Mr Lynam, the co-chair of the Finance Committee, has done an analysis of the FY10 expenditure and revenue projections. I adjusted some of the numbers he cited but the overall picture is the same. For example, I added the increase in the Dartmouth minimum net school spending (MNSS) and the Voke assessment to get the total increase for schools. I also revised his numbers for increased salaries downward slightly based on the proposed police increase of 2% rather than 3%. Mr Lynam carries his numbers down to dollars and cents and I have rounded them to the thousands here.
From the revenue projections given by our Budget Director, the increase of revenue from FY09 to FY10 is roughly $1.973 million.
Required MNSS is projected to grow by $1.579 million. Subtracting that from the new revenue leaves $394K available for increases in the General Government budget. Police and town employee salaries are projected to increase by about $300K which leaves $94K remaining ...
... to cover the normal 3-4% increase in utility and expense costs. Those costs will grow by $670K which means the town is facing a shortfall of $576K for FY10.
Here is the important point. We know today, right now, that we are going to fall short of balancing the budget by nearly $600K. What are we planning to do about that? This is the critical question to which our town and school administrators need to provide an answer.
It is not the function of the Select Board or School Committee to decide what specifically should be cut. From the Town Charter, Section 3-2, The select board shall serve as the chief policy making agency of the town. The select board shall be responsible for the formulation and promulgation of policy directives and guidelines to be followed by all town agencies serving under it and, in conjunction with other elected town officers and multiple member bodies to develop and promulgate policy guidelines designed to bring the operation of all town agencies into harmony. Provided however, nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize any member of the select board, nor a majority of such members, to become involved in the day-to-day administration of any town agency. It is the intention of this provision that the select board shall act only through the adoption of broad policy guidelines which are to be implemented by officers and employees serving under it.
You can find the entire Town Charter here which sets out the duties of the Select Board. For instance, the Select Board may set a policy that the Police department budget will not be cut at all as they did last year, but should not be telling the Police Chief how to organize his department.
Certainly the Select Board should direct the town administrators to provide a plan to reconcile the projected shortfall for FY10 and beyond. Indeed the Town Charter requires such a plan in section 5-3,The budget message of the executive administrator shall, include, specifically, projection of the fiscal and financial needs of the town for at least the next five fiscal years, or such longer period as may be deemed appropriate, both as to income and expenses, as well as any substantial financial expenditures contemplated by any department, committee, or board during such period, including budget programs related to infrastructure maintenance, improvement and expansion. The message shall also include a forecast of any fiscal trends which the executive administrator believes are likely to have an affect on the town’s revenues or expenses
As an engineer, I have a motto, Plan the work, work the plan which is closely tied to the rule of 6 P's, Proper Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance. Now is the time to get a plan for our future budget shortfalls. Tempus Fugit. Time flies
Friday, August 22, 2008
FY10 projections and the Rule of 6 P's
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One of the best "not my job" statements I've ever read. You certainly are good at telling other people what they should do.
Political Pontificators Produce Piss Poor Progress.
raise our taxes
Did you read the post? Defines the roles for the SB and Executive Administrator pretty clearly to me. I would get rid of the Youth Advocate, cut hours at the Town Hall, close the transfer station, throw the parks open to the public without any staffing, and contract trash collection to private haulers for starters. Who do you want to be making the decisions? Me, the SB, or the people who run the town.
What would you have the schools do Mr. Trimble? They are at MNRSS at this time any way, there is nothing to give back to the town. It's either more cuts on the town side or raising taxes. Sounds like more cuts will have to be made since raising taxes is anathema to Dartmouth. If the town charter requires the town executive administrator to make the hard decisions about what to cut what role does the SB have in ensuring that he does what he is suppossed to? At what point does the SB fish or cut bait if this and the famous 'plan' still has not been put together? When do the eyes turn to the SB and demand action instead of more talk?
Thank goodness for MNRSS.
Also, from Article 4, Department of the Executive Administrator, Section 4-4:
(3) overall responsibility for the town budget with supervisory authority over the director of budget and finance,
(5) In addition to those powers and duties as set out above the executive administrator shall have the following administrative responsibilities and duties:
(b) Budget and Finance Related Responsibilities. The executive administrator shall be responsible for seeing that the director of budget and finance performs the following:
(i) Prepare and submit an annual operating budget, capital improvement program and a long term financial forecast.
