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Post by Wantagh Parent on May 27, 2008 11:28:48 GMT -5
Please post your impressions of today's 9:00 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. meetings here.
The 9:00 meeting was opened by a few comments from Dr. Bonuso and Michael Cucci:
Dr. Bonuso's stated that typically, priorities for the $1.545k reduction would be outside the classroom first with inside the classroom last. Namely, sports, extracurriculars then staffing while the district is checking on state mandate contingency rules. The amount budgeted for technology and new text books would be cut in a contingency.
The contingency tax rate is +5.18% ($300 per average home) compared to +8.27% for the proposed budget ($500 per average home).
No decisions on revote or contingency were announced although a deadline of tomorrow afternoon for the State Ed Dept. and 'advertising' were noted.
If the decision is made to go for a revote, it was not announced if or how many changes there would be to that proposed budget.
After those rather brief comments, the floor was open to the community. The meeting closed at 11:15.
Tonight's meeting will probably be in the upstairs cafeteria of the middle school, not room 150.
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Post by forestlakermomof2 on May 27, 2008 14:06:08 GMT -5
I attended the meeting this morning at 9am.
Many people spoke and I think most of them had positive comments about our school district. Some people did question what else the board could do in order to alleviate the pressure we are all feeling from our rising taxes.
People did ask the board for a re-vote and I hope the board listens. We should not just agree to go to a contingency budget. The board and Dr. Bonuso clearly stated what would be cut if we went to a contingency budget. If anyone sitting in that audience doesn't realize what our kids will be losing out on, then they weren't listening.
I have been a supporter of this budget. I am an educator and I can see both sides of the coin. Do I like paying my high taxes? Of course not, but I do want to see my kids get the best education. To me, a good education is priceless!
For me, hearing the high school students speak was very emotional. They spoke from the heart. These are some of the kids who will be affected if we do go to contingency. There will no longer be sport teams or clubs for those kids...for all our kids. Think back on your own school years...I am sure we were all involved in something. Don't you want your child to get the same opportunities?
People talked about fund raising for the sports teams and clubs if we go on contingency. It will cost us more to fund raise than it would have if we just voted *YES* for this budget. You will end up spending more money out of your pocket in the long run.
I sincerely hope that this defeated budget was a wake up call for our community. I also hope that our school board offers up this budget for a re-vote and I pray that the outcome is different than what we saw on May 20th.
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Post by vetmann on May 27, 2008 14:11:02 GMT -5
Did anyone at today's meeting oppose a re-vote?
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Post by twinlaker on May 27, 2008 14:46:27 GMT -5
I called someone who was able to attend this morning but she wasn't sure exactly what the Board proposes to put up next.
Is it their intention to roll out the same budget again? Most of the meeting seemed to be about austerity rather than any tweaking of budget try #2 to return some of the kid cuts from the first rejected budget.
Any feel for this? Thank You.
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Post by forestlakermomof2 on May 27, 2008 15:18:16 GMT -5
The Board has not said what they are going to do. I agree...much of the meeting was talking about the contingency budget.
I think the Board is hurt that the public voted down the budget. I think they feel that they did their best to present the community with a solid budget and we turned it down. Well, get over the hurt feelings...by not putting up the budget for a re-vote is only hurting our children.
The Board has the final decision as to what to do. My personal opinion would be to put up the same budget and see what happens. Hopefully the results will be different from last time.
I don't recall anyone coming right out and saying they opposed a re-vote, but there were people who are not happy about the increase in taxes.
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Post by lilly on May 27, 2008 15:47:21 GMT -5
The community's comments seemed to be split in thirds - 1/3 wants a revote, 1/3 'we must better examine our spending and look for change' and 1/3 were high school students who of course want their sports and clubs (not much to argue with there). No one openly opposed a revote.
There was talk of people reaching out to the undecided and no voters to persuade them to vote yes. I don't think that addresses the issue of why there were so many undecided's and no's. Seems like in last year's and this year's votes, we're split at a 50/50 and no one is tackling why or how to resolve that.
I do agree with forestlakermomof2, for anyone that was "hurt" (parents, admins or board of ed), get over it and let's keep our eye on the big picture.
