| Author | Message | ||
     fringe Citizen Username: Fringe Post Number: 265 Registered: 5-2001 |
At last Monday's BOE meeting, the third and final discussion over the BOE's goals and priorities to guide creation of the 2004-05 budget reached a vote. The final document approved on a 6-3 vote is available at the BOE office. What one will not find is the almost frank detail of the exchanges between BOE members on the role of the BOE. Clearly there are members (Clifford, Betheil, O'Leary) who believe fiscal constraints to be an issue, and others who do not. From the discussion it appears that at the last BOE/BOSE liason meeting the BOE took the position that it was its role to develop plans and programs that it believes necessary for the education of district students - whatever the cost - and it is the BOSE's role to determine what the residents can afford. I, for one, would be interested in the position of perspective BOE candidates on this deliniation of responsibility. JTL | ||
| John Davenport Citizen Username: Jjd Post Number: 115 Registered: 2-2003 |
Mr. Lamkin (since you sign your initials I assume that you do not mind): For the record, I agree wholeheartedly with Clifford, Betheil, and O'Leary -- and with you -- that the Board of Education, and not just the BOSE, has fiscal responsibility as one of its primary goals and priorities. I will support Board candidates in the next election who share this view. However, this priority is quite consistent with judging, all things considered, that it is woth a 6% tax increase to keep our current programs, class sizes, etc. The costs and benefits must be weighed, and the Board's decision on what financial sacrifices it is worth making for top-notch public education must be compromised with the BOSE's decision on the same matter. I think the BOSE has more direct responsibility to be concerned about property values in our towns than does the Board of Education, but this consideration may also argue in favor of accepting painful tax increases to preserve quality education -- up to some point, of course, which they must judge. In sum, one can agree with your main procedural point here, without agreeing with what I take to be your substantive view about what "fiscal responsibility" should mean in practice, i.e. the minimum tax increases possible, at any cost to the quality of our programs. | ||
| johnny Citizen Username: Johnny Post Number: 802 Registered: 5-2001 |
Mr. Davenport: You don't seem to realize that several years of substantial tax increases will eventually drive down the property values in Maplewood/South Orange, drive out families who care but can't afford the taxes, and continue to divide the citizens. "Fiscal responsibility" does not necessarily mean minimum tax increases. It means using the resources that are available in the most efficient and effective manner possible. We have had several large tax increases with very little results. Our high school continues to plunge in overall state rankings. The BOE could have started by not extending the contract of Horoshack last year. The BOSE has acted as a rubber stamp for the current administration and BOE. The system to analyze and evaluate spending is pathetic. Frankly, the BOE is not doing its job well. That is the bottom line. Hopefully some candidates who have a sense of accountability will run for the BOE this spring. | ||
| bobk Supporter Username: Bobk Post Number: 4257 Registered: 5-2001 |
This is a wonderful example of the good old American tradition of "passing the buck". It appears the education establishment has managed to turn the BOE into a rubber stamp for its programs and spending. Now the decision is thrown into the even more politicaly charged venue of the BOSE. Why can't we vote directly on the BOE budget as is the case in most other communities? | ||
| fringe Citizen Username: Fringe Post Number: 267 Registered: 5-2001 |
The last question first - the SO-M BOSE is unique in that it was established by state statute and, therefore, can only be reversed in the same way. This is unlikely for a variety of reasons including that SO has an equal vote despite having proportionately fewer residents (the reason the system was originally established), but pays a disproportionate percentage of the cost. The BOE could put the budget, especially Special Questions, to a non-binding referendum on the school ballot. Such a move might have the added benefit of increasing voter turn-out. There are ways that the BOSE could delay its vote until after such referendum. As to tax hikes, many desire to separate the issues of school funding and performance. I am not one of them. To me it is axiomatatic that the administration/BOE should make the case that budget increases above some measure will result in specified increased performance. See the CBAC (standard inflation + enrollment growth) at http://hometown.aol.com/njfabian . The coming budget will focus even more district resources on underperforming sub-groups (administration language) as determined by NCLB. The question was raised at the last BOE meeting as to whether existing district curriculum/programs are effective in achieving this result - no matter the class size. At one point in the discussion Betheil suggested changes to the goals/priorities that caused Curriculum Supervisor Memoli to whine that Bethiel's language appeared judgemental on the current curriculum. Mr. Betheil agreed that it was. It is unclear whether this made it into the final, yet to be published, document. The net is - I, too, support reasonably higher budgets if they result in improved product - as shown by objective measures. But, spending money for the sake of egos and dedication to a controversial curricula does not fall into that category. Again I ask supporters of the current Math and LA curricula for the proof that they serve all student sub-groups. JTL | ||
| nan Citizen Username: Nan Post Number: 1096 Registered: 2-2001 |