The SB, executive administrator, and director of budget and finance/treasurer all play an integral role in the development of a complete, long-term plan.
The Select Board is the authority over the executive administrator. They are supposed to be overseeing that he is fulfilling the job responsibilities he is being paid for.
Poor Policy,
If we change our form of government,will you please run for Mayor? I want YOU to run the town.
Poor policy - your last statement makes no sense. You ask who do you want to run the town, me(you) the SB or the people that run the town? Who are the people that run the town if not the Select Board who directs the Executive Administrator? If the SB does not have the fortitude to insist what Mr Trimble says has to be done get done then what? Do we all throw our suggestions into a box and have someone count em up? It's clear you have a thing against the youth advocate and have always railed against the PAYT program and anything to do with trash(man)but I like both of them so that cancels that. My neighbor thinks thinks the COA wastes too much fuel with their shuttle busses so thinks those should be cut, yet my mom love the shuttles. You see where this leads us don't you?
When do we get results from any one of our SB members instead of these dire predictions of doom and gloom?
We have a shortfall, we know how much it is, the exec admin is supposed to make adjustments as necessary and make a plan and yet it does not happen.
As Elvis would say:
'A little less conversation a little more action, a little less talk a little more satisfaction'.
Or do we wait some more? And talk some more about no plans?
Mr. Trimble is not responsible for the plan. The SB has the right to require Mike G. & Ed I. to come up with a plan. Since they have already been told a plan is required and have failed to produce one, I think it will take a motion from the board and a majority vote to force the issue. Mr. Trimble has made it known that he wants one so instead of constantly telling him it is his responsibity why are you not putting pressure on the other SB members to get onboard? We have part of a plan that shows projected revenues and expenses but as Mr. Trimble has stated it does not show how the two will be reconciled. There must be a course of action whether it be salary freezes, layoffs, services eliminated, privatization, yearly overrides or a combination of all these things. Something that tells us how the town plans to deal with budget shortfalls. Right now we have a whole lot of nothing. To the "not my job" statement. I wish it was Mr. Trimble's job to decide how we will get out of this mess. At least he would get it done and Dartmouth residents would know exactly where they stand.
The schools have a lot they could give back. How about the nice benefit package administration gets? Vacation buyouts? Unheard of anywhere else. Pay freezes across the board. Eliminating some of the extracurricular activities to reduce expenses and staff. Privatizing cafeteria services. That's a start.
ANONYMOUS 4:50: The Select Board is the "Chief Executive Office" (see Charter.) Its members have the authority over the executive administrator, NOT the other way around, as some seem to believe.
They can terminate him for "just/good cause" as stated in these contracts, under Section 6-9 of the Charter, which reads:
"SECTION 6-9: REMOVALS AND SUSPENSIONS
Any appointed town officer, member of a multiple member body or employee of the town, not subject to the provisions of the state civil service law, or covered by the terms of a collective bargaining agreement which provides a different method, and whether appointed for a fixed or an indefinite term, may, for good cause, be suspended or removed from office, without compensation, by the officer or multiple member body which appoints such officers, members of multiple member bodies, or employees. The term cause shall include, but not be limited to the following: incapacity other than temporary illness, inefficiency, insubordination and conduct unbecoming the office. Any appointed officer, member of a multiple member body or employee of the town may be suspended from office by the officer or multiple member body which appoints such officers, members of multiple member bodies, or employees, if such action is deemed by said appointing authority to be necessary to protect the interests of the town."
ANONYMOUS 2:18: Why are you and others bent on discrediting Bill's attempts at pointing out where our administrators and officials have failed in their job responsibilities, particularly when these responsibilities are spelled out in black-and-white in the Town Charter?
Furthermore, Bill is just one of five Select Board members. It seems some posters have a problem because he speaks up (as does Ms. Gilbert) when he sees that procedures or policies are not followed. It is incumbent on ALL the Select Board members to present themselves as a unified team and demand that the executive administrator fulfill his duties. Bill can only hope that all four of his fellow Board members share his sentiment and act in concert to see that this is done.
