The following is a little ditty that BBS has sent out. She really believes she is "the end all - be all" for the rest of us.
She is in black. I am in blue.
Hi, folks - I am contacting you because you are respected leaders in the community, especially in the sports community. Myself and a group of neighbors are working very hard to get out the vote to support the proposed Averill Park school budget and to keep Jessie Zweig and Chris Foster on the school board.
BBS also supported Glanton and Tater over Jennie and Dori. I think we can agree that Jennie and Dori have done a great job.
As you probably know, New York State slashed our funding (a.k.a. the state taxes you and I paid into the system) in favor of wealthier districts. At the same time, we have a faction in the community who would reduce school taxes no matter what the damage to our schools. (You've, no doubt, seen their signs on Rte 43.) The current school board voted 6 - 1 for a 3.95% tax increase. (The mythical "2% tax cap" is just that - mythical. 3.95% is the tax cap for our district.) Even with that increase, there will be chilling cuts.
That is correct Foster and Zweig supported the chilling cuts. They supported the cuts to education each of the past three years. Check their voting record or watch the video coming soon.
Salvaged were JV and Varsity sports ( Not exactly, many were cut ), full day kindergarten ( The BOE refused to take this off the table early, holding it hostage until April 3rd ), transportation ( yes, no privatization this year. But what if Foster and Zweig get reelected?) . If the budget fails, the board MUST put up a second vote in June, in which case they will simply have to cut some of the features currently on the salvaged list.
OK, Bridget, now you are just not being truthful. If the budget fails we do have to resubmit ( truth ends there). We can very easily use some of the "Piggy Bank" money that is in this budget. Even BBS should be able to see it. $535,000+ is in this budget as "yield". "YIELD" is school district speak for PROFIT. How can you support a candidate that is willing to take $500,000 from the taxpayers and bank it rather than spend it on education or tax reduction or even a little of both? We could have done much better. AGAIN!
This year (2011 2012) there was $500,000+ for the piggy bank and an added $700,000 in over budgeted health insurance. Last year the BOE went straight to contingent at 4.89% with all this extra buried cash. If you were watching this year you saw the discussion of both amounts on April 3rd. The BOE did nothing to change any spending after the information was revealed. Especially the two candidates BBS supports.
Apparently "financial planner" doesn't include "full disclosure".
If the budget fails a second time, we will be forced to go to a 0% increase. When you consider the decrease in NYS funding and the increase in mandated and contractual expenses you will realize that a 0% tax increase spells more massive cuts in programs for our kids.
This we agree on. We should have put thru a 2% increase. It takes a payment from our existing reserve of $500,000 to cut the tax rate. NO REDUCTION IN ANY EDUCATIONAL OFFERING OR PROGRAM. Then CHANGE THE BOE to get to work and save the money over the next year. The second step is remove the strangle hold that BBS and crew have had for the last three years on the BOE. Yes, she and her group have been the problem. Closures, taxpayers, kids all hurt by the blind support of administrators and the former superintendent.
To avoid a brutal second budget proposal, WE MUST PASS THIS BUDGET!!
Emotional yes, Drama Queen yes, we can actually do better in June as a BOE if you let us and with a different BOE after July 1st.
We are organizing a Get Out The Vote (GOTV) effort, road signs, etc.
The new P.U.B.E right Bridget? Just what you need is a new acronym but I think GOTV has already been used.
I think road signs are a great idea. We have already started Bridget. What did you say last week? Take them down Steve?
Free speech is truly a right we should all fight to preserve. Free speech and our education system are more valuable now than ever before.
Critical to our success is active one-on-one participation of caring, active community members. We invite you to join us in passing this budget and reelecting Chris and Jessie. Please let me know if you will help. And soon. The clock is ticking. The vote is 5/15.
We are also taking donations for many things.
Contact me at avpkbill@aol.com
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36 comments:
What do you know about the new superintendent?
So far, great guy.
Bill,
You are a PATHETIC HUMAN BEING, PATHETIC!!!
AP AXE MAN!!!
We all love you Bill
Thank you both.
The yin and yang of speaking up for the little guy.
I see you don't agree with Foster or Zweig. How about the other BOE members? Are they a problem also?
Bonesteel and Schaeffer make the group of four that run the show. They have also voted to cut education the past two years. Is that what you are asking?
They are up next year, I will disagree with them then.
You should always run on your record.
So Zweig and Foster should be known for Voting to Close GWS and Sand Lake.
I would hope that the GWS Community will remember when they go to the polls and vote.
I stoppped listening when the "Witch Hunter" said, "I am contacting you because you are respected leaders in the community".
OH REALLY?!
And exactly when will BBS publish the APCSD Who's Who Among Respected Leaders Playbook, so all us stupid idiots,especially from Brunswick, will know these chosen ones, when we come upon them.
And bow, upon seeing them.
She is a piece of work. Does she ever go to BOE meetings?
Or does she sit off in the distance and just stir the pot?
She and Ouimet must share budget and number "tricks" - over bloat the expense numbers, and under report students, and revenue.
Yes that is what I was asking. Thank you again. So voting for Dori was a good thing last year?! (I hope...that's all we can do, right)
Dori is great, Jennie also. We need a fourth to get this district in a common sense mode.
You don't give out raises when you have a $4.8 million hole to deal with.
No matter what amount.
So this triborough law is smoke and mirrors? I ass-u-me-d this applied to our district. I guess I don't understand. That is why I am here. I was listening to the Facebook site. It seemed like the best source of information. I did not know this site existed.
Where did the triboro thing with the smoke and mirrors come from?
