Lets run some numbers.
Using the numbers supplied by the District,
what could be cut to balance the budget?
Elem schools
Special area subjects $704,173.00
School Psychologists $277,320.00
Class Size (-1 not -3) $72,000.00
Special Ed $73,205.00
M School
Guidance Counselor $72,564.00
School psych (1/2 time) $46,220.00
Assist Princ. $110,550.00
H School
Technology (-1 FTE) $56,000.00
ELA $52,084.00
Math $15,670.00
LOTE (1/2 cut now) $144,000.00
Special Ed (-1 FTE) $73,205.00
School Psych (1/2 time) $46,220.00
Assistant Principals (2-$143,000.00) $286,000.00
Admin/super ($110,550.00) actually $150,000.00
Daily Cleaning (1/3 cut) $41,300.00
Pupil Transport (central bus stops) $70,000.00 ?
Clerical support (across the district) $225,000.00
Subtotal $2,515,511.00
What other ideas?
Last year I suggested cutting modified and 9th grade sports
because the void will be filled by local groups.
That didn't happen, but now it must. $125,000.00
Assist Super $175,000.00
Total $2,815,511.00
We are within $300,000 of the goal.
The District list supplied totals $6.74 million.
I haven't touched Kindergarten, sports, music, or art.
Kindergarten saves money in the long run because of the early intervention with regard to learning disabilities.
I have kept a LOTE teacher in the HS as a safety net to finish the 3 yr requirement.
The LOTE program in the MS is kept and we need to aim for the 3 year completion at those grade levels.
I didn't touch transportation other than to suggest central bus stops and the savings, going door to door needs to stop.
I still don't trust some of the numbers supplied, here's why.
For example : HS Assit Princ. savings is quoted at $110,000.00.
According to See Thru NY the salary is over $105,000 making the total savings to the district closer to $140,000.
The Admin / Super position is quoted at $110,550.00 savings and at See Thru it is $115,000 making actual savings $150,000.
Athletics is stated at $524,000. The athletic groups have contributed huge moneythis year. Is $524,000 the same as last year before the trimming or is the real budget over $600,000.00 including contributions?
Add to that, we just received a $700,000 refund from health ins. That says to me that the original "roll over" numbers used in the budget last year (11-12) were overstated. Is the number used for this year overstated as well? Buy how much?
If we lay off any employees going into next year the health number will be decreasing as a result.
Either way, is the $8,292,043.00 (12-13) Health Ins.budget number based on an 11-12 budget number that was $700,000 too high to start?
As always, I will keep you posted....
One more thing, we have chosen, and are negotiating with a new Superintendent.
Details will be out tomorrow (Monday) morning.
I think we did GREAT! I hope you agree.
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28 comments:
What is the elementary level 'special area instruction'? I thought that was elem. art, and music. Also, what are you proposing for class size for the elem level? Cutting one position instead of three? Could you please clarify?
This was originally an exercise to find out just how bad things were.
As you know, our BOE president hit the air with cancelling or cutting full day K. Full day K is the LAST thing to be cut, in my opinion.
It soon turned out to be a "Hey wait a minute" moment. I started comparing numbers and found many that seem off. I cited a few for illustration.
Anyway, I don't know that "Special" area instruction
is electives. If that is the case, we will need to find another way, I can tell you that full day K is more important, in my opinion.
This is why I went with just one reduction. Remember, our student population is decreasing.
As of last year (7/11) there were 54 sections of, on avarage, 24 kids/ class for a total of 1306 regular ed.
The 5th grade is leaving, (254) and a full day K is coming in
(180) last year. This should be about 1232 total in 54 sections or 22.8/class. If we lose just 1 teacher (53 sections) we are still at 23.2. This is less per section than we have right now.
That number of students could be spread out at the same ratio as this past year.
These are early numbers and estimates based on information supplied by the district. If the K class is smaller, all the better.
As I understand it, you are a board member. So what's with not trusting the numbers? If you cannot get accurate information, who can? And why aren't you using your position to get reliable numbers, if you doubt those being presented by the administration/board at public meetings?
I always look at numbers to see if they make sense, just from a gut feeling, is it close? While writing the post, some lines didn't make sense. Then it was off to See Thru NY. They had the numbers.
