Things have been pretty quiet since the former Superintendent departed.
The BOE went with a head hunter for $20k to get Superintendent candidates. I felt BOCES offered a free service and we should take advantage of it.
The BOE went with a salary range for the new Superintendent of $155,00 to $170,000. Again I said no because you can always go up with your offer but in schools, you can never go down. We had 22 applications, many from much lower paying districts. Now we can't offer less.
Finally, at the last BOE meeting, I became very affraid.
First, there was the camera put up in the Transportation Break room. It was put up over the Christmas break while no one was around. I really thought we were past this kind of behavior with the departure last spring. I really hope this was an isolated incident.
Second, I am affraid of what the BOE of the next few years would be doing if they listen to this Administration.
We saw a presentation of debt service outlook for the next 4 years. This is what it looked like:
Capital Bond Debt
Year Total Debt (Payments) State Aid Net Local Share
(levy amount)
12-13 $6,505,608.00 $6,217,407.00 $288,200.00
13-14 $5,145,658.00 $5,593,548.00 ($447,890.00)
14-15 $2,673,964.00 $3,818,967.00 ($1,145,003.00)
15-16 $2,675,464.00 $2,636,442.00 $39,022
Next year 12-13 we are almost even on Capital Debt payments vs State Aid
The following year 13-14 we are at a net gain relative to cash flow. And the following year we come out of the woods. The woods prior incompetent boards sent us into.
What scared me? The recomendation that we dive into more debt! The result? We may never get the benefit of the incoming state aid payments being greater than the outgoing debt service. We have BOE members who are interested.
Another thing to look at is the decrease in debt service from 13-14 to 14-15. Just about a $2.5 million decrease. With $250,000 being the number for 1% increase in taxes, do the math.
Look at it this way. If the budget amount remained the same, we will be required to actually spend $2.5 million less in 14-15 than in 13-14. We would be able to put money in the bank, pay cash for improvements, take some off the tax levy, open a mistakenly closed school, the options are endless. Only if we don't start borrowing again.
Decreased taxes to benefit the community and not be teetering on the brink of disaster based on shrinking state aid? What a great idea!
What did some of the BOE say? Lets get started.
I will be voting NO.
Ps. Are there any candidates looking at this year?
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Thursday, December 22, 2011
This is a novel approach to taking our world back
Winds of Change....
Warren Buffet is asking each addressee to forward this email to a minimum of twenty people on their address list; in turn ask each of those to do likewise.
In three days, most people in The United States of America will have the message. This is one idea that really should be passed around.
_*Congressional Reform Act of 2011*_
1. No Tenure / No Pension.
A Congressman/woman collects a salary while in office and receives no
pay when they're out of office.
2. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social
Security.
All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the
Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into
the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the
American people. It may not be used for any other purpose.
3. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all
Americans do.
4. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise.
Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.
5. Congress loses their current health care system and
participates in the same health care system as the American people.
6. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the
American people.
7. All contracts with past and present Congressmen/women are void
effective 1/1/12. The American people did not make this
contract with Congressmen/women.
Congressmen/women made all these contracts for themselves. Serving in
Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers
envisioned citizen legislators, so ours should serve their
term(s), then go home and back to work.
Warren Buffet is asking each addressee to forward this email to a minimum of twenty people on their address list; in turn ask each of those to do likewise.
In three days, most people in The United States of America will have the message. This is one idea that really should be passed around.
_*Congressional Reform Act of 2011*_
1. No Tenure / No Pension.
A Congressman/woman collects a salary while in office and receives no
pay when they're out of office.
2. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social
Security.
All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the
Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into
the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the
American people. It may not be used for any other purpose.
3. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all
Americans do.
4. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise.
Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.
5. Congress loses their current health care system and
participates in the same health care system as the American people.
6. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the
American people.
7. All contracts with past and present Congressmen/women are void
effective 1/1/12. The American people did not make this
contract with Congressmen/women.
Congressmen/women made all these contracts for themselves. Serving in
Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers
envisioned citizen legislators, so ours should serve their
term(s), then go home and back to work.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Happy Thanksgiving!
If you have a chance this weekend, try to watch this report. It is interesting and disturbing. Much of it hits home.
