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Post by tiredoftaxes on Aug 31, 2011 20:44:01 GMT -5
Sad to say that my money would be on the Wantagh United Teachers Union providing fiscal leadership as they had done in years past.....
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Post by lilly on Sept 1, 2011 7:59:22 GMT -5
Further, my opinion, the start would be to make these contracts with management doctorates, a lot more difficult, so that they can't weasel their way out of it.... I don't get this. I wasn't impressed with the admins that are leaving, esteemed "doctorate" or not is irrelevant. So, if they want to leave, why would we want ironclad contracts that keep them? In fact, here's the door, please let me hold it open for you and kudos for the graceful exit... This change in guard is a huge opp'y for Wantagh. |
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Post by lilly on Sept 1, 2011 8:27:54 GMT -5
So are you a latter-day Ponce de Leon who has discoverd the Fountain of Cash? Do you mean to tell us that, in order to find cash for stuff, all the Board has to do is look closer at their budget? And isn't the answer to my next question $1.8 million!? Chris, not everything can be penny-pinched. And budgets shouldn't necessarily be developed by 'take this down by X%'. That is bean counting, not the thoughtful, stealth, strategic budgeting that is warranted. Anyone that leads you to believe that there isn't $30k flexible in a $70m budget is selling you the Brooklyn Bridge. And you know that. I say this from the perspective of an overtaxed parent who got to hear that my kid's science teacher, when passing out some sort of new special scientific rulers to the kids for class use tells them 'be careful with them, this is Wantagh, I won't be able to get another set of these for another 10 years." Really? And then the teacher makes unfavorable comments about Wantagh priorities pointing out the window to the large sportsplex construction. I can't tell you how irritating that is to hear. And don't get me started on the rest of the dysfunctional priorities, bc you know what you will hear. And just for the record, I was firmly against filling the asst super for instruction spot since I haven't experienced the value of it in the last decade or so. I have changed my mind for a temporary trial run with a new body in place. I suspect this particular new hire in this asst super for curric position will provide value and give the entire district a lift, something we haven't experienced before (but don't know that and am not dying on the sword for it). If that happens, then the salary will be worthwhile. The salary freezes last year were critical from a perception perspective but what, the 3 of them took a ~$4k freeze so that was $12k savings? People should remember that in a tenure system we have teachers who make $120k who are that good that earn every penny. And of course, we still have others who clearly don't. (Not that all our teachers are $120k, lol). And there is nothing that can be done to change that. It's a tricky management navigation in a system like this to get the best out of all, "for the kids" and "for the community". That's a tall but not impossible order. And bonus points that the new hire doesn't come from inbred Wantagh dysfunction. And yes, the taxes are killing me here. |
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Post by Chris_Wendt on Sept 1, 2011 9:09:11 GMT -5
Surreal.
Pat Krizan does a "...slip out the back, Jack" which could be interpreted a number of ways, which I will not speculate upon, here.
Lydia Begley does a "...make a new plan, Stan", and then, very oddly, her resignation was accepted basically without comment, which speaks volumes, but for which I will not supply the color commentary, here at this time.
For the record, I had been a supporter of Dr. Begley and was vocally in favor of her promotion to Superintendent after I left the board. She is an upwardly mobile person in pursuit of well articulated personal career goals. Her new position at BOCES is both new and potentially a very powerful leadership opportunity. Her success, there, could be beneficial to Wantagh in the future. When speaking of an upwardly mobile person, the discussion should at least consider the next step up, which for Lydia Begley and BOCES could be to District Superintendent of Nassau BOCES, or to some other BOCES, or the SED.
Well previous to her resignation from Wantagh, I had spoken personally with Dr. Begley about my serious disappointment with Nassau BOCES, and what I perceive as a huge missed opportunity for BOCES to instill "Best Practices" and ""rigor"" among the 54 component school districts across Nassau County.
I am not talking about saving 3.72 cents per roll on toilet paper, but I am speaking of significant "best practices", such as how districts should supervise subject areas, vis-a-vis Wantagh and Seaford which are like day-and-night in that regard. How should 54 Nassau school districts have dealt with the massive state aid cuts, and, prospectively, with the 2% tax cap. If we have 54 different approaches to that, then 53 of them will be sub-optimal in comparison to the "Best Practice" approach.
My biggest hope concerning Lydia Begley is that neither she nor the Wantagh School District burn bridges.
Oh, that former Athletic Director had real bad timing for throwing his little hissey-fit. He did a "...hop on the bus, Gus; don't need to discuss much!" The question I get asked most about him is, "What was his name?" I just turn my palms up and shrug my shoulders in reply.
As I said, surreal.