Don't blame "Piss Poor Progress" on Bill. With two new members (Joe Michaud and Bill, both in office just under five months) and a first-term member (Ms. Gilbert,) one would hope that the mandates of the Town Charter will now be followed and the executive administrator will be held to his job obligations. (Otherwise, expect more "business as usual" in Dartmouth, unless, of course, you subscribe that all has been A-OK in the running of our Town's government all these years.)
Board members should have asked for a complete plan from the executive administrator a long time ago, before Joe, Bill, and Diane were even elected, so why didn't they?
For those of you intent on blaming Bill because you feel not enough is being done, why don't you contact the other four Board members and vocalize your complaints to them, as well.
As I see it, the only "Piss Poor Progress" here lies with any Board members who did not follow the Charter's mandates all these eight years and who did not speak out to hold accountable those responsible, including their fellow Board members, for not doing so.
It's interesting to read that some posters want Bill to take some action and others condemn him for even speaking out, let alone wanting to do so.
And, again, any action can only be taken by the Select Board as a whole.
I'm sure Mr. Trimble along with members of FinCom and the Personnel Board would love to give the town a plan but they have no authority to do so.
Personally I would do away with the park dept. all together. Joe Michaud has been working with the Sheriff and the town could probably get the help needed from him to fulfill that dept.'s work. As far as the beaches, there are many places where you swim at your own risk. Or we could just pay for lifeguards. We should privatize trash collection. This would eliminate salary costs and equipment maintenance. Let a private hauler worry about health insurance, workers comp. etc. Or we could do at Westport does and bring your own trash to the transfer station. Joe M. has discussed using the sheriff's dept. for recycling maybe they could handle the transfer station as well. The library should be privatized as well. Pay freezes would be an excellent way to go. The private sector is seeing not only pay freezes but pay cuts and layoffs. Benefits have been slashed. It's time town/school employees give a little. Employees are 70% of the budget. We have to bring that percentage down. We have options but an unwillingness to change anything.
I am happy to ask the Executive Administrator for a plan and I would like all of you who agree to contact the other Select Board members, especially Mr. Carney and Ms. Dias but Mr Michaud and Ms. Gilbert as well.
Tell them that we need to have a plan forthwith and you want the Select Board to direct the administrators to do it. You can find their contact information here. Thanks for your help!
Checked their contact information.
Ya gotta love this: Change is never easy to accept or understand; nor is it comfortable to those who do it. Selectperson Dias feels long term members on any appointed commission, committee or board should not be automatically re-appointed. Dartmouth is growing and times are changing. The 30 and 50 year old person has a lot to contribute to Dartmouth. Let's give them a chance and listen to them also.
P.S. Contact info needs updating.
Sorry, should have put quotes around "Change...also."
To Anon 8:05, as stated earlier the schools are at MRNSS and thus are spending the minimum allowed by law right now. Were I to agree with your statements about give backs, which I don't, that money would get re-allocated within the overall school budget. One reason for the MRNSS formula is to prevent the cannibalizing of the educatinal system in any city or town when those municipalities get in a financial bind and look to the school system as an fat target.
I for one am not upset that Bill pushes his agenda, that's what he's there for. However with Joe, Diane and Bill as new members of the SB why cant this stuff move forward? They are now the majority and if they could agree on something it would be done by now. There is no room for compromise as I see it. Everyone has their own idea of what is 'right' and will not look for common ground. Instead we spin more wheels and waste more time. What's to be done?
Trimble is a demagogue - a politician known for obtaining and gaining political power by appealing to the popular prejudices, emotions, fears and expectations of the public, typically via impassioned rhetoric and propaganda, and often using populist themes.
See Trimble for what he is. I doubt he realizes it, but he most certainly is a textbook case of an honest-to-God card-carrying demagogue.
Agreed Anon 6:06. The comment count had been low for a few days and it was time to incite more destructive emotions. he supports nothing and no one. Especially those who work twice as hard to make Dartmouth function and actually make decisions and hold themselves accountable.
Wow, I'm moving up in the world. I haven't actually received a demagogue card to carry yet, where do I get one?
Despite my demogoguery, the fact remains that our expenditures are growing faster than our revenue and we have no comprehensive plan on what to do about that. I would like to have the town administrators put forth such a plan. Then we can discuss it and decide if we want or need to make changes. A plan might include service cuts, personnel cuts, overrides, or many other measures to hold down expenses or raise revenue.
