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For Immediate
Release: October, 2004
Further Information: Marie Blanchard (617) 722-1643
SENATOR JOYCE TO HOLD BRAINTREE OFFICE HOURS
ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10
Senator Brian A. Joyce is pleased to announce that he will hold office
hours in Braintree on Friday, September 10th from 11 to 12 p.m. in the
Selectmen’s Chambers of Braintree Town Hall.
“I encourage all interested constituents to attend my district office
hours,” said Senator Joyce. “This is an opportunity for me to
listen to the concerns of the people of Braintree, and hopefully provide
some guidance and solutions.”
Braintree Town Hall is located at 1 John Fitzgerald Kennedy Memorial Drive.
As always, individuals with questions or concerns are encouraged to call
Senator Joyce’s State House office at (617) 722-1643, or his home
at (617) 696-0200 day or night. The Senator can also be reached by email
at [email protected]
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For Immediate Release: July 24, 2004
Further Information: Marie Blanchard (617) 722-1643
SENATOR JOYCE ANNOUNCES PASSAGE OF EDUCATION FUNDING REFORM
Would increase Braintree Funding by $739,308
School districts in Massachusetts would gain valuable additional education
assistance under a plan passed this week by the Senate.
The legislation seeks to address current inequities in the state’s
education funding formula and will mean thousands of extra dollars for
communities across the state.
“Many towns have suffered for some time under a formula that has
shortchanged their school districts,” said Senator Brian A. Joyce.
“This plan seeks to iron out these inequities and deliver additional
assistance to school district across the Commonwealth who are in dire
need of added financial resources.”
Specifically, the proposed formula change will mean an additional $739,308
for Braintree in FY06, with further increases each year for the following
six years totaling millions of dollars.
Under the bill, Chapter 70 education aid will increase by $150 to $175
million a year, while helping reduce disparities in aid to and local contributions
required of similar communities and encouraging professional growth among
teachers and administrators.
To cope with the rising costs of health care, special education, and other
expenses while attracting and retaining good teachers, maintaining small
class sizes and expanding opportunities for students, all districts would
see aid grow by at least $50 per pupil.
The legislation has been sent to the House of Representatives for action.
# # #
For Immediate Release: May 3, 2004
Further Information: Marie Blanchard (617) 722-1643
BRAINTREE’S RECYCLING EFFORTS AWARDED GRANT
Senator Brian A. Joyce along with Senator Michael Morrissey and Representative
Joseph Driscoll are pleased to announce that the Department of Environmental
Protection (DEP) has awarded the Town of Braintree with a
Municipal Recycling Grant to help fund their recycling efforts.
The Municipal Recycling Grant provides towns across the Commonwealth with
resources for recycling equipment, household hazardous waste equipment,
educational materials, and technical assistance. The Town of Braintree
will be receiving “postage only” consumer education grant.
This grant will play a critical role in making both Braintree and Massachusetts
a recycling community and Commonwealth that promotes consumer awareness
of recycling, composting and hazardous waste collection programs.
# # #
For Immediate Release: April 22, 2004
Further Information: Marie Blanchard (617) 722-1643
EDUCATION REMAINS A TOP PRIORITY FOR SENATOR JOYCE LEGISLATURE PLANS
LEVEL FUNDING FOR LOCAL AID, FUNDING INCREASES FOR TRANSPORTATION AND
SPECIAL EDUCATION
“With this budget we are preserving our investment in our students
and schools,” said Senator Brian A. Joyce this week, announcing that
a Senate and House budget resolution for the next fiscal year will be
boosted by $75 million for local aid, to more than $3.1 billion.
The Legislature’s plan also commits to an $80 million increase in
Special Education Circuit Breaker funding – reimbursing communities
approximately 65 percent compared to last year’s 35 percent reimbursement
rate, and the plan increases Regional School Transportation by $11.6 million
over last year’s funding level.
“We are at risk of having our economic downturn back the progress
we’ve made in our schools but the Legislature has made the choice
to preserve and reinforce our commitment to classrooms,” said Senator
Joyce.
Senator Joyce noted that the proposed figures for education will preserve
funding for Braintree at $4,655,171 in FY05.
Senator Joyce expects that education will continue to be a top priority
in the FY05 budget and reiterated his commitment to “investing in
our schools so that the progress we have made in improving public education
can be maintained and ensure our students of a bright future while at
the same time continue our efforts to keep pressure off local property
taxpayers.”
# # #
For Immediate Release: April 28, 2002
Further Information: Marie Blanchard (617) 722-1643
EAST MIDDLE SCHOOL RECEIVES ENVIRONMENTAL AWARD
Senators Brian A. Joyce and Michael Morrissey are pleased to announce
that Braintree East Middle School has been awarded the Secretary's Award
for Excellence in Environmental Education from Ellen Roy Herzfelder, Secretary
of the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs (EOEA).
The East Middle School was selected based on their impressive environmental
program, particularly their Biodiversity project.
“Learning about nature is an integral part of understanding the importance
of preserving our environment,” Senator Joyce said. “I commend
the students of the East Middle School for their work on behalf of the
environment.”
# # #
For Immediate Release: October 31, 2002
Further Information: Marie Blanchard (617) 722-1643
COMMUNITY CHOICE’ PILOT PROGRAM LAUNCHED
Enhanced home care option now available to seniors
Senator Brian A. Joyce is pleased to announce that the state has launched
a $3.9 million pilot program which will allow seniors to choose community
based services over institutionalized care.
The Community Choices pilot program, modeled after Senator Joyce’s Equal
Choice bill, was secured by the senator in the state budget and is designed
to remedy the gross disparity in Medicaid aid between individuals who choose
to receive care at home, and those who seek care in an institution.
“The current structure of Medicaid reimbursement leaves many seniors
with no real choice other than institutionalization. It is small wonder, then,
that more than 80 percent of our long-term care spending goes towards institutionalized
care.
“The reality is that this pilot program is not only the fiscally responsible
thing to do, but it also provides a fair and compassionate solution to those
who find themselves no longer able to care for themselves,” said Senator
Joyce.
Under the program, integrated health care services are provided at home to
persons whose health care costs would be at least 50 percent below the cost
of care they would otherwise receive in an institution under the state’s
Medicaid long-term care waiver. Institutional care is far more costly than
care provided at home. Medicaid currently pays $51,516 per person for nursing
home care.
“This program will guarantee that seniors will receive care in the least
restrictive setting. It ends discrimination against persons with disabilities
by providing home care as an alternative to institutional care,” said
Al Norman, executive director of Mass Home Care.
The program will be available to eligible seniors beginning November 1, 2002.
For more information, please call your local Aging Service Access Point who
can review your case for eligibility and provide you with the services that
best meet your needs. In Braintree, Milton and Randolph, call Ed Flynn of
South Shore Elder Services, Inc at 781-848-3910.
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