Chris Wendt
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Post by tiredoftaxes on Sept 1, 2011 12:23:23 GMT -5
This entire changing of the guard thing at the top is amazing.....It would be funny & sad to hear that Wantagh teachers union tried to shake down the BOE to reopen their contract since the BOE found extra money to pay the the new Doctorates....I know that if I was a union member, I would be upset that I got stiffed under this new contract and management did not...Why do we need to pay for these very advanced degree anyway??? Does the state mandate hiring phd's??? Can't they just recruit and hire a very talented teacher with excellent management skills for way less money to be the top dog administrator and see what happens?  I say it again, all the districts need to start making radical changes.....Why can't Wantagh BOE be leader instead of a follower of other district in coming up with innovative ideas to cut labor costs.....If one school district takes the chance to try these innovative ideas, other districts may follow...Once the administrative management realizes they will be taking a hit to their pocket books across Long Island school districts then maybe it will be easier to stop or slow down the increases members of the unions receive... |
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Post by tiredoftaxes on Sept 1, 2011 12:41:11 GMT -5
Also, bean counting is very critical, but part of me still doesn't trust the books at Wantagh school district..Money just seems to come and go..I believe the state recently found that the Wantagh library finances lacked internal control....Back in the 90's when I used to go to BOE meetings, I never saw the district's independent CPA auditor at any of the BOE meetings to field questions from residents....I was beginning to wonder if the books even get audited...
My opinion that everything need to be penny-pinched.......
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Post by lilly on Sept 1, 2011 14:05:04 GMT -5
Some people may say that I can seem cranky and ornery. But this thread takes the cake. I'm finding it ornery and unproductive.
There were no BOE or spa trips in recent years (last one taken I believe was about the sportsplex bond). The conspiracy theories about the teachers union shaking down the BOE are a bit much. Bottomline, with the new contract, teacher raises will be about 1/2 of what they once were under the old contract. I doubt there will be an "uprising" of sorts, lol. We don't need to pay for "very advanced degrees", but certain positions require certain NYS certifications that more often than not the doctorates happen to have. I don't think the new asst super for curric has a Dr., neither did Pat Krizan.
The WSD is in a business, the business of educating kids effectively and efficiently, accountable to taxpayers and parents. Businesses run by bean counters and penny pinching only usually don't make it over the long haul. "Penny-wise, pound foolish" is the obvious cliched outcome. ITA penny pinching and bean counting (financial controls), particularly in this economic environment, is absolutely critical but can't be the sole focus either.
I would be on guard about the library. The loose financial controls identified in the district audit have since been corrected. However, one of the current, fairly new library trustees is an ex-school district trustees who was on the BOE at the time the loose financial controls were cited.
And Chris, would love to hear your version of the outgoing super's top 3, 5 or 10 accomplishments or leadership highlights. On second thought, maybe not. We def have opposing views on this.
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Post by lilly on Sept 1, 2011 18:34:52 GMT -5
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Post by tiredoftaxes on Sept 1, 2011 20:24:08 GMT -5
Yeah, and maybe the District's independent auditor will show up for that BOE meeting as well....
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Post by Chris_Wendt on Sept 2, 2011 8:01:36 GMT -5
The are a number of lawfully required audit functions and an number of auditors at all school districts. Audits are not done at BoE Monthly business meetings, and auditors generally never attend those meetings, anywhere. Wantagh has an Internal Claims Auditor who audits every claim for payment submitted to the district and checks on the process of approving and making those payments. This results in regular reports of findings and suggestions being submitted to the BoE and is ongoing. Wantagh also has an independent external audit firm who audits the financial reports and funds of the district in accordance with Federal and State Law. They present a full written report to the BoE each year which is done in executive session to protect sensitive information. Wantagh also has an independent internal audit firm who audits internal financial and operational controls in all the various aspects of the district operations. They make recommendations for improving or strengthening district policy and procedure, and control for the future. The District has also been audited by the Office of the Comptroller of the State of New York, which published findings that required certain changes be made in the District, but especially by the BoE itself. Finally, the BoE is required to have an Audit Committee. The law allows among various choices, that the BoE, themselves, may serve as the Audit Committee, or that they institute such Audit Committee among qualified members of the public. Regrettably, the Wantagh BoE serves as its own Audit Committee and they never seem to publish any findings. Other districts have Audit Committees constituted of qualified community members, and those districts regularly publish the findings and recommendations of their (Citizen) Audit Committee. I would like to see Wantagh BoE take this latter approach and take themselves out of the role of trying to be their own Audit Committee. I hope you found this helpful. Chris Wendt chriswendt117@gmail.com |
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Post by tiredoftaxes on Sept 2, 2011 9:41:55 GMT -5
Thank you Chris, I did find your explanation very informative....I may not always agree with everyting you say, but I do respect your knowledge in these matters that you bring to this community message board...
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I say it again, all the districts need to start making radical changes.....Why can't Wantagh BOE be leader instead of a follower of other district in coming up with innovative ideas to cut labor costs.....If one school district takes the chance to try these innovative ideas, other districts may follow...Once the administrative management realizes they will be taking a hit to their pocket books across Long Island school districts then maybe it will be easier to stop or slow down the increases members of the unions receive...