I have been having an email converstion about a comment I wrote on this post. The issue arises from a sentence in that comment which was mostly about the declining amount of free cash available,
That sentence is,
There are also several disturbing trends, one being the reliance by the school department on one time revenues to update their teaching materials. What happens when that money is not available?
I am being taken to task for not raising this as an issue during the joint meeting on Monday with the Select Board, School Committee and Finance Committee.
To which I replied,
My position on buying educational materials with capital money is not that you cannot make a case for calling it a capital expense. A majority have decided that is the case and I accept that decision. Rather I think that using one time revenue, i.e. capital money, for a operational and continuing need, such as educational materials, is bad policy. I have been consistent in that belief and raised the issue throughout the meetings you mentioned. Have no misconception, I am glad that the town was able to provide the funds to purchase the materials as they are important to the current education of children. However, it is also apparent to me that the school department now hopes to have a continuing recourse to capital funds to renew the educational materials that are required to run the district. I think that is a dicey proposition and has not been settled as a matter of policy. Perhaps you disagree it is not settled policy since the town has made the recent purchases. Nonetheless, it is quite likely these funds will not be available and my question is, what then? How will the school department update their educational materials in that instance?.
Due to budgetary constraints, the town has deferred maintenance and needed upgrades to much of our infrastructure and is also facing costly retirement benefit needs which must be addressed in order to maintain our roads, bridges, and buildings and ensure the town's fiscal health. Those needs are going to be in competition for the very funding which the school department seem to be counting on for the ongoing operation of the schools. That is the issue I have raised ...
... and I believe it to be a valid one.
During the meeting on Monday, I voted to accept the financial policies that were presented. I have no philosophical opposition to any of those policies but I do have reservations on some specifics. There is no mention in those financial policies of using one time capital money to fund on going operations. In fact, the opposite is true, the policy prohibits such use. While the school department is free to continue to ask for and may receive funds from one time capital money to buy educational materials, I continue to believe that to be poor public policy and will continue to advocate against such use. I believe my position to be consistent philosophically with the policies adopted.
I was not able to win over my correspondent to my position on the expenditures.
What do you think about this practice? Tell us in comments.
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14 comments:
Bill,
One thing to know about the School Committee. They like to play the game that they are insulted by what you have said in order to put you on the defensive. Don't fall for it and don't apologize. Ignore their whining and state your piece. If they are crying about nothing then that is probably your answer as to whether or not they are willing to work together for the good of the whole town or not. As usual, they need a reality check.
I noticed at the last joint meeting which included the school committee, they were already trying to squeeze more money from the town side. The $700,000 shortfall for the schools? A school committee member pretending to be joking suggested it come from the town side. Guess what? He really wasn't joking. When the schools aren't getting something they want, even though the town is spending more than required, they dig in and continue crying for more. This is where any public relations they may have gained disappear like magic. People are sick of the schools draining the town. And please don't try to say we aren't spending more than we are required to.
Bill, another good point you made at that meeting was about the $90K "transportation fee". I do not agree with the school system charging parents for their kids to ride the bus to the HS, BUT, the town, by law, already pays this bill, in full.
The schools started charging parents for "transportation" that was already paid for and will be paid for by the town. This was just a sneaky way to raise funds for other things. As a "good will" gesture, you and others voted to offset that cost last year to the tune of $90K. I didn't agree with it then but figured it was a 1 time deal. Now, it is carried in all the future year projections, and is adjusted for inflation! The SC acted like it was their given right to expect it... you were right to point it out and expect that it should not continue.
The schools need to figure out how to offset that "cost" and NOT by charging parents.
That dreaded 3: AM call!
Our police department must be fully funded. As it relates to all town departments, I hope they are fully funded. Police are on call 24/7, 365 days a year. When that dreaded 3: AM telephone call is made, you will want a Dartmouth police officer standing at your front door. Police officers are trained to protect life and property. When a dirt bag breaks your door down at 3: AM they won't want to discuss the Dartmouthhitchingpost with you. When all hell is breaking lose, you want a cop at your front door within seconds.
This town is patrolled by police officers. They are assigned to North end districts, and South end districts. Most dirt bags wait until the early morning hours between 3-4 AM to smash down your front door, run into your house and take what ever they can to be sold for drug money. A smart dirt bag will find more in your Dartmouth home than in a New Bedford apartment house. If it's your luck day, the dirt bag will leave before you know what has happened. If your truly unlucky, the dirt bag will be looking for something more than he can sell, you. If this information makes you feel uneasy, wait until you dial 911 and find out your district police officer is in Padanaram and you live out on Division Road. Any reduction in police officers, shall decrease area locations. Where do you want your money allocated?
