By George P. Hassett

Gov. Deval Patrick stood in the library of the Kennedy School Tuesday, surrounded by the eighth grade civics class and announced a $368 million increase in education funding in his next budget.

“Our budget will reflect the priority our administration places on providing Massachusetts students with the top quality education opportunities they deserve,” he said. “Every teacher, legislator and parent knows investing in schools is the single best tool for ensuring economic success tomorrow.”

Before the press conference Patrick toured classrooms observing students dissect squid, listening to stories children had written and answering questions from third and fourth graders.

“Do you get to help people as governor?” asked one of the more than two dozen children huddled around Patrick in the library.

“That is what the job is about,” he said. “I’m here today to announce new spending for education.”

After the question and answer session closed with the children converging on Patrick asking him to autograph their arms and faces with black magic marker, the governor outlined his education initiatives for the next year.

They include:
· Doubling the money for extended school days to $26 million. Somerville officials are currently discussing adding time to the school day at four schools: the East Somerville Community School, Healey School, Kennedy School and West Somerville Neighborhood School.
· An $8 million expansion to $43 million to transition 440 half-day kindergarten programs to full day.
· A 49 percent increase to $4.5 million for underperforming schools and districts. Somerville, according to Superintendent Anthony Pierantozzi, will qualify for some of this money.

                                                                                                                                  
The money needed for the rebuilding of the East Somerville Community School was not included in the proposal, which must be approved by the legislature as part of the Fiscal Year 2009 budget. The school, devastated by a Dec. 9 fire, will have to be rebuilt with money from the School Building Assistance program, Patrick said.

To accommodate the increases in education spending some state agencies will see no increase in funding, Patrick said. He would not specify which agencies will see no increase to their budget.

Pierantozzi said Patrick’s visit was a remarkable experience students will remember.

“They have his autograph in sharpie on their faces,” he said.

He said he was impressed by Patrick’s willingness to listen to the elementary school students and field their questions.

Patrick said the $368 million increase in spending for the state’s schools is not enough to cure all their ills but “it is a step in the right direction.”