I have had to FOIL information for years. Do you think a BOE member should have to FOIL information? You have to ask why, right? I do.
I hoped things would change with new leadership, I gave it 7 months and kept quiet. No change. Times up!
I run a business and understand the true cost of an employee. If an employee makes $70,000 in salary, the true cost is actually 30% more. This includes matching witholding costs, insurance coverages, and benefits.
I have listed the glaring items that I question but am sure there may be others. The standard seems to be "understate the savings and overstate the cost". If you look at them and see something different, let me know. I'm open.
Being a minority member, I can't change the direction of the BOE but I can give an opinion on the information supplied by it.
Thank you for pointing out what we all suspect, year after year, that "understate the savings and overstate the cost" is Ouimet math, which costs the Taxpayers hugh dollars every year, and costs the students their quality education.
To whoever asked why our BOE members do not get provided accurate numbers, apparently you did not attend any GWS school closing meetings, where numbers provided were ALL LIES. I am sure the Boces/Questar dollars are all inflated or deflated, when continuing to analysze the GWS building usage. Would Ouimet admit he made a mistake on that one? Not ever if he hopes to keep his job.
Mike Ouimet prepares the budget scenarios, he provides the inaccurate numbers, and somehow he keeps his job? Fire him an bring in a senior level accountant. The Superintendant should be taking numbers from him, and developing the budget. Mike only cares about numbers that protect HIS JOB.
We all saw his attitude last year when he told to go back to the drawing board - he gets very angry and develops quite the attitude, even in public meetings.
I would like to know why Chris Foster want this blog to go away?
Chris and I seem to have polar opposite opinions in many cases.
He has also said that this particular post was lies.
I took the budget numbers that the district supplied and ran them. You can check the pages yourself or look at the post that Greg made below. You be the judge.
I disagree with what they are doing with the "budget marketing" but I just don't help them with the forums, etc. They can do what they want, the majority says its OK.
Either way, he is unhappy with me having my opinion. The budget will be fine, it always is.
The $200 mil has been put back into the pool of aid but until the aid calculations are run, the amount we will see is unknown. Don't get your hopes up, the last time I think we got less than $500,000.
Should I have given up free speech as a condition of being on the BOE?
No we should always vote our own hearts. He is the President of the School Board. That is it. I think you sharing your thoughts is good and keeps the public informed. A different view than his. Maybe he should start his own blog and have Pollyanna run it.
He already does, the AP website is the district blog and reflects the opinions of the district majority.
I don't have a problem with that and never have. Moccia put up the Answers Place to dispute my opinions.
I believe a healthy exchange of thoughts really will make us better off. As long as the majority listens ;)
At the BOE meeting they said that each Tech Valley HS student costs $12,000/year. How many students does AP have there?
We have about 12 right now at a charge of $12,000 per pupil. State aid is at roughly 60% so it costs the district $5,000.00 or so per student.
I believe that is before transportation costs which are minimal.
so, they cost the District less to educated them than the kids that go to AP
All I have to say is things at the bus garage in the past 2 weeks have been VERY PLEASANT, nice going into work and not worrying about what kind of mood "she's" in & what we will need to deal with, have even noticed how morale has been increasing sorta kinda feels like it use to :)
Get rid of a bad seed & see what changes occur, it wasn't her staff that were rotten or had attitudes, she was the one & she got back what she gave,do you know there was nothing done for her by her staff, no card, no cake nothing, that's how rotten she was to everyone that no one wanted to do anything for her, but to open the door for her to leave!!!!
Now if we can only get rid of "Shinny Pants" Ouimet, he's a nasty, mean, arrogant person to say the very least!!!
I don't believe its cheaper exactly.
We still have to maintain our buildings and transport the students to and from the district transportation point.
Our overhead doesn't change because they go to TV.
This is exactly why I don't want to start borrowing again. We get rid of a huge amount of debt service in two years.
Breathing room will be a good thing.
Why isn't the BOE asking for quotes to privatize cafeteria or transportation? With so many millions to save how can they not ask for quotes to at least compare?
Isn't it a conflict of interest for a current AP BOE member to also be on the board of Questar? The district has a property leased to them plus there are so many services that Questar provides to the district. What do you think Bill? Will you be at tomorrows meeting?
Who are you talking about?
I am in Miami on a job site, this coming meeting was added after I had committed.
