The 2009/10 BOE Shell Game Begins
BOE Budget Forum with Video Coming Soon
It is now time to digest Frank Baran’s opening gambit in this year’s shell game- it’s more comical than expected and sad at the same time. Take a look -HERE-, you may want to print it out and follow along.
First, we are lead through the “areas of increase” without much detail. Of course when it comes to the Academy, great pain is taken to illuminate the detail, but we’ll get back to that.
Then come the busses. First of all we don’t need any, but we’ll get back to that too.
Let’s step back for a moment. As discussed on this site in the past in some detail, this is the part of the game that seems to be lost on most folks- incremental increases in proposed budgets as opposed to Zero-based budgeting.
The first proposed budget is an overall increase of 4.31% or $668,586.00. It doesn’t take much to figure out that this was done ‘just because’ as the BOE was directed to bring forth a zero-percent increase from the start- so, rather than really looking at actual needs (because that doesn’t serve the game) they just pile on over last year whether needed or not.
Ok, so now on to the “reductions” beginning in the “General Category” keeping in mind that there needs to be a "reduction" of $668,586.00:
Computer Equip. (SPED)
$ 1,650.00
(Just spent an unbudgeted ~$300K on tech.)
Tech supplies/Parts
$ 1,300.00
(See above)
Computer repairs
$ 2,000.00
(See above)
WES/WMS Internet
$ 720.00
(They didn’t know they had this in a fund?)
Supplies (calc. per student)
$ 8,600.00
(Remember ‘pay to play’ last year?)
EASTCONN (no increases)
$ 3,500.00
(This is a reduction???)
Tuition Private SPED
$67,000.00
(Exposure limited to 4.5 x WPS tuition)
WA Tuition 2.9% to 2.66%
$12,649.00
(This is a reduction???)
Audit Fees (no increase)
$ 534.00
(This is a reduction???) Repetitive, I know.
Mentors
$ 3,000.00
SPED Legal Fees
$10,000.00
(Hoping not to get sued like usual?)
Testing & Subs
$ 2,500.00
(Admittedly not needed in the first place)
Reduce SPED Bus Driver
$10,161.00
(See above, so as to not be as repetitive)
This is hilarious. Where exactly are the reductions? Up the line a little from Woodstock, they have a name for this- it’s called PORK.
Ok, let’s keep moving:
Two part time custodians
$ 41,795.00
(From a total of ~$250K- Prime target for outsourcing)
Nine TA’s (Regular Ed)
$101,987.00
(These amount to teacher personal assistants)
WES/WMS Media Clerks
$ 34,073.00
(‘Media Sal District’ @ $114,188?)
ELL Tutor
$ 10,348.00
Summer office coverage
$ 1,842.00
(Frank will have to answer his own phone)
WES/WMS Nurse clerks
$ 7,390.00
Full ‘Pay to Play’ Sports
$ 22,002.00
(Strictly designed to aggravate everybody)
• Certified Staff
Grade 4 Teacher
$66,567.00
(Minimal impact due to declining enrollment)
WES Spice Teacher
$35,689.00
(Shock value designed to aggravate parents)
WMS Spice Teacher
$33,425.00
(See above)
WMS Music (Instrumental)
$45,716.00
(See above)
WMS Math Intervention
$32,290.00
(See above)
So, there you have it. Does this strike you as something that serves the children of Woodstock or the whims of a manipulative administration and BOE leadership who would rather incite parents and taxpayers than to evaluate actual needs?
The answer is obvious.
This brings me back to the busses. We currently have 6 spare busses (some not even on the asset list) that serve no purpose other than to inflate maintenance costs. The homework has been done. Between the morning and afternoon runs we don’t run the same busses! Some go out in the morning and then are parked, with different busses doing the afternoon run- HUH? Are busses such a great investment that we should be building up to a double fleet? But there they are in the budget- two new ones at a proposed cost of $103,320 then “reduced” to the amount of the lease payments.
On to WA costs. The “Phantom Student” issue has been covered here in the past in great detail. Where was this level of detail when they were inflating the enrollment to steal from us over the past two years? So, remember there is $469,352 + the incremental increase buried in here somewhere- where?
