NORTH ANDOVER — Legislators had extra state money for Andover and North Andover schools within their grasp.
The Senate's plan to allow three casinos around the state included a $146 million provision to fully fund state aid to schools - a measure that would bring an extra $2.5 million to Andover and close to $700,000 for North Andover.
But the extra funding died in the casino negotiations with House members - a victim of the lawmaking process.
Local school committee members are now lobbying legislators to try to get the extra money included in next year's budget.
"A third of this state should have money coming to it that it does not," said North Andover School Committee member Karin Rhoton.
The state has yet to live up to a 2006 agreement with affluent local districts to fund 17.5 percent of required spending in school budgets.
The state uses a budget formula to calculate a required school spending amount for each city and town. Andover and North Andover consistently spend above the required amount.
Last year, Andover spent $19 million more than the required $53 million and North Andover spent over $6 million more than the state's required $38 million for the district. The local districts have the property tax resources and community dedication to the schools to be able to spend over the amount.
"That doesn't mean we shouldn't be funded what was promised to us," Rhoton said. "It now falls onto the citizens of our community and I think there is a much better approach than that."
A 2006 law planned to gradually increase the percentages of state aid to affluent districts so the state would contribute more for local schools. But when the recession hit the economy, state resources were diverted. This year, Andover received $6.9 million in state aid, funding 12.9 percent of the budget. North Andover $6.1 million — totaling 15.7 percent of the budget.
Andover School Committee member Paula Colby-Clements said she's sympathetic to the state having declining revenues and its own set of unfunded mandates. But she hopes that as the state climbs out of the recession, the state will live up to its promise.
"I think what frustrates me the most is that in this country, we talk a lot about how education is a priority but we don't seem to put our money where our mouth is when it comes to proper funding," Colby-Clements said.
State Rep. Lori Ehrlich, D-Marblehead, has been fighting for the equal funding since she first entered the State Legislature in 2008. Her bill, which would make up the ground for affluent districts alone and cost $46 million, would phase in the funding over two years. She has 22 co-sponsors for the bill, including State Rep. David Torrisi, D-North Andover.
The bill doesn't have a revenue source, Ehrlich conceded, but said that money would not be taken from poor districts.
"The conversation that this bill brings about is one of fairness and equity," Ehrlich said.
Torrisi signed on to the bill in support of North Andover.
"Their costs haven't gone down," Torrisi said of the district. "We've got to do more and if the economy keeps on trending in the right direction I'm hopeful we can do more."
Both legislators intend to bring up the bill during budget negotiations next spring.
FUNDING LOCAL DISTRICTS
State law requires cities and towns to spend a fixed amount of money to provide education to their local students. The state then sends a portion of that required money directly to districts, known as Chapter 70 aid.
Community2011-2012 required spending2011-2012 state aidPercent funded
Andover$53.64 million$6.9 million12.92 percent
Haverhill$71.68 million$35.9 million50.17 percent
Lawrence$152.35 million$145.9 million95.76 percent
Methuen$66.17 million$38.8 million58.66 percent
North Andover$38.94 million$6.1 million15.73 percent