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Post by parentinwantagh on May 28, 2008 9:25:23 GMT -5
iteach, they are not touching the budget. It was stated last night it is going to be presented as it was the first time around.
Sally or anyone, please correct me if I am wrong.
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Post by parentinwantagh on May 28, 2008 9:32:47 GMT -5
Many of the comments from last night's meeting dealt with sports and getting into college because of sports. Is that all our schools are about? I agree, cultural and other activities are equally important. How about our students who get into college without ever being involved in sports? Is not the budget supposed to cover everyone, not just a few? This budget is too high for only a few. Are the lack of updated curriculum, textbooks, science rooms, technology, poorly kept buildings, etc. being lost at the expense of sports? I hope not, because if this is so, I know how I have to vote. As I agree with you regarding our education it appears that the sports parents out weighed the No voters last night. I understand why the meeting was on such short notice, but I also feel that if the board truly wanted all of the community to be aware of the meeting they could have contacted 12 news, possibly placed fliers in different locations, etc. Can anyone answer where the school now getting this $10,000+ money for the re-vote?
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Post by iteach on May 28, 2008 9:34:17 GMT -5
Thanks, parentinwantagh, I knew that. My thought was that if the Board truly had the heart and soul of all the people in the community that they would have taken time to find a half-percent at least to lower the tax levy. I'm not sure that they have considered everyone, including senior citizens at fixed incomes.
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Post by parentinwantagh on May 28, 2008 9:36:31 GMT -5
I hear you iteach.
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Post by iteach on May 28, 2008 9:38:24 GMT -5
Can anyone answer where the school now getting this $10,000+ money for the re-vote? - Parentinwantagh - I too, would like the answer to this?
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Post by sally on May 28, 2008 9:40:11 GMT -5
Sally, I never said every senior voted against the budget. The BOE made a decision to re-vote and I , unlike those who complained after the budget was defeated, will accept it and move on. My opinion is that their decision was in part based on their own political survivial , not only the best interest of the kids. The only politicians who should be worried about their survival are the paid politicians. They are invisible right now and also were not present as they usually are at the Memorial Day Parade. Un paid members of the board are members of the community first.We all knew going into that meeting that some would be happy and others not.Thats a fact of life..Anyone interested in joining the BAC can contact Elaine McGuigan at 679-6310 and have your name put on the list..If you don't,just attend the first meeting which is on the district calendar and that is it.I think more involvement from many different voices in the community can benefit us all. I for one welcome it.Thank You I would very much appreciate if teachers who live in our town who work in the public school sector in Nassau or Suffolk counties to join the BAC. I think this will give us all a bird's eye view of their concerns as well.This will enable us to understand the salary issues on both sides..Thank You
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Post by parentinwantagh on May 28, 2008 9:40:51 GMT -5
Since I want to know the facts and not go on stories or rumors I have a call into Mr. Christie. Once I hear something I will share it.
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Post by sally on May 28, 2008 10:49:47 GMT -5
Thanks, parentinwantagh, I knew that. My thought was that if the Board truly had the heart and soul of all the people in the community that they would have taken time to find a half-percent at least to lower the tax levy. I'm not sure that they have considered everyone, including senior citizens at fixed incomes. I re-read your post several times before I replied..A halfof a percent of this budget is $300,000.oo.
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Post by lilly on May 28, 2008 11:16:58 GMT -5
I was angry last night and waited until today to post, hoping my anger would subside. It hasn't.
Let's put some facts into perspective.
Probably two of the four proposed updated curriculums are unavoidable. The state ed department will not allow any district to teach Math A after this year therefore we have to spend $ there. I don't know if Global is a mandate or keeping that curriculum current but that one sounds like Math, it's a 'cost of doing business'. So, assume 1/2 are 'cost of doing business' increases. Those curriculum offerings are a minuscule portion of the budget.
The debt service is 3.5% of this budget or $2.3m which covers refurbished school buildings, computer labs for the middle school and high school, new gym and field, etc. To be fair, we will need to position those "new" items as being included in the "operating budget" every year for the next 15 or 20 years since we will still be paying them off then.
Salary and benefit increases account for roughly $3m+ of this $4.6m increase. As involved as I tried to be, never once did I hear that fact presented by our admins or the board of ed that led those contract negotiations throughout this budget process. I did hear special ed, fuel and debt service offered up as the reason for spikes several times, but the total of those is about half of those salary and benefit increases. I'm already hearing the "but teacher pay is academics" rallying cry (and we do have great teachers), but no one in the private sector is getting those increases lately no matter how good you are. Many are lucky to have jobs to pay the taxes, food and fuel bills.
The amount we spend on academic investment pales in comparison to the amount we spend on sports, extracurriculars, etc. Although I am an ardent supporter of academics (as well as 'well-rounded kids' and 'busy involved teens are a preventive measure') and firmly believe that we must invest in our academic product every year (as opposed to an ad hoc, catch as catch can approach), those academics (texbooks, curric updates, technology as a teaching tool) are only about .6% of this proposed operating budget.
While there was overwhelming spirit last night to revote "for the kids" despite this 8%+ tax increase, this budget is not for all the kids. There are kids getting screwed by this budget, our creative kids (cultural arts). That bothers me for a few reasons:
After last night's meeting, while still being confirmed, it is unlikely we will be able to fundraise for those cultural arts kids due to state regs. That funding HAS to come from our admins and board of ed within the proposed budget in order to ensure it happens. Those kids were such a non-existent afterthought, it was evident that even when the board of ed went into a closed session to decide on the revote and possibly at a higher rate to include the middle school sports, those cultural arts kids and fact-checking for them was not even on their minds. And yes, those parents have already contacted our board of ed, admins, and politicians to no avail yet. So, ourkids, let's assume I buy into middle school sports is equally important as high school varsity and clubs for college preparation, will you write a letter to our admins and the board, asking them to fund a college prep path that includes ALL our kids?