I am back for the 27th as scheduled.
b
Sorry....it's on tomorrow's agenda item VI "approve the nomination of Chris Foster for election to the Questar III Board of Education to serve a three year term commencing July 1, 2012-June30,2015"
OK got it!
This is news to me.
The last person we sent to Questar was Erin Lofredo. Remember her? She just got fired from Albany County. It made the papers. Something about falsified addresses.
I can't tell you if it is proper but I will get a legal opinion and let you know.
This is a very negative site. We should be coming together as a community to solve these issues, not tear each other down. Very disappointing there is nothing constructive here.
I am sorry you feel that way. I think we have a very good exchange of ideas going here.
Simple conversation.
Well, there are still some rotten eggs in the district that need removal, then we can truly come together and dance around the fire. no one trust Michael Ouimet when trust is lost it's a very hard thing to get back Michael Ouimet. Good luck with that
Bill, Is there ANY WAY you can conference in to the Board meeting, to voice your objection to this conflict of interest, to have our BOE President serve on Questar's Board? At least have them table the item, and have legal counsel look it over!!!
WHO added that to the agenda?
AT who's request?
We deserve the answer;s to those questions, because this is the real way APCSD operates!!!
This is sneaky, backhanded, and nrgative tactics, to have THAT VOTE, while you are out of town.
Apparently you should say you areout of town for the next meeting, but then actally show up. This is bull, and childish behavior, by however put that item on the agenda.
BOCES AND APCSD BOE????
Conflict of interest, Bill!!!!!!
AVERILL PARK
2170
BOARD MEMBER CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The members of the Board of Education shall avoid acting in circumstances
where their personal interest conflicts with that of the public whose interest they have
been elected to represent. The actions of the Board shall be governed by the applicable
provisions of the General Municipal Law, any other applicable law and the code of ethics
established pursuant to Board Policy 2160.
Cross-ref: 2160, School Board Officer and Employee Ethics
Ref: Education Law ? ? 2103; 2502(7); 2590-c; 2590-g; 2590-j(4); 3016
General Municipal Law ? ? 800 et seq.
Local Finance Law ? 60.10
Note: Policy added
a*d
Adopted: 03/01
The following is a wonderful post from Jessie. Before you read her comments ask her;
" How repsonsible was it for you and Chris to vote to deplete our reserves to artificially keep programs and taxes low? "
If you haven't noticed the architect of that project has moved to the Great Northwwest and has left you, Chris and Mike Q to hold the bag.
Goods Luck if you choose to run again.
Jessica Zweig
A message from the Alliance for Quality Education:
ON BEHALF OF
all the 5 year olds losing pre-K and Kindergarten,
the special needs students losing self-contained environments,
the schools told to do without a library,
the students no longer benefiting from co-taught classrooms,
the teachers who received pink slips yesterday or who will next month,
the seniors losing Advanced Placement options,
the kids losing art, music, band, sports and foreign language,
the teachers who retired earlier than expected,
the teachers who have made sacrifices in their pensions,
all the kids who need one-on-one attention in reasonably-sized classrooms,
and all the parents unable to work due to a loss of after school programs
Please CAll TODAY, urge YOUR FAMILY, FRIENDS, COLLEAGUES and NEIGHBORS to call the Governor and let him know that he will not have your vote in 2014 if he does not increase funding to schools. To make up for the cuts from last year, an additional $500 million is badly needed. Students and school communities have sacrificed already for the last two years -- $2.7 billion-- and that it's time large corporations paid their fair share of taxes.
(518) 474-8390
THANK YOU for the role you have taken over the last 6 months to support education.
There are still a couple days left.
This site isn't negative. It's honest and gives facts. Sometimes those facts are very nice. But we certainly aren't going to get any honesty or facts from the BOE or Admin!
The BOE is not asking for quotes to privatize either right now. It has come up on a number of occasions early in the year but gained no steam.
I am still waiting on a legal opinion, any word on what happened?
WHY are we not looking at any cuts for an Asst Superintendent or Barb Goldstein. We have Leslie Volor. Couldn't she do the job without Barb.
Why do we need 2 Asst. Super's. Even @ 3.95 there are a lot of cuts. I would rather get rid of them two and keep all day kindergarten. Your talking over 225,000 savings just for them two.
Any thoughts
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