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Photo Pru Sowers
Gail Browne, chair of the John Anderson Francis Family Scholarship Committee, appears before selectmen to argue that the scholarship criteria not be changed. |
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Scholarship limited to PHS students
Banner Daily Update Thurs. Feb. 28
By Pru Sowers
Banner Staff
PROVINCETOWN — An attempt to expand a long-standing scholarship program to include residents who attend out-of-town schools was rejected by selectmen Monday.
The board voted unanimously not to accept a proposal by Philip Gaudiano, a member of the John Anderson Francis Family Scholarship Committee who was appearing before them as a private citizen, to expand the eligibility for the JAFF scholarships to college-bound students who live in Provincetown but choose to attend schools other than Provincetown High School. The long dispute between members of the committee over eligibility for the annual scholarships, which total approximately $24,000 each year, had spilled over to selectmen, who have the authority to direct the scholarship committee.
The committee now will continue the present policy, which gives scholarships only to students who graduate from PHS, including school choice students from other towns. Gaudiano argued that Francis’ will was written to support all local students, not just the ones who attend PHS. Several Provincetown School Committee members attended Monday’s meeting to voice support for restricting the JAFF scholarship money to PHS graduates, a policy believed to attract school choice students, helping boost enrollment at PHS.
Although the selectmen’s vote was unanimously in favor of continuing the current policy, most of the board members said that a change giving scholarship eligibility to Provincetown residents who opt through school choice to attend schools elsewhere should be considered seriously. Selectman Lynne Davies urged the scholarship committee “to take another look at this.” Selectman Austin Knight said Gaudiano’s proposal had merit, just not at this time.
Mary-Jo Avellar, board of selectmen chair, said the possibility that Provincetown High School might be closed at some point would make the will’s bequest difficult to carry out.
“The issue will come up in the future, particularly if the high school closes. I suspect [the residency controversy] will be before, if not us, somebody else in a year or so,” Avellar said.
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Feb 28th, 2008