Post by lilly on May 6, 2011 10:01:13 GMT -5
I was disappointed at the lack of turn-out at last night's budget hearing. It was the same old, same old small turn-out. Was it not publicized enough?
Highlights
The good news is some of the details of the ratified teachers contract were announced. Details can be read here: www.wantaghschools.org/18401010131967963/lib/18401010131967963/WantaghStatementmay2011.pdf
Annual increases are either flat or +.75% for the duration of the contract. No mention was made of changes to the step schedule, therefore I can only assume that it remains unchanged. Net effect is Wantagh teacher raises will decrease from the 5.9-6.2% average of recent years to a more taxpayer-palatable average of around 3%. Health care contributions to eventually increase to 20% (still compares unfavorably with my family's 55% contribution). Oh and applause for our dept. chairs who volunteered to take a salary freeze a while back. Thanks again. Given the (vindictive?) reserve shenanigans of the contingency year, I feel much more confident about the proposed budget now that a huge variable, the teachers contract, has been settled.
And unlike last year, no budget mis-statements within the presentation. In fact, the presentation is short & sweet, in keeping with 'the less said the better' (although people should not be misled that the 1.X% budget to budget increase touted in the budget brochure is the projected tax increase. That # is +3.99%.)
Lowlights
Low attendance and a smidgeon of inappropriate BOE trustee politicking through audience member statements.
Demonstrated lack of understanding by the supers as to what works extremely well (how Ms. Beary and the rest, Mrs. L, Ms. Mac and Mr. P purposely run that dept.) and what doesn't (underfunding) in the visual arts dept as lordknowshowmany visual arts commendation certificates were awarded to kids.
Throwing kids under the proverbial (school) bus for political gain and unfortunately, once again (polarizing) lack of visionary leadership on the part of the BOE. For 3 years, the BAC has voted at an overwhelming majority to more closely examine the arts and reinstate what has been stripped from arts spending in the last 3 years. And I say polarizing bc there shouldn't be statements about "sports vs. arts" (um, NO kid programs should be cut for the taxes we pay), however, we have a BOE whose actions have not only allowed but encouraged this chasm to happen. So yes, while our super and BOE do not know to what degree neighboring and like districts will have combined 7th & 8th grade teams and on a pragmatic level what that means to our own kids, they've put forth a budget that includes separate teams. Lololol. There was a statement recently by a BOE incumbent about making "unpopular" decisions. Why don't you cross out unpopular and put "self-serving" in its place? It's a more accurate & honest assessment.
Off to housecleaning!!!!! I'll let you know if I catch any mis-statements in the budget presentation as I sat through last night's in a head-cold induced fog. Fellow citizens, please make sure you understand how you vote in the trustee election.
Highlights
The good news is some of the details of the ratified teachers contract were announced. Details can be read here: www.wantaghschools.org/18401010131967963/lib/18401010131967963/WantaghStatementmay2011.pdf
Annual increases are either flat or +.75% for the duration of the contract. No mention was made of changes to the step schedule, therefore I can only assume that it remains unchanged. Net effect is Wantagh teacher raises will decrease from the 5.9-6.2% average of recent years to a more taxpayer-palatable average of around 3%. Health care contributions to eventually increase to 20% (still compares unfavorably with my family's 55% contribution). Oh and applause for our dept. chairs who volunteered to take a salary freeze a while back. Thanks again. Given the (vindictive?) reserve shenanigans of the contingency year, I feel much more confident about the proposed budget now that a huge variable, the teachers contract, has been settled.
And unlike last year, no budget mis-statements within the presentation. In fact, the presentation is short & sweet, in keeping with 'the less said the better' (although people should not be misled that the 1.X% budget to budget increase touted in the budget brochure is the projected tax increase. That # is +3.99%.)
Lowlights
Low attendance and a smidgeon of inappropriate BOE trustee politicking through audience member statements.
Demonstrated lack of understanding by the supers as to what works extremely well (how Ms. Beary and the rest, Mrs. L, Ms. Mac and Mr. P purposely run that dept.) and what doesn't (underfunding) in the visual arts dept as lordknowshowmany visual arts commendation certificates were awarded to kids.
Throwing kids under the proverbial (school) bus for political gain and unfortunately, once again (polarizing) lack of visionary leadership on the part of the BOE. For 3 years, the BAC has voted at an overwhelming majority to more closely examine the arts and reinstate what has been stripped from arts spending in the last 3 years. And I say polarizing bc there shouldn't be statements about "sports vs. arts" (um, NO kid programs should be cut for the taxes we pay), however, we have a BOE whose actions have not only allowed but encouraged this chasm to happen. So yes, while our super and BOE do not know to what degree neighboring and like districts will have combined 7th & 8th grade teams and on a pragmatic level what that means to our own kids, they've put forth a budget that includes separate teams. Lololol. There was a statement recently by a BOE incumbent about making "unpopular" decisions. Why don't you cross out unpopular and put "self-serving" in its place? It's a more accurate & honest assessment.
Off to housecleaning!!!!! I'll let you know if I catch any mis-statements in the budget presentation as I sat through last night's in a head-cold induced fog. Fellow citizens, please make sure you understand how you vote in the trustee election.