When all is said and done, our administrators and elected board of ed are now making judgment calls on community values. That is those kids who are choosing creative fields will be severely penalized if they even have a shot of getting into colleges for their chosen professions, since we are not providing for our most gifted and talented (those that have real talent since these programs are audition, the kids have exhausted Wantagh's offerings, will not be challenged enough without it, etc.) in this budget. Kids who with that program can make their livings as adults to you know, pay their taxes. Our administrators have positioned those life preparation programs for our creative kids as "enrichment" (Dr. Begley), which misses the boat entirely. Most people appreciate the arts yet don't understand that in order for our creatively gifted kids to make it as their trade/vocation in this world (theatre, music, dance, art), those kids need this program as much as sports & extracurriculars are needed for college applications and the plumbing, cosmetology and medical/dental assistant training for other kids, that this budget offers.
And if the teachers want us to support them with those salary and benefit increases, where were the guidance counselors, teachers and coaches fighting for those cultural arts kids last night?
Sending those kids, if even all of them are accepted, costs less than 1/10th of a percentage point of this operating budget. I know things are extremely tight in the budget, but those in control of this budget cannot find that measly amount of $ to be all inclusive of our kids? All kids are not created equal in this budget.
Everyone's voices were not heard last night. Our most vocal students were our sports students. If sports participation fosters teamwork and community spirit, how come not one of those athletes spoke about the importance of a budget that is inclusive of their classmates - all our kids, like our creative kids? Some of their parents, yes (sportsbooster, you rock - I have a newly discovered appreciation for the good that the sportsbooster club does - I will continue to shell out $20's for the baseball team's coupon books). The kids no. When I told my kids that they might be fundraising for lacrosse and whatever else sport we offer on contingency via countless carwashes, they didn't balk, they were receptive to it even though they don't benefit from our sports programs. Maybe I'm naive here, but I would hope that the community offers the same level of support and commitment I've tried to teach my kids to ALL our kids. That is not happening.
So as thankless as a non-paying volunteer position on the board of ed is, the board of ed needs to remember that it is essential they represent all interests of the community since they are 'elected' (albeit unopposed). At the end of the day, actions speak louder than words.
When those vote yes lawn signs go back up, someone needs to make handwritten corrections on them. They need to note which school group paid for them like other communities do ("VOTE YES, Plainedge Soccer Booster Club, Go Bobcats"). And, the slogan has to be changed to "SOME Wantagh kids are worth it".
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Post by lilly on May 28, 2008 11:22:16 GMT -5
The only politicians who should be worried about their survival are the paid politicians. They are invisible right now and also were not present as they usually are at the Memorial Day Parade. That is quite an interesting fact. Now that you mention it, that needs to be noted to our politicians. I would very much appreciate if teachers who live in our town who work in the public school sector in Nassau or Suffolk counties to join the BAC. I think this will give us all a bird's eye view of their concerns as well.This will enable us to understand the salary issues on both sides..Thank You Not just the salary issues, but the people on the BAC who are teachers in other districts, were invaluable this year. We need to continue hearing from them. We also need to hear from our own teachers regularly, not just from our principals, an occasional teacher appearance (there was ONE teacher at one of all the BAC meetings this year) and other admins, via the BAC.
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Post by forthekids on May 28, 2008 11:42:43 GMT -5
In response to Lilly, while I was pleasantly surprised by the turnout of the community, I too was a little uncomfortable about the emphasis on sports. I know that the extra-curricular activities were brought up too, but the emphasis was on the sports programs. I am glad that the budget will be put up for a re-vote without the 7th grade sports component added to it. I believe that in spite of what one speaker offered that the budget would pass because those parents who were upset about the 7th grade sports would now vote for the budget, the community at large would have been very upset at a failed budget being put up again at a higher number. I think the compromise of the community raising the funds was a fair one. I too also noticed that when that BOE came back and spoke about the fundraising for sports that they didn't include the BOCES Cultural Arts students, I assumed it was an oversight on their part. You mentioned in your post that the state would not allow fundraising to support these students and I question why that is and if there is anyway around it.
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Post by sally on May 28, 2008 12:19:07 GMT -5
I just want to make a note,that the cultural arts program affected 6 kids at a cost of approx. 19,000.00 per child.I can see this is their passion and possibly calling in life,but that is alot to give one child over another.
It would be a wonderful thing,but I don't think the community can absorb the cost.I do feel for these kids,please do not take this the wrong way..I hope laws will enable them to fundraise.
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Post by lilly on May 28, 2008 12:29:17 GMT -5
The cost is more like $13k per kid or less, roughly the same cost per kid we are paying for other BOCES programs.
You missed the point - our sports kids and other BOCES kids are ok yet these kids were cut. So we've already given a lot to 'once child over another' more than once. It shouldn't have even been put into a fundraising pool unless all of them, like the other BOCES and sports should be. Let the cultural arts kids eat cake? Thanks to our admins and the board for making that call...
I'm still fuming, just in case you haven't noticed.
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Post by sally on May 28, 2008 12:34:42 GMT -5
Lily,I hear your frustration,but I do think it is closer to my number,from the budget line..I would fund it if it was in the budget,but many others would not.
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Post by lilly on May 28, 2008 12:37:22 GMT -5
Nope, I've been watching that one. Last year, the cost per kid for that program was $12,919 - it didn't jump to $19k in a year. That $19k is what the administration wants you to believe.
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