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Ucnthndlthtruth
| | Posted on Thursday, January 25, 2001 - 5:24 pm: |     |
From
News Record 1/25/01
"BOE slashes budget/Cutbacks needed to maintain budget"
"This year , to meet the state-mandated revenue guidelines, South Orange-Maplewood education officials were forced to slash $2.4 million from the draft budget for the 2001-2000 school year.
According to Superintendent of Schools Peter Horoschak, the drastic reduction measures were take to close a ore than $4 million gap between the amount the school district is permitted by law to raise and the amount officials projected would be necessary to meet operating expenses.
School revenues are capped a 3 % over levels from the previous year's budget, excluding certain revenues for capital expenditures."
Here's a list of what's going to go :
Eliminate
.5 TE Project Ahead 26,000
.5 TE Explorations 19,500
Elementary lunch Supervision 35,300
Saturday Detention 36,000
CHS in School Suspension 34,000
Instrumental Music grades 4&5 129,000
Technology/Media support 44,700
Volunteer coordinator 23,000
ALTERNATIVE HIGH SCHOOL 415,800
Human Resources 50,000
Business Industrial Tech 160,000
Benefits @ $7,500 (9 FTEs) 67,500
TOTAL 1,040,8000
Reductions
Staffing Adjust 36,670
Technology 400,000
Summer School 18,000
Transportation 300,000
Building Repair 300,000
Overtime support staff 32,000
Overtime professional staff 35,000
Admin/Supp SUPPLIES 122,000
Stipends 50,000
Telephone 50,000
Insurance - WRKS COMP 50,000
Total 1,393,670
Separate Proposal
Capital Funds Projects 382,760
Data Manager 75,000
Asst. princ. element. 382,300
Dept. Head Sp.Ed. HS 82,500
Assessment coordinator 85,453
Secondary Enrollment increase 107,500
Social Worker- Clinton (school) 47,000
Supervisor k-5 elem instruction 34,000
Supervisors k-8 333,970
benefits @ $7,500 (17FTE's) 127,500
total 1,657,983
GRAND TOTAL $4,092,453}
How is it possible that this BOE could have been so shortsighted ?
They implemented all sorts of programs, created jobs and new budgets knowing full well that they had to stay within this state mandated revenue increase cap.
Yet, on they went.
Now, programs, many less than 2 years old, will either be scrapped or seriously reduced rendering
WHAT A (n additional) WASTE OF OUR MONEY !
DO you think that any of this just might be related to our current situation at Town Hall ?
Just What Are We Getting For Those Big Taxes We PAy.
And it can get worse.
Wait until the new test scores are released.
Will the public get it then ?
I wonder..... |
Nakaille
| | Posted on Thursday, January 25, 2001 - 5:33 pm: | |
U: WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO RUN FOR BOE? What will be your platform???? How do you propose to help???? What magic have you been witholding from the rest of us?????
Be specific, you will be tested and re-tested.
Bacata |
Snowmom
| | Posted on Thursday, January 25, 2001 - 6:17 pm: | |
All I know is that my tax bill will go up about 50% and I'm getting less for it - this makes very little sense or else I'm seriously missing something - 18k in property taxes and now they're taking away my kids' music lessons?!? |
Ihateice
| | Posted on Friday, January 26, 2001 - 7:49 am: | |
Don't feel bad...mine are going up and I don't have any kids! |
Jfb
| | Posted on Friday, January 26, 2001 - 8:52 am: | |
Don't feel bad, I'm going to pay 13K in taxes and I don't have kid either!
What a good value for me! |
Melidere
| | Posted on Friday, January 26, 2001 - 9:55 am: | |
No, but the people buying your house do. Doh! Take a look at who is getting tax increases and who is getting tax decreases by school district and it will become crystal clear that support for the schools directly results in increased property values.
you benefit from a strong, well-regarded school system whether you have children or not...and given the bidding wars in the jefferson/south mountain districts..,..you benefit way more than the increase in taxes.
How can the BoE?#$%# be so shortsighted? How can WE be so shortsighted? |
Wilbur
| | Posted on Friday, January 26, 2001 - 9:59 am: | |
All I know (my kid is still too young to attend school) is that I could move half a mile to Millburn, pay way less taxes, and when she's five send her to the best schools in the state. Granted, I would have a smaller house, but what's really important? My kid or a few extra bedrooms? This is getting out of hand. We try hard to be committed townspeople -- even making our peace last week with a tax bill of about $18,000 for next year -- but then something like this comes around and our loyalty wanes. I seriously think we'll defect to Millburn by the time our daughter is in first grade. |
Wilbur
| | Posted on Friday, January 26, 2001 - 10:01 am: | |
All I know (my kid is still too young to attend school) is that I could move half a mile to Millburn, pay way less taxes, and when she's five send her to the best schools in the state. Granted, I would have a smaller house, but what's really important? My kid or a few extra bedrooms? This is getting out of hand. We try hard to be committed townspeople -- even making our peace last week with a tax bill of about $18,000 for next year -- but then something like this comes around and our loyalty wanes. I seriously think we'll defect to Millburn by the time our daughter is in first grade. |
Melidere
| | Posted on Friday, January 26, 2001 - 10:29 am: | |
That's like saying you will buy a new house when your roof needs replacing.
