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Post by iteach on Jun 5, 2008 5:21:27 GMT -5
Hightax-thanks for the info. Forall - well put!
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Post by wantagh mom on Jun 5, 2008 10:56:54 GMT -5
I am getting a little tired of everyone adding their comments based on their opinions and not the facts. It is all the misinformation that has been passed around our community that caused this budget to fail. Wake up people . You want to vote the budget down again go ahead . You will be living through hell. Plainedge did and it was not pretty. Anyone out there who was busting their buts to raise money will asure you their time was worth more than the increase they would have spent on a passed budget. And It does take 2 to 3 years to get things back to normal.( not the 8 years again misinformed) The only way to get everything back would be to have a large increase next year. If they try to increase the budget a little each year then it WILL take 2 to 3 years to get things back in place. I am tired of people saying it is not going to affect the kids. It will!!! Also enough with the cutting out administration. They already are cutting!! As far as the raises and pensions go They will go through no matter what.You have a problem with it take it up with the Boe when their contracts are up and renegotiated. Not at voting time. You are taking your anger out on the wrong people. You will be hurting your children and the children in the community.
I was at that contingency meeting both morning and night. It seems to me most of the parents were unhappy about the sport teams being combined and class sizes being increased. Only a few got up and spoke that they can't afford it. The others were willing to pay more. The budget only failed by 126 votes. Also some people didnt realize that the bond was included in the budget this year. They thought we didn't have to pay that back. HELLO???
I just want to say that I am not one of thoose parents that can afford to live here. I am stuggling myself. But we have made sacrafices to stay here. We don't go on expensive vacations, drive around brand new cars, My house isn't dormored. I desperately need a new walk way and driveway, that has been put on hold for the last 10 years just so I can live here. To top it off we are a one income family. I don't have anyone to take care of my kids and I would rather do without the material things then to have them come home to an empty house or be hanging up at the schools. Not to mention a failed budget will end up costing me more in the long run. That means there will be no sports or clubs after school for my children to attend so I will have to pay on the outside, which thoose fees will be increased because they will have to pay for the schools use. Also my elementary student will have a larger class size, which means less time the teacher will have with each student to help them out when they don't understand something. So that means I will be working more at home with my children teaching them what they are not comprehending in class or having to pay for a tutor to help them. Point is you are not saving any money by failing the budget. Id rather pay the 250 dollar difference and have the budget passed and my kids experience all the wonderful things Wantagh has to offer our kids at the Elementary level through the Highschool level.
I think everyone proved their point by voting against it. You had your opportunity to voice your concerns or opionions at the contingency meetings. Now if you realy want to do something to change things. Volunteer by fundraising for new uniforms, Go around trying to get donations from business, Write to Albany. Try to get grants. All of these things take work and time . Are you willing to put in your time? or are you going to sit back and complain. Think about it. Because if the budget fails again. You will be busting your butts and volunteering your time for your kids. If you don't have kids in the middle and highschool level think about this. In a few years your kids will be up at the middle and high school and all thoose parents whose children were affected by the budget failing will have graduated and will be voting for your school budget. Do you want thoose parents to have the same attitude that I don't have kids in the school it doesn't affect me if I fail it?
I am sorry if I am coming on so strong. But I am angry and I am let down. I have struggled to live in Wantagh knowing that the taxes were always going to be higher than the surronding areas. I choose to live here because I know my kids are getting the proper education as well as the school spirit Wantagh has to offer at all levels. My children enjoy and look foward to going to school. I know that if the budget fails again. Things are not going to be the same here. Property values are going to go down. Kids will not be looking foward to going to school and being able to stay for their sports, clubs, girl scouts, and any extra that our schools have offered. I thought my community wanted the same for their kids that I did. I quess proving their point is all that matters to them despite all cost.