Where are we?
http://www.hulu.com/watch/282115/the-cartel
If your traveling, be safe.
B
Where are we?
http://www.hulu.com/watch/282115/the-cartel
If your traveling, be safe.
B
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Anon has an interesting question......
How much does it cost to get a job in APCSD?
Advance agenda for a Board of Education meeting to be held at 6:30 p.m., November 15, 2011 at the Averill Park High School – LGI.
8. Approve to accept a donation in the amount of $15,000.00 from the Averill Park
Booster Club for the purpose of restoring winter track and increase the General
Fund budget (A28551500053000) by this amount.
9. Approve to accept a donation in the amount of $27,874.00 from the Averill Park
Booster Club for the purpose of restoring boys & girls freshman basketball and
boys & girls varsity assistant basketball coaches and increase the General Fund
budget (A28551500046000) by this amount.
9. Approve the appointment of Jenna Brooks as Freshmen Girls’ Basketball Coach, effective November 7, 2011.
10. Approve the appointment of Meghan O’Shea as Modified Girls’ Basketball Coach, effective November 21, 2011.
Comments?
Advance agenda for a Board of Education meeting to be held at 6:30 p.m., November 15, 2011 at the Averill Park High School – LGI.
8. Approve to accept a donation in the amount of $15,000.00 from the Averill Park
Booster Club for the purpose of restoring winter track and increase the General
Fund budget (A28551500053000) by this amount.
9. Approve to accept a donation in the amount of $27,874.00 from the Averill Park
Booster Club for the purpose of restoring boys & girls freshman basketball and
boys & girls varsity assistant basketball coaches and increase the General Fund
budget (A28551500046000) by this amount.
9. Approve the appointment of Jenna Brooks as Freshmen Girls’ Basketball Coach, effective November 7, 2011.
10. Approve the appointment of Meghan O’Shea as Modified Girls’ Basketball Coach, effective November 21, 2011.
Comments?
Friday, October 21, 2011
Does the end justify the means?
Recently the BOE heard from Sharron Lawrence with respect to how AP ranks against the rest of the Capital District in a number of different areas. This information has been compiled and summarized by the Capital District Business Review.
Let me assure you, it was all good news for the district and its residents. The years covered were 07-08, 08-09, and 09-10. We can only look back at the results, there is a one year lag in the information available.
The best news was that our academic ranking had increased over the three years. All rankings are based on 100 or so other districts around the region. The academic rankings were as follows. 30th in 07-08, 21st in 08-09 and 13th in 09-10. This shows that the teachers have continued to excel and in turn have continued to educate our kids in spite of the turmoil around them. These are good people simply doing a good job.
Another bright spot was that the average cost to educate per student, during those same three years, decreased. The ranking for our cost to educate vs the rest of the area had fallen. Our rankings were 42nd the first year, 60th the second and 68th in 09-10. Enough external pressure was being placed on the Administration during those years that they responded, and in turn, succeeded. A better education for less was being delivered. (In spite of a certain someone and her cronies who were constantly defending the administration and allowing teachers to be laid off)
The third item that really go my attention was that during this time the ranking for Median teacher salary had increased. We were 54th the first year, 34th the 2nd and 25th in 09-10. There could be a number of reasons for this. We could be seeing this because we have laid off teachers during this time. The rule "last in first out" gets rid of the lowest paid, pushing the median salary higher via seniority union rules. The other option is that other districts have been hiring new teachers during this period and dragging the median at their district lower with lower salaries. Either way, we are doing more with less and our teachers are the key.
That was confirmed during the last BOE "get together" with the Administrators group. They basically told us that they were working. A lot. Most of their time was spent managing. Personally, managing is what I always thought they were supposed to be doing. Teachers teach and Administrators, well they administer. They have confirmed that they are in deed earning their pay.
It appeared to me that the group was telling the BOE that the 11-12 contingency budget adopted, sucked. This was the budget put forth by both the former Superintendent and former BOE President. The Superintendent had no idea she would be leaving at the time and may have had to live with this budget, and its consequences. Yet, they pressed on.