Another thing to remember is that once the BOE budget is approved, the budget means nothing and they will spend it however they want- then quietly slip though the transfers, making this entire exercise moot.
At the BOF meeting, Alan Walker mentioned that town employees are forgoing raises. How about the school administrators? Not yet anyway. Considering the economic environment the Academy should also consider sharpening the pencil.
In closing, I have direct questions for Frank Baran: May we as citizens have an honest and coherent plan and accounting of our school finances instead of this tripe you have trotted out? Or will you continue to be the water boy for Lindsay Paul, Bill Loftus and Joe Breen instead of serving our children? We’ve seen these plays from the Playbook repeatedly now.
After all Frank, you’ll be the only one hanging in the wind after November…or are you looking elsewhere other than Putnam?
Update: Frank can't seem to get his propaganda straight in the Bulletin
admin., Is it possible and/or practical to re-eval the union contracts in order to save costs/prevent layoffs?
I believe that it is. In fact, this was asked of Lindsay Paul by the BOF as to whether they have approached the unions- see the recent BOF video...
I am very concerned about the WMS spice Teacher and her programs. I think they should look at how many students this teacher reaches, she does not only interact with the "gifted population", she is involved in several programs. I have children at both schools and I do not feel the WES spice program can hold a candle to the WMS program. And let's think about where the program is of most value. In addition how many students are reached by the band teacher, another important program, we will not have any students to feed into the Academy. Why not consider, the coordinator positions, The math and Language arts coordinator, Combining that into one position or adding a teaching component to the position. Couldn't they teach part time and still coordinate, other districts do this. Why are they not mentioned in the proposed cuts? I do not even know what the Math Intervention is? How many children are serviced by this? Are there any statistics to monitor its success? We need more information.
And why not a pay freeze or a deferment of salaries? There are districts where this is happening. And how will the stimulus package affect us.
I couldn't agree more regarding what you have written and that other issues should be scrutinized, but you must remember the purpose of the game that is being run here...the purpose of the article was to inform, now it's up to those concerned to make something happen.
My current understanding of the stimulus package is that it will provide something in the neighborhood of $300K over two years.
Thanks for participating.
Mr. Powers,
Just to let you know, whomever left you the above comment under the name "newcomer" - that wasn't me. Not a big deal; just want to point it out to you so there's no confusion. I'm the "Newcomer" from the Cafe website.
I was reading the link to zero based budgeting that you provided. I'm a fan of this method anyway. The BOE apparently uses the incremental method, as many do. Regardless of whether they keep their current budget method or change to zero-based, I think they should consider developing a "decision package" as it was described in your link.
They seem to be starting to think along these lines anyway by asking the community to give them input as to what our priorities are (ie. classroom size vs. program cuts). Perhaps if they developed their own decision package and then publicized it for the public to consider and comment on, we might all learn a thing or two about our personal priorities as parents. We could then each examine for ourselves if our own priorities are in sync with those of the BOE or not. I think that could be a good launching point for discussion between the community at large and the BOE.
Thanks for the head's up. As you may know, I have no control over this and don't track IP addresses for that purpose- either way I thought the comment was a good one.
I agree with your assessment of the situation to a certain degree. They have in fact put forth their "decision package" to the public, but in my opinion not for the reasons they should be- this is just rhetoric from the Playbook to incite parents and hold the kids hostage in garnering "support"- this was not at all lost on some of the people who spoke and identified this as the scare tactics used in prior years directly from the Playbook (and no, not me or Mr. Shultz). You will see exactly what I'm talking about when the video is posted.
Moreover, I thought that the use of employees who spoke in favor of their positions at the forum was at least a bit disingenuous- more propaganda which appeared to many to be by design.
The leadership of this BOE has demonstrated repeatedly that they are not interested in listening to anyone or anything that does not fit with their agenda, which, in the opinion of a growing number of people, is to continue to support a growing empire of unneeded administration not designed to benefit children directly, but used to continue to attack the Academy.