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Post by wantaghcitizen on Jun 5, 2008 12:01:16 GMT -5
wantaghma, You say your getting tired of people giving their opinion without the facts, so why don't you give us some facts. These "opinions" are how we feel things are going. It has been the main problem for a long time. The people need to get the facts straight. Are you the one to provide them? We read or hear information from local papers, this forum, our neighbors, or over hear others talking, but why not give us the "facts". I heard or read Wantagh is receiving $14,700,00.00 in state aid this year. It is over $1,000,000.00 more in aid than last year. I heard or read we will receive $250,000.00 from LIPA. I thought I heard or read there was another $250,000.00 coming from somewhere, not sure? What I don't understand is why are there so many cut backs in this budget when we are getting more money and we are getting a 8.5% tax increase? The bond being in the budget was not explained to everyone and that caused allot of confusion. This needs to be clarified. The two BOE votes on the ballot should have been told to everyone. What is the percentage of the increase($200.00) that is saved if the vote is fail? What is the facts for not revising the budget for the re-vote? Thanks in advance for providing the facts.
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Post by sally on Jun 5, 2008 12:25:26 GMT -5
Hi WantaghCitizen,It is great that you want the facts,but taking anything off this BLOG and using it as fact is not a good idea.Most are opinions,some are factual.I would like to help you out,but my best advice is to go right to the source.Contact Elaine McGuigan and she will put you in direct contact with someone who can answer your questions.Her number is 679-6310.Or you can call the business operations office at 679-6308.All the numbers I just gave to you were taken from the school calendar,page2. I hope this helps you out.I think this is a wise thing for you to do..We are all very passionate,but we must channel our energy wisely,because we are all exhausted. Take Care
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Post by wantagh mom on Jun 5, 2008 12:33:40 GMT -5
Did you read your packet that was sent home about the school budget? The state aid we received was put toward the budget to lower the increase to 8.5%. The increase would have been higher They kept the cuts that they previously made , and gave it back to the community by lowering the tax increase.
The 250 dollar difference between a failed budget and a passed budget is based on the average home value of 515,000.
As far as the bond. It was explained last year and every parent principal meeting and pta meeting. Did you vote for it? People need to educate themselves. If you are unsure of anything Dr. Bunoso is more than happy to answer any questions. Stop listening to all the rumors. The time to educate yourself is starting in the beginning of the school year at the Board of Ed meetings. Not just at voting time.
You thought read or heard? It doesn't sound like your to clear on the facts . I would love to know where you heard or read that were getting 250,000 from Lipa or aother 250,000 from somewhere??? Can you give an actual source or are these just rumors?
Sally has answered many of your questions already on this board. And has provided many of the facts to this website. She is well informed and has attended all the BAC meetings.
AS far as the boe votes, it was posted in the Wantagh Citizen that they were up for re election. Anyone that attends the Bac meeting would have known that. You cant come in and start blaming people for things you are unhappy about. The way to become involved and educated is to attend the bac meeting or call the right people.
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Post by wantagh mom on Jun 5, 2008 12:44:30 GMT -5
Hi WantaghCitizen,It is great that you want the facts,but taking anything off this BLOG and using it as fact is not a good idea.Most are opinions.I would like to help you out,but my best advice is to go right to the source.Contact Elaine McGuigan and she will put you in direct contact with someone who can answer your questions.Her number is 679-6310. I hope this helps you out.I think this is a wise thing for you to do..We are all very passionate,but we must channel our energy wisely,because we are all exhausted. Take Care Sally thanks for the info. I agree 100 percent with you that people need to go to the right source and to not take everything they read here as facts. Thanks again for posting the phone number I hope that info get passed around as much as the rumors lol
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Post by wantagh mom on Jun 5, 2008 13:17:50 GMT -5
