Pre-Season Action at BOF 12/16/08
See Video and Documents Below
Dave laid it on the BOF last Tuesday and for a short meeting things have gotten off to an interesting start in the pre-season.
The Scheme Team of Frank Baran and Lindsay Paul came to run a play of their own. It appears based on the discussion that the BOE is looking for a place to park money. Mrs. Paul endeavored to inquire as to how, and through what mechanism could they set-up a “Rainy Day” fund so to speak. As it was explained by Barbara Rich, the rules don’t seem to serve the purposes of the BOE.
Basically, the BOE should give any monies that are left over back to the Town. If they need access to it for emergencies or something else, they just need to request it and go through the channels; over $20K requires a Town Meeting- over $100K requires a referendum. As was pointed out by a citizen, the townspeople have never turned down a good faith request from the BOE; however, it appears to me that control is the issue here.
Discussion was also had regarding the “phantom students”- students budgeted for that didn’t attend the Academy and the tuition money resulting from the discrepancy-plus or minus some $500K- Yeah, a half million dollars. These monies were returned to the WBOE by the Academy and they spent it-and will again and again if allowed-because it is now in the budget going forward as described in this previous article.
The Superintendent noted that he thought the term “phantom students” was inappropriate because all those kids left town and that created the situation, and of course the Academy was uncooperative. This is interesting as I had no problem getting the information and it doesn’t line up with the Superintendent’s story. I for one, after attending meetings and reviewing video and documents don’t believe a word of it. What it boils down to is they stole it from the taxpayers fair and square and aren’t about to give it back. When it was pointed out that it should have been given back regardless of how the discrepancy occurred, the Superintendent was silent. He was also silent about the trend of significant declining enrollment. Mr. Hosmer referenced vague statutes he clearly doesn’t understand with regard to year over year spending requirements.
The money now appears to have created a different problem for the Scheme Team. What to do with it all going forward? It looks like they are running out of places to spend it- we already have the finest in lawn equipment and it appears enough computer power to run a Hedge Fund. This is quite a conundrum. If they try to stuff it, the next proposed BOE budget ought to be quite a show in itself. Otherwise how will it be explained? We all know they are running a “bare bones maintenance budget” right? Last season they even had Glenn Converse, Vice Chair of the BOF repeating the phrase while lauding the inflated BOE budget for god’s sake. I can’t wait for the explanation, can you?
Video (Requires Media Player) 28 Minutes
Dave’s Handout (PDF)
Dave laid it on the BOF last Tuesday and for a short meeting things have gotten off to an interesting start in the pre-season.
The Scheme Team of Frank Baran and Lindsay Paul came to run a play of their own. It appears based on the discussion that the BOE is looking for a place to park money. Mrs. Paul endeavored to inquire as to how, and through what mechanism could they set-up a “Rainy Day” fund so to speak. As it was explained by Barbara Rich, the rules don’t seem to serve the purposes of the BOE.
Basically, the BOE should give any monies that are left over back to the Town. If they need access to it for emergencies or something else, they just need to request it and go through the channels; over $20K requires a Town Meeting- over $100K requires a referendum. As was pointed out by a citizen, the townspeople have never turned down a good faith request from the BOE; however, it appears to me that control is the issue here.
Discussion was also had regarding the “phantom students”- students budgeted for that didn’t attend the Academy and the tuition money resulting from the discrepancy-plus or minus some $500K- Yeah, a half million dollars. These monies were returned to the WBOE by the Academy and they spent it-and will again and again if allowed-because it is now in the budget going forward as described in this previous article.
The Superintendent noted that he thought the term “phantom students” was inappropriate because all those kids left town and that created the situation, and of course the Academy was uncooperative. This is interesting as I had no problem getting the information and it doesn’t line up with the Superintendent’s story. I for one, after attending meetings and reviewing video and documents don’t believe a word of it. What it boils down to is they stole it from the taxpayers fair and square and aren’t about to give it back. When it was pointed out that it should have been given back regardless of how the discrepancy occurred, the Superintendent was silent. He was also silent about the trend of significant declining enrollment. Mr. Hosmer referenced vague statutes he clearly doesn’t understand with regard to year over year spending requirements.
The money now appears to have created a different problem for the Scheme Team. What to do with it all going forward? It looks like they are running out of places to spend it- we already have the finest in lawn equipment and it appears enough computer power to run a Hedge Fund. This is quite a conundrum. If they try to stuff it, the next proposed BOE budget ought to be quite a show in itself. Otherwise how will it be explained? We all know they are running a “bare bones maintenance budget” right? Last season they even had Glenn Converse, Vice Chair of the BOF repeating the phrase while lauding the inflated BOE budget for god’s sake. I can’t wait for the explanation, can you?
Video (Requires Media Player) 28 Minutes
Dave’s Handout (PDF)
I don't know? It seems to me it's the same problems- different date. The problem is they never have enough money! The more they get the more they want! What will it take, signing the taxpayer's checks over to them to distribute at their own will?
School District Name Woodstock Public Schools
District Type Regular District
District Start Date 08/25
District End Date 06/15
School Type Regular Student Instruction
County Name Windham
Student/Teacher Ratio- 12
Educational Climate- Above Average
Advanced Placement Classes- Yes
Before/After School Programs- No
Blue Ribbon School- No
Coalition of Essential Schools- No
Charter School- No
Gifted and Talented- Yes
International Baccalaureate- No
Magnet School- No
Site-Based- Yes
Special Education Classes-Yes
Alternative Programs- No
Full-Time Teachers- 37
Expense Per Pupil (Instructional) $130.00 - 144.99
Expense Per Pupil (Other)- $8,200.00 OR MORE
Students Per Grade- 114
Grade Span- 5-8
Lowest Grade Level 5th Grade
Highest Grade Level 8th Grade
Number of Schools in District 2
Vocational/Technical Curriculum- No
Adult Education Classes- No
Year Round Classes- No
Number of Classrooms- 25
Number of Students in School- 456
Technology Measure- Medium-High
Percentage in Poverty- 0 - 5.9 Percent
School Type- Public
School District Name Woodstock Public Schools
District Type Regular District
District Start Date 08/25
District End Date 06/15
School Type Regular Student Instruction
County Name Windham
Student/Teacher Ratio 14
Educational Climate- Above Average
Advanced Placement Classes- No
Before/After School Programs- Yes
Blue Ribbon School- No
Coalition of Essential Schools- No
Charter School- No
Gifted and Talented- Yes
International Baccalaureate- No
Magnet School- No
Site-Based- Yes
Special Education Classes- Yes
Alternative Programs- No
Full-Time Teachers-35
Expense Per Pupil (Instructional)- $130.00 - 144.99
Expense Per Pupil (Other)- $8,200.00 OR MORE
Students Per Grade- 83.8
Grade Span K-5
Lowest Grade Level- Pre-Kindergarten
Highest Grade Level- 4th Grade
Number of Schools in District- 2
Vocational/Technical Curriculum- No
Adult Education Classes- No
Year Round Classes- No
Number of Classrooms- 23
Number of Students in School- 503
Technology Measure- Medium-Low
Percentage in Poverty- 0 - 5.9 Percent
Website http://www.woodstockschools.net
omfg, this was priceless.