Personally speaking, both of my girls greatly benefitted from the Spice programs as evidenced by one in the Theater Management program at Emerson and the other in pursuing writing/journalism at Arcadia. These career paths and decisions were influenced by these programs and that continued for them through the Academy which puts a great deal of emphasis on these sorts of programs and involvement. In fact, my oldest got a free ride at Pomfret School her sophomore year and went back to the Academy because she felt it was a better school and experience.
These programs are the LAST thing that should be on the chopping block and I think they should be ashamed of themselves for continuing to manipulate parents in this way while grossly manipulating finances for their continued purpose of building the empire.
On another subject, I would be curious to know whether you are aware that during the last BOE meeting, which Lindsay Paul did not attend, a vote on the Academy contract was forced and the vote was 4-4...Hmmmm.
It is not the entire Board that is the problem here, it is the leadership, the Superintendent, and their powerplay agenda- to what end I still have a hard time understanding.
Anyway, either way, thanks for participating.
No, I was not aware that there had been a vote about the Academy contract. I actually haven't heard much talk about the contract in awhile. Would you know the date of the meeting you're referring to so I could check the minutes? Also, would you know if either the BOE or the Academy has made a draft copy of the proposed contract available to the public yet? I'm pleased to learn that negotiations between the BOE and the Academy have resumed.
I'm assuming you've read some of my comments at the cafe before so hopefully, you've come to know that I'm not anti-Academy. I am pro K-8 AND pro-Academy. I want our children to have an optimal academic experience from preK right through to graduation. I've said this publicly from the start. It is in this vein that I ask you the following question: will you be seeking the same kind of transparency and accountability from the Academy as you do from the BOE and from the BOF as pertains to Prop 46? I really do support the zero-based budgeting and as a supporter of it, I also believe that we must ask all consumers of our Woodstock tax dollars to adopt this accounting method if we truly support it. I don't see what good it will do to have one board adopt it, but none of the others.
One last thing, please don't think I'm automatically parroting what I hear from others. I form my own thoughts and opinions. Zero-based budgeting isn't popular at the cafe and if I choose to support it, I don't feel that makes me an CPS-loving evil-doer. Likewise, if I come here and sincerely ask you a question about the Academy, I hope you won't assume that I'm an anti-Academy loving evil-doer. I think that we need to find a way to dial down the hostility and work toward solutions. I said this last year over at the Cafe so since I'm here, I figure I should state the same so you know where I'm coming from.
If I am not mistaken, it was the 2/26 meeting. I was unable to make it and the minutes aren’t out yet- but beware, the minutes don’t always tell the story. I’m sure Mr. Rosendahl would be happy to fill you in. My understanding of the discussion held is that it was the same contract as Pomfret’s, and that potential amendments were discussed. I am not clear that good faith negotiations have resumed- I will endeavor to find out if that is the case.
I couldn’t agree more with your feeling that the children (and their parents) should have an optimal experience from Pre-K- graduation. I also agree that Zero-based needs to be adopted across the board.
To your question about accountability, the unqualified answer is YES, but there is more to it than the surface argument. When discussions have been had with Dr. Fusco for instance, it was determined by the attendees that the Citizen Audit Committee would begin with WPS as it is the apparent problem and the largest ‘bucket’ of funds. I will assume for this discussion that you are aware of the history here including the Coalition, the legal bills, the Breen proposal and related crusades as well as the FOI skirmishes. When inquiry is made to the Academy, the information is provided almost immediately- no FOI necessary and with cooperation, as opposed to the stonewalling encountered with WPS and the BOE. I believe that any casual observer that is aware of the history can see what’s going on here.
I am on the record here on the blog with the following statement: “I personally don't care if it takes $18M to run the school system properly, which it is obviously NOT at the moment evidenced by the failing SPED department and a plethora of other problems, as long as it is done openly and in a spirit of trust with the taxpayers- instead this BOE runs their own agenda with impunity and thumbs their noses at us. This is truly disgusting.”