wantaghma, You say your getting tired of people giving their opinion without the facts, so why don't you give us some facts. These "opinions" are how we feel things are going. It has been the main problem for a long time. The people need to get the facts straight. Are you the one to provide them? We read or hear information from local papers, this forum, our neighbors, or over hear others talking, but why not give us the "facts". I heard or read Wantagh is receiving $14,700,00.00 in state aid this year. It is over $1,000,000.00 more in aid than last year. I heard or read we will receive $250,000.00 from LIPA. I thought I heard or read there was another $250,000.00 coming from somewhere, not sure? What I don't understand is why are there so many cut backs in this budget when we are getting more money and we are getting a 8.5% tax increase? The bond being in the budget was not explained to everyone and that caused allot of confusion. This needs to be clarified. The two BOE votes on the ballot should have been told to everyone. What is the percentage of the increase($200.00) that is saved if the vote is fail? What is the facts for not revising the budget for the re-vote? Thanks in advance for providing the facts. Here is the info about Lipa- It seems that the money is to be spent on solar pannel to reduce heating cost. So you are not getting money to do with what you wish. It is specifically for the solar panels which will eventually help out the tax payers cost when its in place. ( down the road you will benefit from this) Wantagh UFSD also goes “green” with aid from Sen. Fuschillo New York State Senator Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr. announced that $125,000 in state funding will help lower energy costs for the Wantagh Union Free School District. The Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) will also be providing $125,000 in matching funds to bring the combined total of $250,000 to the Wantagh School District. “Skyrocketing energy prices are forcing the Wantagh School District to spend more money to heat and power their buildings. By using solar energy, which is a clean and renewable energy source, the Wantagh School District will be able to reduce its energy costs and save money for Wantagh taxpayers,” said Senator Fuschillo. The funding secured by Sen. Fuschillo will be used to install solar energy technology at Wantagh Middle School, 3299 Beltagh Avenue in Wantagh. LIPA will provide the school district with a rebate in accordance with its Solar Pioneer Program, along with a 20kW solar photovoltaic system and educational information on the photovoltaic system and technology for use at the School. Fuschillo recently announced that neighboring Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District would also receive $125,000 from the state. This entry was posted on April 14, 2008 at 4:56 pm and is filed under Wantagh. Tagged: Charles J. Fuschillo, Green, LIPA, Long Island, Renewable Energy, Solar Energy, Wantagh. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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Post by hightax on Jun 5, 2008 16:41:23 GMT -5
Wantaghma - You should always get the information for the right source. You just need to make sure the source in right which is a big issue in Wantagh. The sources in Wantagh tell you what you need to hear that will benefit them.
You could ask any person if they are a hard work 99.99% will tell you yes. Then when ask their boss or another co-work you will most likely get a different answer.
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Post by Wantagh Parent on Jun 5, 2008 18:26:01 GMT -5
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Post by voteno on Jun 5, 2008 21:32:38 GMT -5
our students are using 15 year old history books, and computers that we can't even give away they are so old. this is our great wantagh schools. the BOE needs to explain how we pay the taxes we pay and yet our kids don't have everything they need. the voters have spoken and the budget failed...there should be no do-overs! if the "yes" people cared so much they should have shown up the first time. if it passes this time do we get another re -vote to try and fail it again?
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Post by wantaghcitizen on Jun 5, 2008 22:13:47 GMT -5
Sally, read what Wantaghma wrote and direct your comments to her, not me. She was the one complaining about the people on this "blog" not having the facts. I thought she had the facts, and could answer some of my questions. Obviously she nor do you have the facts either. You can only give me a phone number? Is that the best you can do? I don't think my concerns are so unique and I don't know why someone who is so involved in the BAC can't answer them. Don't you want to get this info out to the wantagh people? This forum could just be the way to do it! What if all of Wantagh can't go to the budget meetings like you? But the real question is, is there someone out there willing to provide accurate info for all to see? You sure spend allot of time on this blog giving your opinion like the rest of us, too bad you can't be that special person to give Wantagh the facts.