Absent a plan, we careen from crisis to crisis, year after year. I don't think that is a good way to run the town's government.
Please point out the misleading claim, popular prejudice, or false promise made in that reasoning which would qualify my position as demagoguery. I think it is only fair that if you want to attach a label to my actions that you back them up with some facts. Otherwise you are just engaged in name calling.
Anonymous, 4:57: I would think, even with a majority of members backing the completion of a five-year plan, the remaining two would have to be on the bandwagon, as well. Apparently, they must (and one does) feel that a plan is already in place, and that all that is needed for a plan to be complete is Ed's financial reports, when, minus inclusive information on bridging the shortfalls, it is not.
Joe, Bill, and Diane could be banging their heads against a stone wall, for all intensive purposes, if the other two members remain indifferent. At the least, a lot of time could be wasted, and already has, eight years, to be exact.
If the entire Board has to unanimously back forcing the executive administrator to produce a complete five-year plan and do his job, it may never happen. All Bill and the others can do at this time is keep the issue in the public forefront, keep reinforcing the need for one, and keep demanding the executive administrator do his job that he is paid to do.
And - - why should the SB have to go to ANY trouble to get the executive administrator to do his job? That is, after all, a part of his contract under his Charter-mandated responsibilities. If he had been doing so all along, we might not be in this predicament, or possibly not in such a dire one, given the economy all over. At the least, he would have been fulfilling his job obligations, and the SB members, all five of them, by expecting a plan, would have been doing theirs.
I think it's a matter of responsibility and accountability on all fronts. Remember those words? Weren't we promised just that in 2007?
It's easy to illustrate Trimble's demagoguery. Compare and contrast him to Greg Lynam. Both hold positions on Town boards. Trimble is elected, while Lynam is appointed. Both cite the need for more and better financial information. Lynam rolls up his sleeves and works to develop better information. Trimble simply talks abaout the need for information, and does little, if anything to develop it.
Lynam doesn't work for the Town. I would wager he doesn't lay blame at the feet of Gagne and Iacaponi for the Town's fiscal woes. He likely relies on and works closely with them, as they probably do with him, as well. I strongly suspect the share mutual respect for each other.
People respect and follow the lead of Lynam. Actions speak louder than words. He most certainly is not a demagogue. He's an example of an outstanding public official.
I'm aware that Trimble has supporters, and that those most loyal to him frequent this blog. There's nothing wrong with that. It's how the political system works. His supporters are quick to defend him in here, as they will surely do after reading this.
My purpose is not to attack Trimble. Nor is it to call him names. I simply point out what I consider him to be - a demagogue. It's an important distinction, particularly in this forum, which serves as his primary tool for demogoguery. People need to give consideration to the possibility that he's more talk than action.
Anonymous, 12:47: It is NOT Bill Trimble's responsibility to draft a five-year plan, or incorporate any action to bridge the shortfalls or stave off future ones. It IS the responsibility of the SB members to "remind" the executive administrator that he needs to "remind" his director of budget and finance/treasurer to draft this plan in its entirety.
Bill IS doing his part, the only one he can, and that is vocally calling for a plan. By doing so, he is "reminding" the rest of the Board of its responsibility to get a COMPLETE plan in hand; he is keeping the issue in the forefront of priorities, where it should be; he is informing the public about what needs to be done by our administrators and officials and is currently not being done, so the public is not blindsighted down the road; and he is working to affect a change in the way our government is run.
If you or anyone is unhappy about the financial state of affairs in Dartmouth, who do you think is responsible? Bill? I think not.
You will probably rebut that Bill wants to bankrupt the Town and lead us down the path to the Dark Ages, or is anti-education and anti-schools, but what action would you have him take to get us out of the financial mess OTHERS, not Bill, put us in, and will continue to keep us in unless things, and their "business as usual" mentality, change?
Print money?
Look Anonymous, I am tired and cranky today. You say this, My purpose is not to attack Trimble. Nor is it to call him names. I simply point out what I consider him to be - a demagogue.
I am really at a loss as to how to respond but, as I said, I am tired and cranky, so here goes.