As far as the BOF and Prop 46, I am on the record here on the blog with this statement: “…I personally care not whether Prop 46 stands or falls. It is the nature of how the agenda is unfolding that bothers me regarding an ordinance they are sworn to uphold and are clearly circumventing for their purposes…and those purposes are, without a doubt, to amend or do away with it.”
Having said all of that, the Prop 46/BOF issue in my mind is separate and distinct and will in the very near future be a battle ground of its’ own, the outcome remains to be seen.
CPS, of which I am not a “member” by the way, is nothing more than a ‘Straw man’ used to promote the conflict. Moreover, it’s not CNS (Citizens for No Spending) is it? In my opinion, nothing associated with CPS is out of line with the possible exception of some of the old writings in the ‘Comings and Goings’ newsletters from years ago- isn’t it funny that some of your pals at Aljazeera were part of that group at the time? My wife and I were the subject of attacks then too...Hmmmm.
As to “dialing down the hostility” and finding solutions, I agree, but based on the continued posturing, stonewalling and attitudes of the current BOE leadership and their cheerleaders, it appears to be a tall order…
Let me add that I just popped in at Aljazeera and read the ridiculous thread regarding Ms. Rigney's supposed motivations regarding my suggestion of Zero-based budgeting. We are both members of the DTC and I was responding to her email to the group asking for suggestions; here is the full email:
Dear Kirsten,
I am not yet sure if I will make it tonight. With regard to the questions I would like to make the following suggestion- The Board should consider adopting a Zero-based budgeting model in relation to question number 3. By definition, this also addresses question number 2 in that it will force evaluation of programs, which in my opinion is where the Board should be concentrating its efforts. Moreover, adoption of this model would, if done correctly, give greater understanding and transparency to parents and citizens regarding future plans and goals both in terms of finances and serving the children.
If you are not familiar with Zero-based budgeting there is a document attached for your review. This was also recommended to the BOF by the auditors and is a recommendation of Dr. Fusco.
Thank you.
-Craig Powers
So then, are you saying that this Dr. Fusco Citizen's Audit Committee is going to look at every board/entity that accepts taxpayer funding and not just the BOE? Does Dr. Fusco give any sort of guideline as to how long this Citizens' Audit process should take? I ask because my concern is that a committee could be established to target a particular board (say Open Space, just for the sake of argument) and start examining that board but somehow never seem to complete its examination. Then it might not ever get around to examining/auditing the remaining boards. All of the boards in town have limits as to the amount of time that someone can serve on them before a re-election would be called for. I'm on an advisory board that was established with a one year appointment term. So has Dr. Fusco discussed any sort of guidelines for how long this audit process should last (give or take)?
I'm not sure who or what you're referring to when you say that friends of mine from the cafe were part of CPS and that you and your family were once the target of that group. I'm not prying for you to enlighten me about it either. When personal comments are posted at both blogs, I tend to skip right over them as I come across them. I don't want my opinions of people to be formed by the opinions of others. I take people as I find them. Anything that I don't hear and see for myself goes down as hearsay or gossip in my book. I give people the benefit of the doubt unless and until they give me reason to regard them otherwise.
Dr. Fusco is an expert in school funding- the same aspects that apply to WPS would be applied at the Academy. If you are asking if Dr. Fusco’s methods can be applied to other areas of town government, the answer is yes, but he does not operate in that area. You should take a look at the preliminary documentation (Fusco Handouts) here on the site, there are choices to be made in how to proceed. I do not speak for the “Citizen Audit Committee”, but have volunteered to review the health care piece as that is a significant part of my background. I believe we had figured 6 months for what we wanted to accomplish. It remains in the planning stage.
You're not prying- I was referring to John & Becki back in the day of Ernie’s campaigns- Ernie lived a few doors down and Gus Masiello in between. Becki was Ernie's Campaign Manager and Gus wrote Comings & Goings- interesting neighborhood I had here- and it still is. We got knocked around a little for reasons I cannot comprehend, but nothing serious. I have to assume that the Leavitt’s didn’t like us on sight or some such silliness. It appears to me that this is relevant now, to them anyway. This was not meant to be an affront to you in any way…