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Post by sally on Jun 6, 2008 6:16:47 GMT -5
Hi Wantaghcitizen,I will be glad to help you,with just facts.....the best I can.... The amount we received in state aid is approx 14,565,000.Yes it is 1 million dollars more in state aid from last year,but was absorbed by special ed spikes as well as fuel and mandated services spikes to the budget.Special ed increased by 1,076,724 alone. Wantagh must get more state aid and we can all help in doing so,by writing letters to Senator Fuschillo,David Mcdonough and Dave Denenberg as well as Dennis Dunne. Simply state Wantagh does not get its fair share of state aid as compared to other districts.Hand written letters get read more often! The budget to budget increase is 7.75% tax levy of 8.27% Contingency budget increase is 5.18% Approx 2.7% of the 7.75% of this budget is paying for bond services/debt services,for the new bond as well as 2 existing bonds from years prior. As for not revising,I would not call them facts,but beliefs that the budget took six months to accomplish,so therefore they stood by it and it was a difficult year.Wantagh has the LOWEST operating budget in Nassau County. Also,the state needed to know facts by 5-28,the day after the public meetings.Keep in mind that one half percent of this budget equals $323,678.17 Teacher contracts are bound for 2 more years. LIPA GRANT.... $125,000 from Senator Fuschillo,STATE FUNDING, matched by $125,000 from LIPA for solar energy technology for the school district to help offset energy costs. The BOE ballots were posted in the citizen as well as newsday in the legal notice section and ,As I recall a large section of Newsday was dedicated to this on Sunday,May 18th,2008 for all school district ballots to include Wantagh. if you need anything else,I will try to help you out. Have a peaceful day. Addresses for letter writing for more state aid NYS SENATE: Charles Fuschillo 151 Herricks Road.,Suite 202 Garden City Park,NY 11040 foschillo@senate.state.ny.us NYS Legislature District 19 David G. McDonough 404 Bedford Avenue Bellmore,NY 11710 516-409-2070 Fax516-409-2073 mcdonod@assembly.state.ny.us District 15 Dennis Dunne 516-571-6215 Fax 516-571-0641 District 19 David Denenberg 516-571-6219 Fax516-571-3907 ddenenberg@nassaucountyny.gov
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Post by vetmann on Jun 6, 2008 12:02:13 GMT -5
Sally, can you elaborate on " mandated service spikes" ? Thanks. Also, the budget brochure lists the increase in Special Ed. as $1,076,724. One half percent of the budget equals exactly $323,678.17. These are facts.
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Post by sally on Jun 6, 2008 12:38:28 GMT -5
Sally, can you elaborate on " mandated service spikes" ? Thanks. Also, the budget brochure lists the increase in Special Ed. as $1,076,724. One half percent of the budget equals exactly $323,678.17. These are facts.[/quote Some of the state mandates are as follows: State testing Calculators for curriculum NCLB-No Child Left Behind Act Special Ed service Mandates Defribillators,one for every school Thank You for correcting me on the other numbers,I only want correct info out there. Have A Nice Weekend.
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Post by ectoshot on Jun 6, 2008 19:37:04 GMT -5
The BOE threatens to cut our children's programs, but are unwilling to sacrifice themselves. High administrative positions are paid car allowances and gas stipends. Is your family's commute paid for? Those same admistrators are paid extra to have book reviews with parents. Doesn't community relations fall under that job description? Otherwise, eliminate those evenings.
Staff is informed to get rid of sand and salt not used during the winter so their budget isn't cut. If it happens with that one item, how many other areas is that rule applied to? Why isn't run like a corporation? If an entire budget isn't used in one year, it is carried over to the following year. That is how gov't and corporations come up with surplusses.
Other money that was wasted in order to use up the budget: upholstered chairs in the elementary school libraries. Won't they have to be recovered in five years? Crown moulding in the same library. Do you have crown moulding in your home? Will this help our children learn better?! Oh, embossed ceiling tile in the new extensions. Flat, one dimensional tiles wouldn't help their scores? These are just a few examples of waste.
Things like the agendas were a waste. A predominence of children didn't use them, lost them or threw them away. As for calculators, parents have been paying for them all along, we can continue buying them.
WE DO NOT WANT OUR CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS CUT. WE WANT THE BOE TO BECOME MORE RESPONSIBLE!
The community didn't mind the first bond. It was in support of 2 factions of the second bond. The third section squeaked through. In my opinion, it was unneccessary. The interest we are paying on that debt would have been used for our children's programs.
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