My purpose is not to attack Anonymous. Nor is it to call Anonymous names. I simply point out what I consider Anonymous to be - a pusillanimous troll.
To anonymous 4:57 a.m. What is wrong with the money being reallocated within the schools? Why not put that money to better use like purchasing textbooks and re-opening two schools?
It's funny that you should compare Bill Trimble to Greg Lynam. Greg Lynam has stated we need an across the board pay freeze, we need to include all costs when looking into privatization, we need to address our pension liabilities, we need to understand that salaries are 70% of the budget, we need to understand that measures must be taken to reconcile the budget. No where has Greg L. presented a plan to address any of these issues because it is not his place to do so. And the reason all this may sound familiar is because it is the exact same thing Bill Trimble has been saying all along. So I have no problem comparing these two gentlemen. They are of like mind and both willing to give of themselves to benefit Dartmouth. We are lucky to have them.
The Select Board has the responsibility to seek a plan from the executive administrator. It is not a "maybe." It is not up for debate. It is a "must" and it has not, to this date, been sought by any seated Boards.
Residents need to remember this come election time. They need to remember the performance, or lack of, of their officials.
If so many people want a plan, why not start writing letters to Mike and Ed about it. The five SB members can only do so much because they don't all feel the need to 'press' Mike for a plan. I wonder why some don't feel the exec. min. are a priority? I know Bill Trimble has asked Mike about a plan and exec. min., even before he was elected to the SB. Mike claims he doesn't have time, but maybe he and Ed are not up to the job. Mike says he doesn't have time to record meetings (exec. Minutes). It has been over 3 years since the public has seen exec. minutes! That isn't "when I have time", that's the LAW.
the 6 p's, yes, we've had so many SB members and other town leaders who fit this profile it isn't funny.
Some just like to hear themselves talk. It's about a popularity contest, instead of getting down to serious business.
Bill Trimble wants to get serious about reducing the town spending. First, we need a plan. He has asked Mike and Ed many times in the past. Gets the same bla bla bla.
We need a PLAN NOW. Other SB members must start asking also, in public at the meeting so that the public knows if progress is being made. The public should know when a plan will be ready to present to the town.
If Mike has to look up the Executive Session minutes, which he is likely to tell you he has to do since he takes the minutes, you will have to pay for his time to do so at his salary rate, along with any copying, etc., although the MGL states that the lowest paid employee in the office that is able to do the job or can be shown what to look for to do the job, is to be the one doing so, at a cost of his/her salary. Having Mike get the Executive Session minutes could result in a hefty bill, for all we know. His time doesn't come cheap!!
I should think that Bill, being a Select Board member, could/should get these minutes free of charge. For that matter, so shouldn't Diane Gilbert,and she has asked for them, as well, quite awhile ago. Of course, there is no/not enough help in Mike's office for someone else to find them and give them out, so Mike will have to take time out from his other work to look for them, at whatever cost that amounts to. You are able to ask for an estimate of this cost, however, before proceeding with your request to get them.
The public needs to ask for a plan and keep asking. Letters to administrators/officials; letters to the newspapers; questioning at public meetings. It all needs to be kept in the forefront and kept at them.
There are more of us than there are of them!!
to anon Aug 23, 4:35 p.m. - As I stated in my original post and amplified later on, Mr Trimble stated the town will face a shortfall of some $600k and asked what the school administration will be doing to address that. I stated the schools are at MRNSS right now and cannot spend any less. They are at the state allowed minimum. The town's shortfall cannot be made up on the backs of the schools. The matter of re-allocating funds within the MRNSS is a completly different question and should not be confused with the original thread starter made by Mr. Trimble. The question I posed is stil unanswered. Why include the schools as a funding source for the town shortfall when they are bound by state laws regarding MRNSS? Once again I am very thankful for this particular law given how many in this community feel about education.
Someone get me a dictionary!
Demagogue and pusillanimous in one thread. Geez, I better get back to school.
Yes 7:28, And that includes the SC and Dr. Russell. They control where the money goes in the schools.
Please don't try to blame anyone in the town for the schools lack of planning for textbooks for my children.
