Lonato School Fees and ISEE: Parental Concerns and Public Reactions
The debate among parents regarding the introduction of the fee for before-school assistance — a service that the Comune is now compelled to charge starting this year — has not yet subsided, and protests are reigniting. The murmurs, and perhaps more than murmurs, now concern the use of the ISEE, which is the Indicatore della Situazione Economica Equivalente, better known as the ‘income indicator’ or ‘wealth meter’. Essentially, those intending to benefit from reduced fees for meal and transportation services during the 2001-2002 school year will have to submit a substitute declaration, along with a series of supporting documents. These are documents, so to speak, ‘sensitive’—used to verify the family’s banking situation, including the balance of the bank or postal current account as of December 31, 2000, the ABI code of the bank used, and this for every family member. They must also report financial investments or, more precisely, the nominal value of financial securities (T-Bills, shares, bonds, etc.) as of the end of 2000, for all household members. Lastly, a cadastral survey of properties owned in fee simple or usufruct must be provided.
Obligations and Procedures
“This is a law of the State that we are applying,” explains the assessor for Public Instruction, Alessandra Fontana. “It is not an initiative of the Comune di Lonato. Last year, this tool was not used because it was still somewhat unclear. Now, after legislative clarifications through implementing decrees, we have proceeded with its use as other municipalities have.” However, many parents object to the coercive and rigid manner in which you intend to apply it? “We are simply observing a State law. Moreover, we have also prepared an agreement with the Caaf-Cisl of Lonato, where parents who are unable to fill out the declaration themselves can seek assistance.”
Do parents then have to pay the union-affiliated patronage? “No. The service is free. The cost,” the assessor continues, “is borne by the Comune. Cisl is the only organization that agreed to sign the agreement with us; its offices, located at Palazzo Zambelli (former court house), are always open on Mondays from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., in the afternoon from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., and on Friday mornings from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.” The substitute declaration must be submitted to the Ufficio Pubblica Istruzione by October 31. Failure to submit or incomplete submission will result in classification into the highest income bracket. “I want to emphasize that the analysis of the collected data will not be carried out by the Comune,” continues Fontana, “but by INPS, which will then allow us to apply the relevant income indices.”
Reactions and Opinions
What do parents say? Some criticize the tool, claiming it “makes privacy a typically Italian joke, disposable and meaningless”; others note that “the circular from the school office clarifies the obligations to obtain discounts but says nothing about the income bands needed to qualify or the amount of the discount…” There are also opposition parties moving. Forza Italia plans to convene a public meeting with parents soon to discuss all issues related to the Lonato school system (including the transfer of two elementary classes to the middle school building, traffic, parking, etc.).
The Polo per Lonato has been distributing a flyer these days accusing the majority Ulivo of approving a school plan that is “completely void of content and programs.” “The plan does not even allocate funds for an IT course for fifth-grade elementary students. The computers, already purchased, are unused. In 2001, the Comune spends 170 million lire on summer festivals, 150 million on the fair, 220 million on mayoral salaries, promises 16 billion on public works investments, yet fails to find 20-30 million for elementary school children. Is it better to invest in our children, in our future, or… in beer and street stalls?”
The Impact of ISEE
Regarding the ISEE: “Anyone who does not declare this data will automatically be placed in the highest income bracket and will pay the maximum for meals and transportation. Nevertheless, even those who declare their data have little hope of falling into the low-income bracket, which corresponds to very low incomes. What will happen with the ISEE? Few will submit the model, so very few will be in the lowest brackets, and thus the Comune will benefit.”