The realtor's commissions alone (should everyone adopt your strategy) dwarf the costs of fixing the roof.
When it's everybody's roof, add in the drop in sales prices where you are selling and the rise in sales prices where you are buying...and the strategy just doesn't make sense.
The only thing that makes that strategy work is the greater fool theory...and the very existence of this board makes it very unlikely you will convince the new buyers that your roof is in perfect condition. |
Tom
| | Posted on Friday, January 26, 2001 - 10:40 am: | |
For years we've been reading posts on this board insisting that we spend too much money on the school district. Well, this is what happens when we spend less.
We're already spending LESS PER PUPIL than Millburn and Livingston. And you get what you pay for. So, no more elementary school music (I want to scream), no more Explorations, troubled kids back in the High School...
What's next? Art class? Phys Ed? Interscholastic sports? Cleaning the rest rooms?
U, for once I agree with you...it CAN get worse. If Bush's education plan goes through, our kids and their teachers are going to end up making test preparation a full-time year-round job. Forget about being a well-rounded citizen. Just learn to answer the questions. |
Melidere
| | Posted on Friday, January 26, 2001 - 10:58 am: | |
Or pay $14,000 to $17,000 a year to Far Brook over in Short Hills. They seem to understand the importance of the arts to a well-rounded education, and at those prices, there is clearly demand. |
Jfb
| | Posted on Friday, January 26, 2001 - 11:35 am: | |
Please,
After a huge tax increase to ask for even more money is crazy.
The well is dry, sorry to say. People can only pay so much, and we have past that limit. |
Nakaille
| | Posted on Friday, January 26, 2001 - 11:39 am: | |
U: why so uncharacteristically silent? You're not up to the challenge? Please respond to my questions. Thank you.
Bacata |
Jfb
| | Posted on Friday, January 26, 2001 - 11:43 am: | |
Melidere,
I agree, strong schools are good for the community. However, as my previous post said, we have reached the limit of what a lot of people can pay. I'm sure that those of you who got decreases in your taxes will be against the cuts. Those of us paying a fortune will naturally object to having to pay more after the huge hit we just got wacked with.
That's the reality. This is another issue that will further divide the town. |
Tom
| | Posted on Friday, January 26, 2001 - 11:51 am: | |
The vast majority of us haven't gotten huge tax increases, but rather moderate increases or declines. |
Wilbur
| | Posted on Friday, January 26, 2001 - 12:01 pm: | |
Melidere, I hear you and your point is valid. For the same reason, I oppose school vouchers -- if everyone left schools to go to greener pastures, what would be left? In theory, you are 100% right. But in reality, I will NOT send my kid to a school where she can't have music lessons while I pay $18,000 a year in taxes. That is insane, and I won't do it. My moving will be my solution. We'll enjoy a few more years here and then we're out, probably to Millburn so we'll still be close to friends, familiar surroundings, etc while getting great schools. I hate to say it, but this latest news -- cutting music lessons -- will not sound too good to anyone paying more than $10K or $15K in taxes. Like a poster above said, what's next - art classes? My elementary school experience in the '70s was greatly enriched by art, by music, by drama. No kid of mine will go to a school where she can't take up the flute or trumpet or whatever, for god's sake, or spend a free period working on a clay pot. And not to be overly dramatic, but lately I fear for our town. |
Ucnthndlthtruth
| | Posted on Friday, January 26, 2001 - 12:26 pm: | |
Tom continues to play the "we spend less than other districts" game (talk about just because you say it over and over again doesn't make it true! ).
Just a reminder Tom
Maplewood - (district factor group I) - per pupil spending -$9,345 in 99-00
New Jersey State Average per pupil spending is $9,959
Millburn - $10,145 per pupil spending in 99-00
Princeton -(leader in district factor group I) per pupil spending $9,565
Montclair - $9,833 per pupil spending in 99-00
West Orange $10,445 per pupil spending in 99-00
Holmdel - (leader in district factor group I) per pupil spending - $8,716 in 99-00
Haddonfield Memorial - (leader in district factor group I)- per pupil spending $8,601 in 99-00
Why do you insist on repeating this falsehood ?>
This is not about not spending ENOUGH money !!
It's about spending TOO MUCH , foolishly and recklessly.
Bacata :
For someone who just recently said "this is Maplewood/South Orange at it's best" ! (and I agree, it is Re. your flute donation) you sure have a lot of hostility towards those with different views!