Dartmouth police brotherhood union has a new union leader. Frank Condez is now the union president. I am so happy for the membership. Finally we have elected a leader who will not play the political games. Frank has the true leadership qualities need to lead our union. No more deals that benefit the few. Frank will demand equality for all. Frank took the town on when he was by passed for promotion and he ended up settling his case with the town. This is what we need in a leader. Do the right thing Frank. Don't allow big mouth to shut you down. He already started. Good luck buddy. Don't forget you won because the membership respects you. Your the man.
Makes sense to keep the police near the higher population densities and known problem areas like the mall. Oh sorry, I forgot that people like to throw in Padanaram to make it interesting and to stir the envy pot.
Just the other day I drove through the little village called Padanaram and I was surprised to see all the stores that have closed or gone out of business. It look like a ghost town. I understand the economy is bad but never thought it would hit the village people. I remember visiting some of my school friends who lived in the village. They were great friends who live in big houses. I asked a friendly couple if they could tell me what has happened to such a lovely place. The guy spit on the sidewalk and told me some Portuguese guy both the buildings and never fix them up. Told me the place is on hold because the town building inspector was fired and know one can inspect the buildings. He also mentioned the Portuguese owner has left Dartmouth and searching for a place in Fall River to open a Portuguese restaurant. Can anyone explain what happened to the village??
Dartmouth Cops to Selectboard:
Fear. Fear. Fear. Fear. Give us more money. Fear. Give us more money. Give us more money. Fear. Fear. Fear. New Bedford to the East, Fall River to the West. Scary. Fear. Scary. Fear. Give us more money. Trust us. Fear. Trust us. Give us more money. Fear.
There is very little fear from the residents in Dartmouth. Our Police do a great job keeping undesirable people from setting up shop in around our town.
The police don't want the BOS to fear them. They want to be treated with respect and not laughed at by Mr Cressman during negotiations. They want a fair contract that is amicable to both the officers and the Town.
There is no reason our police should be among the lowest paid in the region.
Fair is what they want, not fear.
I think Anon. 7:14, Feb. 21st might be referring to a ploy that is sometimes used by people to get what they want: instill some sort of concern in the public's mind and then show them the "solution," most frequently that "solution" being "Give us more money." Kind of like we were supposed to believe, to hear the supporters tell it, that, unless we passed the $8.5+ million dollar override for the schools, then Dartmouth was certain to fall into the ocean.
Scare tactic, pure and simple. And I had parents tell me that very same thing when the override debacle was in full force. They had no idea who to believe or how to vote on the override issue, even at the time they entered the polling booth. And, yes, they were scared. They had, after all, been heavily pressured to believe that their child was certain to have an insignificant education that would lead to nowhere unless the overrider were passed.
I am NOT saying that this is what the police have, do, or will do when there is a request for money. I fully believe the police should be at the forefront for support, as it is financially able to be given. I am merely stating that that is a known tactic for use, should one want to go the route of less-than-upfront with the public.
Dartmouth schools need productive teachers. Allow me to express my view of what is wrong with public education, and how it relates to state mandates and public funding. Their are many parents sharing the cost of public education, but have no children. Is this called a contributory tax? As a town of Dartmouth property owner, I should not be taxed for public education.
I have a private well for water, and septic system. The town doesn't send me a water/sewer user tax. I have a private trash collector. The town doesn't send me a tax bill for PAYT.
Schools are for learn how to read, write, understand math.
The Dartmouth school system would save much needed money if it stopped paying money for useless programs. Get rid of the following programs , art teachers, physical education teachers, health teachers, music teachers, social needs teachers, school counselors, school nurse, libraries, lunch room monitors, school security monitors, police offers, counselors at the middle school. No school bus transportation.
No football, basketball, baseball teams. We could save bundles of money. Demand...no more state mandated school programs.
to 8:15 - with comments like yours I believe you were a teacher as much as I believe the moon is made of cheese. Good for a laugh though.
To the so-called 'teacher' - you say there are many parents sharing the cost of public education without children....exactly how does that work?
Glad you were not my teacher.
to the 8:15 teacher - I actually don't think you're a teacher either - but in any case.
You feel music, art, phy ed, have no business in a public school education?
You feel a lunch room with several hundred young school children can fend for themselves?
You feel a school with over a thousand kids should do without a nurse?
Maybe we should go back to the old days when special needs kids all got sent away. Out of sight out of mind right? Oh and that was free I suppose.
I'd love to see a day when a police officer was no longer need in a school. Can you turn back the clock for me? No? Well then we'll need to keep the police man.
No bus transport? 64 square mile town. Maybe the elementary kids could hitch a ride down rt 6 or up Slocum Road. I suppose you're one of the ones that posted about not wanting to shovel their walks of snow. Let em walk in the streets. Hell we lose a few of em the price of school goes down right? Win win from your point of view I suppose.
Hard to think you're serious, tend to think you just like to stir the pot.
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