MANCHESTER — A group of about 80 local residents took up the call last night from a group of activists who urged them to become more involved in political battles involving city schools.

An organizational meeting of Citizens for Manchester Education focused on complaints that schools are dramatically underfunded, both in year-to-year spending levels and in comparison to other school districts.

Hillside Middle School parent Jim O'Connell, who has been serving as chief spokesman for a group of organizers, said parents need to band together to reshape the debate over school spending. He accused city leaders of focusing on dollars, rather than on the quality of education.

“Shame on all of them,” he said, “They should be ashamed of themselves for the conversation they have been having.”

O'Connell told an approving audience that the group wants education fully-funded at the $161 million level that school Supt. Thomas Brennan has projected is needed to maintain existing programs. Failing that, he said, the group wants the Board of Mayor and Aldermen to override the city's tax cap.

Mayor Ted Gatsas has recommended spending about $150 million on the schools, less than the $152 million requested by the Board of School Committee

Parent Nick Want presented a statistical analysis that he said showsManchester's per-pupil expenditures are “abysmal” compared to other communities.

“I'm just a regular guy, and two or three weeks ago, the light went on,” he said. “Our schools are already run into the ground; now they're putting the heel in and grinding.”

City voters may have approved a tax cap at the ballot box, but there was no opposition among the parents to raising taxes to increase school funding. Some parents criticized the city's voluntary contribution program for the schools, one woman suggesting that since the Board of Mayor and Aldermen asked for donations for the schools, it should have asked for donations for a downtown sidewalk rather than fund it with $500,000. Another parent interjected that the voluntary tax plan was “set up so the mayor can point to an expectedly low contribution rate and say, 'See, they really don't care.'”

As the meeting ended. a stream of parents turned in membership forms and made cash donations to the group.

“We can't let this stop tonight,” parent C.J. Hebert said. “I'm willing to be a foot soldier. This situation is absolutely unacceptable to me as a homeowner and a parent.”

The group plans to meet again in July.

What's Next: Citizens for Manchester Education will continue organizing through a website, cmsnh.org and will meet again in July.

wsmith@unionleader.org