I would like to see a long term plan for the town. That is something WE can control. We need a long term plan in Dartmouth. Too bad that ALL SB members don't agree on getting Gagne and Icaponi to move in that direction. We heard a while ago from M. Gagne, he claims he's working on a plan. Those two have been in Dartmouth...how long?? We should get updates at SB mtgs. I thought that creating a plan for Dartmouth was part of their job description anyway. Does anyone know their job description? I would like to see it in black and white.
Anonymous, 9:22: It's in black and white. Read Anonymous, Aug. 22, 4:54, for job responsibilities of the executive administrator (Section 4-4 of the Town Charter,) and also Sections 5-3 through 5-5 in the Charter.
Just to plan ahead--what are we going to complain about when we get the "plan" and cant fund the town without more taxes? Do we go back to calling for resignations or just more cuts? just trying to be a loyal minion
to the anonymous spewing hatred towards Bill,
Who in your opinion is a Select Board member that is a good leader for Dartmouth? Please don't tell me that it is Joe,wait to see which way the wind blows, flip flop, Michaud. This is the guy that supported a 25% tax increase that was only going to last 2 years, all the while saying he is a fiscally conservative republican.
He is also the type of guy that will agree with people in public, then try work anonymously to discredit them.
At this point, I'ld be happy with a one-year plan. Three years would be optimal but I am not so concerned with five because I think there are too many variables to predict that far out accurately. Mr. Gagne, how do you and the finance director plan to balance the budget for fy10?
Anon 9:22 p.m., the 'schools' have made it clear what their priorities are and have been-where is your and many others outrage if you find the text book situation so dismal? The SC has made a case that they are trying to maintain a well rounded education for the students in the system against many odds. All these things have been cited over and over again. Few seem to care about where the money gets spent until they are told there is not enough to go around and then the word 'priorities' gets thrown around as if its some magic cure all. Well the SC and Admin have stated all along what their priorities are and how they see the budget getting spent to meet those priorities. A lot has been given up before text books, and text books still get funded every single year, however not fast enough to stay current in the face of ever rising utility, health care and pension costs. Depending on how the contract negotiations go in the next several months, we may also be losing many teachers which will only compound the school problems. I maintain that part of the solution is a small school override along with many of the other changes that have been discussed by the personnell board, the SB and FinCom. I think it needs to be a multi faceted approach.
Anyway, the question I posed is still out there. What did Mr Trimble mean when he stated the school admin and SC need to come up with ways to address the 600k shortfall the town will face. Minimum school spending is just what it says and we are already there.
The school administrators are going to get the MNSS increase every year, as you said. What they need to plan for is how they are going to provide teachers and textbooks while receiving a 4+ % increase each year.
Mr Trimble, they have been providing both teachers and textbooks, albeit the textbooks have not been able to keep pace and like virtually every other iteom in the school budget, text purchases have been reduced. The list of items that has been reduced or outright eliminated is long and does not bear repeating yet again. The hue and cry to increase money spent on texts (appropriate hue and cry as far as I am concerned) has been met in the last year with a renewed focus on how to secure funds for texts and technology. As you know there has been money allocated for texts every year and the SC and admin have tried to balance what they feel are the appropriate priorities with funding that is available. Not everyone agrees with their assessment, that goes without saying, however to deny that this planning does not go on is incorrect.
They have made it clear they feel the human capital they employ (namely teachers) is the most critical piece of the service they provide our community. They have also made it clear they feel (as do I) that music, arts, sports play an integral role in the education of the student. You may not agree and are certainly entitled to that opinion, however many do not agree with you on this score. You are also aware I suspect that there is a 5 year text/tech purchase plan in place and it has been in place for some time. This plan identifies those texts that need replacement and when they should be replaced along with their cost.
I suspect that so long as MRNSS is the rule, there will be curtailed pay increases, more cuts and less than ideal spending on texts and technology. They have said as much time and again. I also suspect there wil continue to be curve balls thrown their way in the form of ever changing state/federal mandates like the proposed change in the cost for the Bristol Ag school-where will that extra money come from? How much will it be? It will likely not be of the same enormous magnitude as the Voc HS reformulation that hit the schools last year (surprise surprise) but it will be something and that money will have to some from somewhere.
