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Post by Wantagh Parent on May 21, 2008 9:58:31 GMT -5
This thread is open for positive solution-based discussions.
Please join.
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Post by Wantagh Parent on May 21, 2008 10:55:53 GMT -5
www.news12.com/LI/topstories/article?id=211764"(05/21/08) MEDFORD - All but eight school budgets were passed Tuesday by voters on Long Island. A record amount of state aid led to some of the lowest spending and tax increase proposals in more than a decade. The districts asked for an average school tax increase of 3.87 percent and budgets called for an average increase in spending of 5.09 percent. In Suffolk County, budget proposals were rejected in East Moriches, Hauppauge, Kings Park, Lindenhurst, Patchogue-Medford, Shelter Island and Shoreham-Wading River. The sole Nassau County school district to suffer a defeat was Wantagh. The district was asking for a tax increase of 8.27 percent, the highest across the Island. Officialssay the Wantagh School District will hold a re-vote on June 17. "
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Post by taxed2death on May 21, 2008 11:00:40 GMT -5
news12.com/LI/topstories/article?id=211764According to News 12 website: Officials say the Wantagh School District will hold a re-vote on June 17. Does this mean the same budget? Without making any changes? Yet it will cost $10,000 to do? My sense is that usually the passionate "yes" voters get out and the "no" voters are the ones that don't force themselves to get out and vote because they usually don't win. By the look of the polls, no seniors, so a re-vote could result in a higher defeat. Just my personal observation.
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Post by sally on May 21, 2008 11:21:10 GMT -5
I think you should check your sources,or maybe have news 12 check their sources.....The info news 12 has may be incorrect.  |
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Post by vetmann on May 21, 2008 11:35:33 GMT -5
Sally, do you know something about the possilble re-vote? I have called Dr. Bonuso, Mr. Christie and the district clerk's office, but get voice mail. The board has stated many times that there would not be a re-vote- to do so would diminish their credibility.
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Post by sally on May 21, 2008 11:41:47 GMT -5
I would only take info directly from the district.I am sure they are wrapped up in meetings.So lets wait and see,I think this is the most logical thing to do.
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Post by lilly on May 21, 2008 13:18:14 GMT -5
Waiting is hard.
No announcements on the district website.
When anyone hears something, please let the rest of us know.
We need a community meeting - a board meeting with a hearing? Hopefully, with the announcement whether we're having a re-vote well in advance of this potential meeting. Check your emotions at the door and roll your sleeves up kind of meeting.
I'd just like to know what I could be doing to help the situation. School is almost closed for this year. September will be here sooner than you think. With this budget vote, there is a lot of work to done before that, I would guess fund raising and such. We need to get a handle on it.
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Post by Wantagh Parent on May 21, 2008 14:08:04 GMT -5
From the district website:
"There will be a Board of Education Contingency Budget Meeting on Tuesday, May 27th at 9:00 a.m. in the Wantagh High School Auditorium."
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Post by planman78 on May 21, 2008 15:34:56 GMT -5
There has been much debate regarding various funding criteria in an Austerity Budget. Several posts have been involved with the funding of sports teams in this type of budget and several people have cited a Supreme Court Case. I believe that they may have been initially right in stating that a supreme court told a school district that sports cannot be cut in a contingency budget. However see web page www.courts.state.ny.us/ad4/court/Decisions/2005/04-29-05/PDF/0307.pdf To sum this up The Supreme Court of the State of New York Appellate Division has overturned this initial finding by the Supreme Court of Cayuga County and basically stated that school boards have the right to cut "all" sports funding and extra curricular funding including field trips in a contingency budget. |
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Post by lilly on May 21, 2008 18:16:04 GMT -5
Thank you planman.
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Post by omega3 on May 21, 2008 19:50:04 GMT -5
Planman
Thank-you for the clarification
So what you are saying is the Board of Education has the right to make cuts in "ordinary contingent expenses" as they see necessary.
However
There is flexability in this decision and if "all" sports funding were cut to achieve the contingent budget amount then that would be a BOE decision not mandated by the State Education Department.
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Post by backintheday on May 21, 2008 19:53:18 GMT -5
To all -- I think everything being put forth is great both pro and con. This is exactly what the community needs. Hopefully next years BAC will be standing room only. I have been a member of the BAC for the last 5 years, it is both frustrating and rewarding at the same time. The reason I believe most people attend is for the love of ALL KIDS!!! There are many ways the budget can be reduced but it is going to take some sacrifices and tough decisions that our BOE has to make. We are told as BAC members that over 65% of the budget is contractual and we can't do anything about it!!! That statement I find hard to stomach because it is our BOE that signs these contracts. The patented response is "that's what other districts are doing". MAYBE WANTAGH CAN BE A PIONEER AND START TO CHALLENGE THE TEACHERS UNION AND OTHERS. WE WILL BE LOOKING AT 8-10% INCREASES FOR A LONG TIME IF WE DON'T GET MORE PRODUCTIVITY OUT OF OUR TEACHERS,SUPERVISORS,CHAIR PEOPLE,AND ALL THE OTHER POSITIONS WE HAVE. TEACHERS NEED TO BE IN THE CLASSROOM INSTRUCTING AND NOT IN THE HALLS MONITORING. ----- HERE ARE A FEW FACTS --- TEACHERS INSTRUCT FOR 5 OUT 9 PERIODS AT MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL LEVELS-- 6 OUT OF 9 AT ELEMENTARY LEVEL. SUPERVISORS FROM 1 TO 4 PER DAY ACCORDING TO NEEDS OF DISTRICT. WHEN ASKED THE QUESTION HOW MANY PERIODS DO OUR SUPERVISORS INSTRUCT WE DIDN'T GET AN ANSWER BUT DR.B SAID "THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN LOOK INTO". NOBODY IS WATCHING THE STORE AND OUR KIDS SUFFER FOR IT. THE CUTS HAVE TO COME FROM THE 65% AND NOT FROM THE FEW DOLLARS THAT ACTUALLY GO TO THE KIDS. BUSINESS AS USUAL WAS GIVEN A MESSAGE YESTERDAY. LET'S LEAD THE WAY AND BE THE START OF SOMETHING GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!! DR.B LIKES TO MAKE THE ANALOGY THAT THE STAFF IS THRILLED TO BE PART OF THE WANTAGH FAMILY. WHEN THE FAMILY IS HURTING EVERYONE JUMPS IN TO HELP--THAT'S FAMILY !!!!
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Post by sally on May 21, 2008 20:11:03 GMT -5
AN IMPORTANT UPDATE
THERE WILL BE A BUDGET MEETING WITH THE BOE TUESDAY,MAY 27@ 9:00am IN THE HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM.....IN ADDITION THEY WILL BE RECONVENING THIS MEETING AT 7:30PM IN ROOM 150 OF THE HIGH SCHOOL TO ACCOMMODATE THOSE WHO CAN NOT ATTEND THE MORNING MEETING...ALL ARE URGED TO ATTEND
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Post by Wantagh Parent on May 21, 2008 20:54:02 GMT -5
Thank you very much Sally.
(I sent out emails also.)
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Post by makeitright on May 23, 2008 8:25:14 GMT -5
Some solutions: Let's take a look at the Administration. In my job, we've had to downsize -- two jobs became one. Why can't we ask the parents to volunteer at their children's school and possibly cut some aides. I read on this blog that we have an Assistant Superintendent? Do we really? Maybe Wantagh Elementary could use the principal only. I know it's a big school, but I'm sure he could do it. If Wantagh is a "family" then the family needs to pull together.
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