Approximately 42 members of PHENOM attended the Annual Meeting June 6 at Springfield Technical Community College.  Following a get-to-know-each-other icebreaker, members discussed what PHENOM did well this year, what could have been done better, and what we should do next year.  Be sure to click "Read more" for the whole summary and results of the contested PHENOM Board election.

1.  Campaign on Revenues

            campus portion of a bigger coalition

            progressive taxation

            continue work on stimulus funds

            research and publicity

            lobby locally

            The Public Higher Education Network of Massachusetts (PHENOM) has filed a formal complaint with the Obama Administration, alleging that Massachusetts is violating the spirit and letter of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) by misusing stimulus money intended for public higher education.  The text of the complaint is at the end of this article.

            The Patrick Administration has sought and received approval for a waiver of the requirements of the ARRA, which stipulates that the state must use stimulus money to preserve funding for public education over the next three years.  (The waiver application is available at

http://www.ed.gov/programs/statestabilization/stateapps/ma.pdf). 

            The Public Higher Education Network of Massachusetts (PHENOM) is strongly urging Massachusetts legislators to increase taxes in order to avoid the massive cuts facing education, social services, and other essential government functions.  PHENOM is specifically endorsing Amendment 561 filed in the House by Representatives Gloria Fox and Alice Wolf.  This amendment would raise the state sales tax by one cent in January 2010 and another cent in January 2011, with the proceeds appropriated to early education and care, K-12 education, and higher education.