When you go to her office hours please ask her to respond to the following:

Senator Clark:
As you know, the requirements associated with chapter 70 section 4 have not been met since June 2001 in spite of the every two year mandate under Massachusetts General Laws. In order to meet the mandate required under MGL, it is my view that the legislature, more specifically, the Joint Committee on Education, a committee that includes you as a member, should be establishing the committee and mandated meetings or you risk failing to follow state statute for the 5th consecutive every two year cycle.

The subsections of ch 70 section 4 referenced above are below.

The commission shall conduct not fewer than four hearings to receive testimony from members of the public. The hearings shall be held in locations that provide opportunities for residents from all geographic regions of the commonwealth to testify.

The commission’s recommendations, together with any proposed legislation, shall be filed not later than September 30 of each even-numbered year with the clerks of the senate and house of representatives who shall refer such recommendations to the appropriate committee of the general court. Within 30 days after such filing, the committee shall hold a public hearing on the recommendations.

http://www.malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXII/Chapter70/Section4

David P. Whelan, Jr.
Former School Committee Member-Swampscott
davidwhelanjr@gmail.com