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Post by parentinwantagh on May 27, 2008 16:11:58 GMT -5
I agree with everyone that no one wants to see our children hurt, but if anyone noticed today no financial questions were answered. The board spoke strictly on what the children would miss out on. When one asked why does Dr. B need such a high increase in salary, no one from the board answered.
Many people brought up great points today about how the community was possibly not educated enough on the budget. There are so many stories going around no one know who to believe.
I am sure the board was so confident the budget was going to pass that they kept insisting that their would not be a re-vote, but it appears that they may go back on their word.
Another question is if the budget we have is so tight already then where is the $10,000+ dollars going to come from with the re-vote?
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Post by wantaghinmyheart on May 27, 2008 16:13:13 GMT -5
After attending today's hearings , I have one important question that wasn't addressed........WHAT CUTS WILL IT TAKE TO GET A PASSED BUDGET ON THE SECOND TRY, SO THE STUDENTS IN THIS DISTRICT DON'T LOOSE EVERYTHING THAT MEANS SO MUCH ? A glass half full will be so much better than an empty one.......
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Post by ourkids on May 27, 2008 16:40:21 GMT -5
How many people attended the 9am meeting? Was the entire board present at the meeting?The question many people are asking is: Are there any cuts that can be made? Are there any projects we can put off for another year? Maybe tonight we can get some of these questions answered. People seem very confused. A re-vote can work if people have answers to their questions to cut down on all the confusion and rumors.
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Post by forestlakermomof2 on May 27, 2008 16:50:14 GMT -5
No, the entire Board was not there. Hopefully there will be a full board tonight.
I don't think anything should be cut from the budget. What is there to cut...sports? clubs? teachers? All of these things are needed to make Wantagh a great place to be.
I found it amazing this morning that there were actually people at the meeting who didn't realize that we had to pay back the bond! Are you kidding!? The bond was not a gift.
I also cannot believe that people were actually questioning the budget now. Where were they BEFORE the budget failed? Perhaps if more people spoke up sooner, we wouldn't be in this mess.
People need to realize that the children of Wantagh...OUR children... are the future. What kind of people/parents are we if we don't afford our kids the best education available?
Just my opinion...
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Post by wantaghinmyheart on May 27, 2008 17:10:13 GMT -5
Yes our children are our future, but right now it's boiling down to what people can AFFORD to PAY in these economic times. So the question is WHAT IS THE WANTAGH COMMUNITY WILLING TO PAY FOR A PASSED BUDGET?
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Post by parentinwantagh on May 27, 2008 17:35:40 GMT -5
forestlakermomof2 - I think that many people were aware of the budget before today. It appeared to me that the problem was and still is that the board does not address the question the community is asking. Once again financial questions that were asked today were overlooked and avoided.
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Post by sally on May 27, 2008 18:05:26 GMT -5
forestlakermomof2 - I think that many people were aware of the budget before today. It appeared to me that the problem was and still is that the board does not address the question the community is asking. Once again financial questions that were asked today were overlooked and avoided. It sounds to me like you were at a different meeting than I attended.Financial questions were asked and they were addressed..I wrote down facts and figures from that meeting.But I feel the board is giving us all a fair chance when they open up these forums and for that matter have a BAC. IT truly amazes me when people get up and state facts without ever attending a meeting or for that matter not staying through thru an entire budgetary process any given year.. That is how misinformation is started.. If you ask a question,listen to the response,then draw your conclusions..This process takes months,so get involved from the start.
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Post by parentinwantagh on May 27, 2008 21:47:02 GMT -5
Sally we could argue if some financial questions were answered or not but like many said at this point it is already too late, especially after tonight’s meeting. As many are aware the BOE has decided to put the budget up for a re-vote.
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Post by sally on May 27, 2008 21:57:23 GMT -5
Sally we could argue if some financial questions were answered or not but like many said at this point it is already too late, especially after tonight’s meeting. As many are aware the BOE has decided to put the budget up for a re-vote. There is no argument coming from me,I have all the facts I need. Not only from tonight,but throughout the entire process...I look forward to working with this community for the good of this district.And with regards to the re-vote.Thank You
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