Where were the Administrators then? Even though I had put forth alternatives (over $500,000) that didn't impact kids, no Administrator came to me to sound a warning. It seems no one wanted to say anything, they just sat on their hands. Why worry? They had the no lay off clause. Let the teachers get the ax.
The Administrators cited the "reduction of student engagement" as a problem brought on by the loss of 1 business, 2.0 FACS, .6 Social studies electives and .4 Art. Then they reported that our late arrivals and early dismissals are both up. Why? We don't have any teachers to teach the electives to fill the school day. Could the cause be that the teachers got the ax? I would say so.
We were told that if any further cuts are made at Algonquin, the education supplied may drop below NYS mandate. Teachers are now at "the maximum contact time allowed by contract" and "have been relieved of supervisory duties". They are just teaching.
So with the bad news delivered by the Administrators this early in the year, I have to ask: Where were you guys last spring? You had a "no lay off" clause protecting you and you didn't speak up to try to change the BOE direction. Now you say you are working hard, all day. Welcome to the world that the rest of us have experienced for years. It's called reality.
Oh, and another thing. The next time you see the misguided majority of the BOE getting ready to adopt a travesty, speak up!
Let me assure you, it was all good news for the district and its residents. The years covered were 07-08, 08-09, and 09-10. We can only look back at the results, there is a one year lag in the information available.
The best news was that our academic ranking had increased over the three years. All rankings are based on 100 or so other districts around the region. The academic rankings were as follows. 30th in 07-08, 21st in 08-09 and 13th in 09-10. This shows that the teachers have continued to excel and in turn have continued to educate our kids in spite of the turmoil around them. These are good people simply doing a good job.
Another bright spot was that the average cost to educate per student, during those same three years, decreased. The ranking for our cost to educate vs the rest of the area had fallen. Our rankings were 42nd the first year, 60th the second and 68th in 09-10. Enough external pressure was being placed on the Administration during those years that they responded, and in turn, succeeded. A better education for less was being delivered. (In spite of a certain someone and her cronies who were constantly defending the administration and allowing teachers to be laid off)
The third item that really go my attention was that during this time the ranking for Median teacher salary had increased. We were 54th the first year, 34th the 2nd and 25th in 09-10. There could be a number of reasons for this. We could be seeing this because we have laid off teachers during this time. The rule "last in first out" gets rid of the lowest paid, pushing the median salary higher via seniority union rules. The other option is that other districts have been hiring new teachers during this period and dragging the median at their district lower with lower salaries. Either way, we are doing more with less and our teachers are the key.
That was confirmed during the last BOE "get together" with the Administrators group. They basically told us that they were working. A lot. Most of their time was spent managing. Personally, managing is what I always thought they were supposed to be doing. Teachers teach and Administrators, well they administer. They have confirmed that they are in deed earning their pay.
It appeared to me that the group was telling the BOE that the 11-12 contingency budget adopted, sucked. This was the budget put forth by both the former Superintendent and former BOE President. The Superintendent had no idea she would be leaving at the time and may have had to live with this budget, and its consequences. Yet, they pressed on.
Where were the Administrators then? Even though I had put forth alternatives (over $500,000) that didn't impact kids, no Administrator came to me to sound a warning. It seems no one wanted to say anything, they just sat on their hands. Why worry? They had the no lay off clause. Let the teachers get the ax.
The Administrators cited the "reduction of student engagement" as a problem brought on by the loss of 1 business, 2.0 FACS, .6 Social studies electives and .4 Art. Then they reported that our late arrivals and early dismissals are both up. Why? We don't have any teachers to teach the electives to fill the school day. Could the cause be that the teachers got the ax? I would say so.
We were told that if any further cuts are made at Algonquin, the education supplied may drop below NYS mandate. Teachers are now at "the maximum contact time allowed by contract" and "have been relieved of supervisory duties". They are just teaching.
So with the bad news delivered by the Administrators this early in the year, I have to ask: Where were you guys last spring? You had a "no lay off" clause protecting you and you didn't speak up to try to change the BOE direction. Now you say you are working hard, all day. Welcome to the world that the rest of us have experienced for years. It's called reality.
Oh, and another thing. The next time you see the misguided majority of the BOE getting ready to adopt a travesty, speak up!
