

* Unrestricted General Government Aid

* Special Education Circuit Breaker Reimbursement

* Other proposed municipal relief measures:

* Pension funding relief

* Local option early retirement incentives

* Easing of obstacles to communities wishing to join the state health insurance plan for employees

* Freezing of tuition hikes for out-of-district special education placements

* Suspension of "maintenance of effort" requirements for libraries

* An education funding formula adequacy study

* Help build support for local revenue measures, which could include:

* Proposition 2-1/2 override

* Increased fees for selected school-based activities and programs

* "Pay As You Throw" trash removal

* Consider joining an advocacy group like Stand for Children and participating in their annual Day on the Hill and other lobbying events.

Share Your Time, Talent, and Treasure

* Talk to your children's principals and teachers about volunteer needs in your school.

* Offer your professional skills, either directly via your school or through initiatives like National Lab Day.

* Join your PTO.

* If you are part of a group that provides opportunities to kids to improve their physical fitness or exposure to art, music, and the world beyond, talk to your leadership about creative school partnership ideas.

* Encourage your school to actively invite local seniors and other community members to attend and participate in school events and activities.

* Give financial support to organizations that support our schools and students, including:

* Arlington Education Foundation

* PTOs and parent advisory councils

* Performing Arts Parents Association

* Friends of the Visual Arts

* Athletic booster clubs

Don't Give Up Hope

* Put our problems in perspective.

* Most of our problems are due to forces much larger than us, and Arlington is not alone in grappling with them.

* Arlington has a high-performing school system, which we want to preserve. Our schools are not failing, even with the challenges ahead.

* We are coming through a nearly unprecedented economic crisis, which we will survive.

* The people of Arlington have stepped up to the plate before, and they will do so again.

* Resist war and blame.

* Recognize the need to share pain as equitably as possible across all of our programs and schools.

* Support our dedicated teachers and staff, who will be called upon to do much more with much less.

* Embrace the mission of providing differentiated services and opportunities to students of all abilities.

* Do not spread rumors and fear.

* If you hear something that worries you, confirm its accuracy before you pass it on.

* Challenge and question assertions that do not ring true.

* Break down the problem, and avoid "silver bullet" theories. We face the combined effects of many smaller challenges, to which there is no single solution.

* Continue to celebrate our children's successes.

* Remember the truth of the African proverb: "It takes a whole village to raise a child."