"But, spending money for the sake of egos and dedication to a controversial curricula does not fall into that category." And maybe you could let us know about a non-contraversial curricula so we could dedicate ourselves to that? Good luck trying to find one. Not that you would stick around to discuss anything after dropping the bomb and running. One thing I've been meaning to ask you for a long, long time--this NJFABIAN website of yours--is that a reference what you are all about? That is are you just focused on a series of "marches, counter-marches, ambuscades, and skirmishes, without ever coming to an open engagement." That sure sounds like your MO. For those who have no idea what I am talking about here's some simple definitions: "Fabian Soldiers A complimentary phrase for Roman soldiers, the bravest of the brave. "Quem [band of trained soldiers] quidem sic omni disciplina militari [Iphicratês] crudivit, ut quemadmodum quondam `Fabiani milites' Romani appellati sunt, sic `Iphicratenses' apud Græcos in summa laude fuerint." - Nepos: Iphicrates, ii. Fabian Tactics or Policy - i.e. delay. "Win like Fabius, by delay." The Roman general Fabius wearied out Hannibal by marches, counter-marches, ambuscades, and skirmishes, without ever coming to an open engagement. Fabius died B.C. 203. "Met by the Fabian tactics, which proved fatal to its predecessor." - The Times. From: http://www.bootlegbooks.com/Reference/PhraseAndFable/data/437.html | ||
| Diversity Man Citizen Username: Deadwhitemale Post Number: 574 Registered: 5-2001 |
What about the cute 50's pop singer Fabian? nan: your dedication to destroying all who are non-believers in progressive education is obvious. But, don't mess with Fabian. DWM | ||
| J. Crohn Citizen Username: Jcrohn Post Number: 843 Registered: 3-2003 |
This (http://www.lse.ac.uk/lsehistory/fabian.htm), from the London School of Economics, is likely more pertinent to the origin of Fringe's website address: Founded in 1884, the Fabian Society was an intellectual movement concerned with the research, discussion, and publication of socialist ideas. The society was named after the Roman general Fabius Cunctator, 'the delayer' who advocated a war of attrition rather than direct confrontation against Hannibal. The Fabians believed that social reform could be achieved by a new political approach of gradual and patient argument, 'permeating' their ideas into the circles of those with power: 'the inevitability of gradualism' was an early slogan. I'd stake my life on a bet that J. T. Lamkin is not a socialist, however. He appears to be a moderate libertarian. | ||
| Nohero Citizen Username: Nohero Post Number: 2690 Registered: 10-1999  |
Hmm. Interesting theory, but I'll stick with Diversity Man on this one.  You see the resemblance, right? | ||
| nan Citizen Username: Nan Post Number: 1097 Registered: 2-2001 |
Interesting theory, Nohero. But, if you had seen, as I have, Tucker Lamkin singing "We Shall Overcome" at the Ethical Culture Society you'd know that he's no Fabian. | ||
| fringe Citizen Username: Fringe Post Number: 268 Registered: 5-2001 |
Well, at least she isn't saying that my email name is an indication that I'm a Klan member as a school board member opined about my MOL screen name to Joel Ziegler during the recent township committee campaign. JTL | ||
| Diversity Man Citizen Username: Deadwhitemale Post Number: 576 Registered: 5-2001 |
Gee, a board member using falsehood to advance an agenda. Lat's get over it. And, seems Fabian Cunctator was correct, as Varro and the Roman Legion learned at Cannae. DWM | ||
| Diversity Man Citizen Username: Deadwhitemale Post Number: 577 Registered: 5-2001 |
Fabian rules!!! DWM | ||
| Hank Zona Citizen Username: Hankzona Post Number: 915 Registered: 3-2002 |
Is that a school board or message board member using falsehood to advance an agenda? | ||
| Diversity Man Citizen Username: Deadwhitemale Post Number: 578 Registered: 5-2001 |
the method is the issue. unless you have no problem with poisoning the process. DWM | ||
| Reflective Citizen Username: Reflective Post Number: 232 Registered: 3-2003 |
Thanking Nan for one of the funniest and strange strreeeeecccchhhhheeeess of conspiracy speculation I have heard recently. Move aside Dean and Clark, here's Nan! Looking to your opines on more names - Nan. | ||
| John Davenport Citizen Username: Jjd Post Number: 118 Registered: 2-2003 |
Funny -- Lamkin and G.B. Shaw have joined ranks in the Fabian Society. But I like this comment: "The net is - I, too, support reasonably higher budgets if they result in improved product." I agree with this, Tucker. However, I would just add my refrain that average inflation across all sectors does not reflect inflation in the education sector very well. I also agree with the point that tax increases affect property values negatively -- only a moron would think otherwise. If you want to take this angle, the question is how does educational quality in a district add to home values, and where does the cost exceed the benefit. But this, of course, is only one consideration in thinking about what we ought to be willing to pay for in public education. | ||
| nan Citizen Username: Nan Post Number: 1099 Registered: 2-2001 |
Well, I'll pass on yours, Reflective. That would be too much of a cheap shot. | ||
| Cynicalgirl Citizen Username: Cynicalgirl Post Number: 279 Registered: 9-2003  |
"...the question is how does educational quality in a district add to home values, and where does the cost exceed the benefit." I couldn't plot the quadratic equation for this one, but as a recent transplant from New Castle County Delaware -- and not Park Slope -- I can tell you that my perception of educational quality in M/SO greatly influenced my willingness to move here. That, along with crime rate and gestalt of the town (look of the houses, big trees, parks...) Unfortunately, the "data" I was using was a little out of date, and my r&d on the subject a little too slender. While we're getting happier, I would no longer broadly recommend this town to persons with school age children. So, one leg of the stool is kicked out. Another leg, crime rate, is also wobbly. Now that I know how to find and read stats on car theft and personal assault -- as opposed to just some average that includes types of crime that do not threaten me -- I'm also sadder/wiser. But I could live for that were it not for the plummeting trend in CHS ranking (for example) and the guest student issue. So, for a striving lower middle class person who knows others similar, some of us will not be interested in purchasing M/SO "starter" homes in the $275K-$375K range. Childless persons, who probably can afford up a notch, may. Wealthier folks who can afford private school, will be fine, though that crime rate issue starts to be an issue. Quaint only gets you so far... | ||
| ffof Citizen Username: Ffof Post Number: 1804 Registered: 5-2001  |
Not all the "wealthy" folks choose private school. You can only find out so much with rankings, not that I don't think it should be better. I'm going to go out on a limb and predict that our NJMonthly ranking improves with the next rankings issue. |