Sunday, October 16, 2011
I guess I can talk about these now.
The following are two E-mails sent out by Chris Foster, our BOE President. One is before the bus vote, the other after its failure.
It is very interesting how people act when in power, on this AP BOE . Take for example, Ms. Lofredo. She was in a position of power during her day and was heard to tell the public "Keep in mind, we don't have to let you speak. We just do it as a courtesy." It seems that the power went to her head. She is not on the BOE any more.
Then we have Mr. Shaw. Became President and was going to put the district in a better place. Then he helped fire Jenny, and shut down the public comment at BOE meetings. He even went to the trouble to obtain a gavel to quiet the audience. Like those before him, he is out of power.
Now we have Mr. Foster. Following the same path and he has a gavel. He says in one E-mail, " It is imperative to me that we reclaim our district during these crazy times". Really? The bus prop. failed 480 no to 288 yes. The majority of those who care, came to vote. The majority voted NO. Perhaps the "reclaim" has been done and the BOE is out of step with the community "in these crazy times".
The BOE thought this was the thing to do even though we have a 100% inspection passage rate.They also thought a 4.8% levy increase, going to contingency and laying off teachers were the right things to do. How in touch with the community is that?
I now hear that we have 12 or so buses sitting as spares on any given day. The ones approving and paying the bills, the community, voted NO to this added spending. A resounding defeat for more non education spending. This of course goes hand in hand with the budget defeat.
Don't be fooled. This is not a safety issue, the buses are inspected. This is simply an image issue. When there are buses in need of replacement and the economy improves, the district will be able to purchase buses.
I can't put my finger on what has caused the three people mentioned above to be so out of step. I do find it interesting that they all reside on the same cul-de-sac. Three BOE members, all risen to power, all from the same street with seven or so homes. There must be something they all have in common but what could it be? What are the odds? Anyway.
Here are the emails.
It is very interesting how people act when in power, on this AP BOE . Take for example, Ms. Lofredo. She was in a position of power during her day and was heard to tell the public "Keep in mind, we don't have to let you speak. We just do it as a courtesy." It seems that the power went to her head. She is not on the BOE any more.
Then we have Mr. Shaw. Became President and was going to put the district in a better place. Then he helped fire Jenny, and shut down the public comment at BOE meetings. He even went to the trouble to obtain a gavel to quiet the audience. Like those before him, he is out of power.
Now we have Mr. Foster. Following the same path and he has a gavel. He says in one E-mail, " It is imperative to me that we reclaim our district during these crazy times". Really? The bus prop. failed 480 no to 288 yes. The majority of those who care, came to vote. The majority voted NO. Perhaps the "reclaim" has been done and the BOE is out of step with the community "in these crazy times".
The BOE thought this was the thing to do even though we have a 100% inspection passage rate.They also thought a 4.8% levy increase, going to contingency and laying off teachers were the right things to do. How in touch with the community is that?
I now hear that we have 12 or so buses sitting as spares on any given day. The ones approving and paying the bills, the community, voted NO to this added spending. A resounding defeat for more non education spending. This of course goes hand in hand with the budget defeat.
Don't be fooled. This is not a safety issue, the buses are inspected. This is simply an image issue. When there are buses in need of replacement and the economy improves, the district will be able to purchase buses.
I can't put my finger on what has caused the three people mentioned above to be so out of step. I do find it interesting that they all reside on the same cul-de-sac. Three BOE members, all risen to power, all from the same street with seven or so homes. There must be something they all have in common but what could it be? What are the odds? Anyway.
Here are the emails.
One more thing: Chris writes," The board of education is putting together a communication plan to assist with this upcoming budget season and receiving candid feedback will assist us as we move forward.
Really? You received candid feedback from the 600 people who attended the first meeting after the pink slip rain storm this spring. You also have been getting very candid feedback for a couple of years from two blogs that have been allowing people to give the BOE candid feedback, sometimes very, very candid.
Anonymous continues to speak candidly and vote. No gavel works on the internet.
It seems the BOE is listening to the "Misfit Minority" who has provided self serving and out of step advice.
Does anyone out there have any "candid feedback" they would like to deliver to the BOE?
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