My concerns are academic and financial accountability, responsibility, and a return to excellence in both the BOE and TC.
We obviously don't agree. I choose not to make believe everything is OK and I choose not to vilify those who bring to the forefront the various, systemic problems we obvious have in these areas.
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Nakaille
| | Posted on Friday, January 26, 2001 - 2:29 pm: | |
U: I'm asking what YOU as an individual are willing to do about the real problems in our district. Running around yelling FIRE doesn't cut it. You are very willing to blame individual board members but appear to have nothing at all to offer that is actually useful. I find that very annoying, yes, and it makes me hostile. I am far from pretending there aren't serious problems. But I don't see the board members or school administration or faculty as either villains or idiots. I see them as people trying to do what is obviously a very hard job. And I don't see you offering anything constructive. It gets very tiresome.
Bacata |
Tom
| | Posted on Friday, January 26, 2001 - 3:28 pm: | |
U, from your own post:
Maplewood - (district factor group I) - per pupil spending -$9,345 in 99-00
New Jersey State Average per pupil spending is $9,959
Millburn - $10,145 per pupil spending in 99-00
Just because I say it doesn't make it true; but your own numbers confirm it! We're spending less than the state average, way less than Millburn, and even more less than Livingston (which I take it you were to embarrassed to even mention.) How many private lessons would that extra $800 per year pay for?
And I don't even want to talk about the demographics, the relative number of at-risk kids. Princeton?? C'mon, be serious.
And where the hell is Holmdel and Haddonfield that they have anything to do with us?
Look, all the accountability and responsibility in the world aren't going to make our dollars do more than Livingston's. You think THEIR board of ed is unaccountable and irresponsible, busily throwing away that additional $2grand a year? We're behind the 8-ball here, and getting worse. |
Aruba18
| | Posted on Friday, January 26, 2001 - 7:00 pm: | |
Bacata-I can certainly understand your hostility, but don't take it out on Tom-I was born and raised in this town, and my first two children had to go to private school because we have no gifted program above a certain grade level, and that is what they required. The TC and BOE ARE IDIOTS-they play with our money just as if they are playing Monopoly! My third child is in Special Ed.because she is chronically ill, and that is the worst of all.The district limits each student to a total of 10 hours of instruction per week, even if they are in high school in all honors courses, as is my daughter!! Last year, she had no instructors for 5 months because they supposedly had no instructors to send! This year, she has had no math instruction since mid-Sept.because they don't have a math teacher who can come during the day, and it isn't possible to have instruction from each teacher until 10pm. So, believe me,it can, and has, gotten much worse.And on top of that, my taxes just went up to 21K. We need a new TC and BOE, believe me! |
Debby
| | Posted on Saturday, January 27, 2001 - 10:02 am: | |
Tom-
Thanks
This is the second time in a week that someone proved UCNT wrong with her very own post (Nohero did it last time). Thanks.
Haddonfield is very far from here - outside Cherry Hill - where cost-of-living and salary structure (as well as real estate)are much lower. Is it any wonder they can spend a few hundred less per kid than we can?
I never thought I'd see the day U would be screaming about educational budget cuts!
Bacata - I guess she isn't up to the challenge afterall |
Ucnthndlthtruth
| | Posted on Saturday, January 27, 2001 - 3:45 pm: | |
You must be kidding
We do not spend WAY less.
We are in the ballpark.
We spend more than many much more successful schools.
It is not about needing to spend more money and everyone but Tom, Debby, and a handful of other BOE, TC apologists know it.
Get a grip. |
Nakaille
| | Posted on Saturday, January 27, 2001 - 9:48 pm: | |
I'd still like to know what platform you'd run on, U? What would you, as a BOE member, do to improve our school system? How would you fund services in an era of property tax panic? (Especially if you were allergic to "foundation" money, which a segment of our community apparently is.) How would you improve the quality of our children's education? How would you attract and retain high quality, experienced teachers? How would you improve reading and math and other test scores? How would you deal with our increasing enrollment (legitimate) and corresponding increasing class sizes?
Everybody, please feel free to respond. This is not really just a test for our friend U. We all need to think about these things together.
Bacata |
Ffof
| | Posted on Sunday, January 28, 2001 - 10:47 am: | |
Bacata - By "foundation" money do you mean private funding? I am unfamiliar with the arguments pro/con on this issue. It seems like it could be a way out of our financial woes. |
Bobk
| | Posted on Sunday, January 28, 2001 - 12:27 pm: | |
Let's see, Milburn has the Short Hils Mall, Livington the Livingston mall. Uhm, no Maplewood Mall to help with the school budget.
Note that a lot of very successful school districts spend less than SO/Maplewood as well.
I admit this is a "gadfly" post. I don't have the answers either. |
Deadwhitemale
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 30, 2001 - 1:42 pm: | |
How can we have such a major overrun, when the budget is under the control of educators?
DWM |
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