I've posted this for the benefit of "Not A Republican Lemming" who is so obviously ignorant of the facts. I hope that this poster is not a current BOE Member who failed to read the $30,000 Plan that he or she ordered! One never knows...
"Not A Republican Lemming" also referred to an "anti-school crowd." Brother, if those people exist, send them to me. There is no such thing. I've heard so many people complain about the waste of money, skewed priorities, lack of BOE expertise, failure of the expensive system, overpaid administrators, painful mandates, under-educated graduates, BOE Members who don't know their job, but anti-education? Never. The good taxpayers of New Milford want what people all across America want from the schools that their hard-earned tax dollars pay for: accountability, transparancy and decent educations for their children.
I spent 22 of the first 25 years of my life in school; don't even go there.
12 comments:
By the way, a copy of the Plan may be borrowed from the Central Office. On Monday, I will return the copy that I read.
You've said it Jay!!!
It's not anti-education, it's anti waste.
All these people have is to call others anti-education...no solutions...and refusal to acknowledge the blatant facts.
"it's not anti-education, it's anti waste."
Summed up perfectly, JB.
You guys have never worked at a big company have you?
Its just the same as the BOE. They are no different.
I do work at a big company.
The difference is that if we choose to waste money, it is OUR PRIVATE money...not public money belonging, to the taxpayers.
Very poor analogy.
But do you really "choose" to "waste" your money? I'm sure shareholders of a public company would not like to hear that.
The budget process at most large companies is very similar to the one used by the BOE, and the employees of each approach the budget in much the same way. Ask for what you think you need, plus some extra - just in case. At the end of the year, make sure you use it all up and start again.
How do you change that mindset? It's difficult. One common method in corporate America is to make the employees shareholders, but I'm not sure how well that would translate to a school district.
Another method is improved diligence. That's where the BOE needs to step in. Careful review of the budget and the spending can keep costs down, but it takes a lot of time and energy.
I (want to) believe most BOE members do their best, but it is not an easy task. Public support and assistance can help.
Paddyfote and the BOE have no incentive to keep the budget low. None whatsoever.
If the superintendant was paid based on performance/spending, you'd see some enormous changes in the budget.
The BOE doesn't care what they put through as a budget. They know that the Mayor, the Town Council and the Board of Finance will reduce their proposal. So, the BOE make themselves look like victims, while making all the town's elected officials look evil.
No matter how big their increase turns out to be, they'll still call it a "cut."
This ridiculous "Capital Plan" is a perfect example. Anything less than the full amount will be called a "cut," and the BOE will blame everyone else if education standards aren't up to par.
And the BOE is different from any other government agency how?
I'm not saying that I support this but I don't know the whole story. Lets just say this blog brings in the anti-education nuts.
Point is they are doing nothing that any large company, other town BOE or any other branch of government does.
So complain all you want the budget will still pass
The capital plan is nothing more than a wish list. Most of it will never be done. I think the BOE did this to shake the taxpayer up and soften the blow of the budget increase.
The problem is the BOE cuts maintenance items first when their budget increase is cut by mayor tc or bof.
The budget is a huge and confusing and most members don't ever understand it.
The other problem is they forget things added from year to year so the increase is never correct. What I mean is, if they put in the budget to expand the bio labs at the high school, do they decrease the budget by that amount the next year? No they increase based on
last years needs not taking into consideration there are costs in last years budget they won't have this year.
Just like the $700,000+- they had left over in the budget that ended in 6/07 are they going to adjust the areas that had so much left over or start with the amount budgeted for 07/08 and increase from that?
While it is almopst certain that the mayor will reduce anything that Dr. Paddyfote and the BOE recommend it is not certain that the current Town Council will go along with it.
Just as certain the new Board of Finance probably has the votes to reinstate any reductions by the Mayor and the Town Council.
And, you can bet the farm that the superintendent and the BOE know this.
This will make for an interesting budget year. It will indicate how the taxpayers are thinking about tax increases
Thanks for posting the capital plan. You are very good at getting documents and posting them on-line. Let's now see if you show up at a BOE meeting to ask about the plan. Instead of "assuming" that this is a blue print, go to the source (in a public forum) and ask the questions. After all, we all know what happens when you "assume."
BTW, I'm not on the BOE, PTO, or any other organization. But I watch the meetings on Channel 17, and talk to my neighbors and friends (Reps & Dems). If you show up at a budget meeting to ask these questions, I look forward to seeing it on cable.
Maybe the board of education can listen instead of thinking they are being attacked.
It's not personal it's business.
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