Have the schools done everything right? Absolutely not. Have they made some very bad decisions? Yes. Do we constantly accuse them of not 'planning' because we don't agree with their priorities? I won't. I appreciate the time you take to publish this blog Mr Trimble, yet I never seem to get answers to basic questions. Instead I'm left scratching my head and looking back to see if I stated my question clearly-most times I think I did. You asked how the school and town were going to rectify the $600k shortfall in the upcoming budget. If the schools are already at MRNSS how do you propose they contribute to lessen this shortfall?
Once again, I'll answer the schools will have to plan to provide the best education that they can while getting MNSS. We can disagree on the priorities and obviously do. To say there is a plan to provide textbooks but it has not been funded is to say there is no plan in my opinion. Anyone can make a plan and then say we haven't the money to fund it. That is really the opposite of what I am advocating. I want to take the available funds and develop a plan to provide that best education that funding can provide.
Anonymous, 8:57: The Town, likewise, has made "some very bad decisions," wouldn't you agree?
Since we were not always in this shortfall position, what's the possibility that when the money was there, on both school and Town sides, it got spent a little less judiciously than perhaps it should have been? Could there have been a misjudgment, not to be confused with misspending, in where and how the money was spent, an over-generosity in allocating funds in some budgetary areas?
Maybe this is the "bad decision" the residents would like to hear admitted, if, of course, there ever were to be a public admission made. It takes a big man (or woman) to admit his/her mistakes. It's a tough thing to do, and tougher, I would think, when you are in the public arena. But I think we would see our leaders in a new light, and not necessarily a negative one, but perhaps one of respect?
Just wishful thinking on my part, I guess.
We do disagree Mr Trimble. I think it much wiser to plan for a high quality education and build your plan around that goal. The 5 year text book plan is just that. What resources will best serve our goal of educating our charges? This 5 year plan is then modified as funding dictates. It is flexible and lower priority items move back as needed based on available funds.
If a high quality education is our goal we work every day towards that target, suing available funds and making cogent arguments for additional funding as needed to reach that goal, recognizing that there will be setbacks that follow the ebb and flow of the economy.
To me this approach illustrates the value that a community places on education. (this of course presupposes there is no waste, corruption etc) If we use a dollar amount as our target and build an educational system around that target, well I'm afraid our priorities are not where they should be and we wil all pay the price down the road.
Textbooks are a priority for my children. They are not in HS yet, so don't preach to me about sports and educating the whole child. I am sick of that. The SC doesn't listen even when we put our comments on paper in black and white. They know better. Even if they don't have children in the schools, they know better.
The value a community places on education begins with (at the very least) textbooks. I agree with a post here that says there is plenty of waste in the schools. I see it every week. I am not confident with the people in charge of the schools.
'Plenty of waste'? can you be more specific or is this just more of the same general comment that can't be adressed with a rational answer?
There's like 1 maybe 2 people that make a vocal stink to the school committee about where they have established priorities, but it's plenty easy to scream about dissatisfaction on a blog.
As far as for me, textbooks are important but so are quality teachers. To strike the balance is critical, but without continued public input and pressure-more than this blog for sure- how can you find that balance?
A few more dollars (like $35/year) would go a long way to getting us closer and should be part of the discussion along with further efficiencies everywhere they can be found.
One last thing anon 8:06, if I write in this blog and it does not follow the general feelings espoused by Mr Trimble and his loyalists, does that constitute 'preaching'? Having a different view and discussing it rationally is the basis for any decision making and concensus building, something that is in very short supply around here it seems.
to 9:53, I did not mean that you were preaching. I feel that the SC preaches whenever a parent(me,in the past) says that textbooks are a priority. That's my opinion anyway. In the past I have attended SC meetings and PTO meetings where I have voiced the same thing. The way I see it,the SC only listens to some of the people.
ok anon 3:55. Perhaps I read too much into your post that was'nt there. Keep voicing your concerns to the SC and Admin - it takes time but eventually it will pay off.
Anon. 4:05, how long?
Anon 4:20 - for me its been 2 years and counting which is 2 years too long for my kids that are also in elementary school, but the choices are limited so the best option is still the only option; voice your concerns as often as possible and try and enlist your friends and neighbors to do the same. To date I have been less than overwhelmed about the level of parental participation in the various discussions. Change will happen quicker if more people speak out.
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