3 unite for improved school funding; Alternatives urged to lower operating costs.

Byline: Richard Nangle

WORCESTER - City Council hopeful Grace Ross teamed up with School Committee members John F. Monfredo and Brian A. O'Connell yesterday to offer some "green" ideas that would cut school operating costs in favor of spending for teachers and curriculum supplies.

Ms. Ross said her effort to reach out to School Committee members was an outgrowth of her frustration with the entire City Council for falling short of an emphatic denouncement of the city manager's budget, which included more than 100 cuts in school personnel.

"I and so many of us went to the Statehouse this spring to call for increased monies. We must come together with creative money-saving ideas for the long-term well-being of the schools of Worcester," said Ms. Ross, the former Green-Rainbow Party candidate for governor.

Ms. Ross, Mr. Monfredo and Mr. O'Connell pitched their ideas at a joint press conference yesterday.

Mr. Monfredo said energy cost savings would have a substantive effect on student learning, noting the demise of a full-day preschool program that boasted a 100 percent passage rate when those students took their Grade 4 MCAS exams.

Ms. Ross said the school system should buy into the state's prescription drug purchasing program, noting that 22 percent of its health care costs are tied up in prescriptions. The result would be a roughly 25 percent savings, amounting to about $2.4 million, she said.

She also called for an accelerated upgrade of school building heating and refrigeration systems. She said it makes sense to do the heating system upgrade, currently on a 12- to 15-year schedule, all at once. The savings on heating alone would be about 10 percent, or $320,000 in annual savings, she said.

Ms. Ross also said Worcester should follow the example of Cambridge and Boston and seek out money from private foundations for energy efficiency.

All three said the city will be hampered in its efforts to attract business if it does not do everything it can to direct school dollars to education rather than maintenance.

Mr. Monfredo noted that the city has closed eight schools, cut the school budget by $60 million, and eliminated 685 teacher positions over the past five years.

Both Mr. Monfredo and Mr. O'Connell said a cooperative effort between the School Committee and City Council already exists, but that Ms. Ross is correct to advocate for a more aggressive approach to budgeting.

City officials have a choice, Mr. O'Connell said: They can either complain or seek creative approaches.

"I say we should take the second route," he said.

Contact Richard Nangle by e-mail at [e-mail].

NAME: WORCESTER CITY COUNCIL; WORCESTER SCHOOL COMMITTEE