State Sen. Mike Barrett (D-Lexington) and State Rep. Kenneth Gordon (D-Bedford) led a contingent of local government officials and parents to Beacon Hill last week to testify before the Joint Committee on Education on behalf of permanent funding for Bedford’s role in educating children of military families living at Hanscom Air Force Base.
Sen. Barrett explained why the bill is important to Massachusetts from his unique perspective. “Hanscom brings jobs to my district,” he said.
“Many of the towns I represent, not only Bedford but also Lexington, Lincoln, Concord and Carlisle, benefit from the presence of the Air Force base. We need to show the federal government we’re doing our part. The education Bedford provides is an important selling point. All we’re asking is for state government to help the town provide this valuable service to our military.”
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Barrett and Gordon presented testimony alongside Bedford School Superintendent Jon Sills and Donald Gonsalves, a Department of Defense employee who lives at Hanscom with his two daughters, both of whom attend Bedford High School.
Sen. Barrett and Rep. Gordon were able to obtain funding for the education of Hanscom children as an amendment to the state budget this fiscal year but they are engaged for the first time in an effort to codify the appropriation. “The difference is that we would have a presumption each year that funding would carry forward, rather than start from scratch,” said Gordon.