I am asking about the raises and the triborough amendment. I thought the raises which were given, had to be given out because of that "law" Please inform me; I am not here to badger you. I spent the day lobbying for education in Albany with our district. There was alot of talk about it. Could the district not have given those raises without an agreement from the unions?
I think 2% is possible given the information out there. I think we could do it without even touching the reserves you talk of. Can the board tell the administration exactly what to take out of the budget, or is that not how it works?
@8:16 PM
The raises were not a requirement. Simply a raise. Admin is not covered by Triboro, just teachers.
The BOE has no one to answer to except the voter. The unions have no say in anyone but unions.
The raises were simply voted in by the majority of four because they "hadn't had one in 3yrs". You can watch the video and see the vote. Feb 14th was the date.
I asked at that time if anyone was threatening to leave if they didn't get a raise and the answer was NO.
@10:19
The BOE can tell the Admin. what to do, yes. Unfortunately it is done until the vote.
The spending total is set (I don't have a problem with the total just the mix) and the plan to pay for it is set (3.95% increase in tax levy)
The budget needs to be rejected and redone in June with a 2% levy increase. Once the budget fails, the BOE needs to get real and do the work.
We can add programing, shave the budgeted $535,000 profit and some admin. all for the same spending amount. The majority had no interest (2 are up for vote now). If the budget fails I suspect they will get interested quickly.
It just needs to be a June project now.
Correct Bill!
All anyone wants to see is FORCING Ouimet to "shave the budgeted $535,000 profit and some admin."
But Ouimet won't, because Ouimet doesn't HAVE TO. He has been a man without a real supervisor or anyone to answer to, for years now. When will you all wake up to the power he wields?????
Ouimet isn't going to recommend his own job elimination, or Sharon's for that matter. But he goes to sleep at night, knowing full well he is cutting education programs. And Ouimet is sure, each year, to KEEP HIDDEN PROFITS and over inflated numbers, in each budget, so that money is tucked away and hidden, just for his raise next year.
Ouimet is like the Easter Bunny hiding his eggs, or Bernie Madoff bilking people out of large sums of money, and they don't even know it.
Jessica Zweig gave a different reason for the raises Monday night. She said they were leaving and it was "cheaper to give them raises than replace them". Who is telling the truth?
@7:23
If we can agree that the videos kept by the district are accurate, you can go to the video for Feb 14th and watch the vote.
The video will show me asking that question. Is someone going to leave without a raise and the answer was NO. Seems to be different that what Zweig says. Check it out.
The video is up on unmoderated
That was fast!
So you can see the clip I am refering to on unmoderated.
Thanks un, do you have any more?
Albert Einstein Quotes ~ Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results,
" First pass the budget and reelect Jessie and Chris. Then fight to change the way we fund education in this state. " This same argument has been made for the last 3 years by BBS, Chris....... INSANITY!!!
Over the course of the same 3 years Bill has put forth scenario after scenario to deal with the shrinking funding only to be ridiculed by the same people that make one argument and never put forth any ideas.
While the insane argument continues to be made the BOE continues to strip education programs while voting for raises for administrators.
BBS, Chris..........please weigh in on the administrator's raises.
Jessie and Chris already have weighed in on the raises, closing GW...........rest assured that the community will weigh in on your voting records May 15.
I tried to get an answer out of Mr Shaw but BBS wouldn't let him.
She must have taken the keyboard away.
The reasonable, rational, cogent..........Mike Dimin.
Read his current posts on We Love. Reasonable, rational & cogent...Looking back maybe all his comments and concerns were reasonable, rational & cogent.
Could it be that he was just cloaked in the radicalism of BBS, Chris & Jo?
Could it be that he has determined that their radicalism has played a huge part in the division in this community?
Could it be that Chris or Jessie is going to find out to late that the radicalism of a few will cause them to lose the election?
Could it be that the bloom is off the rose?
The radicals that have divided this community have been outed!
Former and current followers please know that you have a place in the discussion as this community moves forward. Your concerns will be discussed, discerned and hopefully a compromise will result.
We must come together as a community and denounce the radicalism of a few and make decisions that benefit the children and adults in this district.
Mike Dimin....thank you for showing the way!!!
Seriously, when was the last time this district was running right? The BOE is the top of the chain..or it's supposed to be. The Super works for the BOE. So for certain EVERYONE else works for the super. What can a Super do without approval from the BOE? Again...questions...not statements.
Well,
Marcelle has done a good job. Not really a wave maker. Great listener.
The last Superintendent that was "employed" by the BOE was Johnson.
Moccia ran the BOE thanks to Shaw and BBS during her years. Thanks for this mess.
Quite a while since a BOE has actually run the district.
I need a history lesson. BBS and her husband actually sat on the board together? Or you are just speaking of her influence over him? When was Johnson? I like what I know of Mr Marcelle. He has listened and done his best to explain his answers when asked.
In a nutshell.
Chris was on the BOE. Spent years as Prez, I was VP. Johnson was Super.
Things were good and balanced for a long time. We accomplished much.
The BOE was gradually taken over by what was called "bobble heads". You can understand why.
What you are seeing now is the battle to get the BOE back to the center from the radicals. The past three years are the result of these radicals.
There is a shortage of common sense on the BOE now with a surplus of municipal employees, leading to, for example, raises for anyone when we have a $4.8 million hole to fill.
Here is how I see Mr. Machelle's peformance:
"He has listened and done his best to explain" MIKE OUIMET'S UNCHECKED SPENDING, MIKE'S OVER INFLATED NUMBERS, MIKE PAYING HIMSELF A RAISE, AND MIKE'S POOR BUDGET DEVELOPMENT.
Mr. Marchelle's tire skid marks will be seen in the parking lot of APCSD, come June! Bet the can't wait to get out of "Dysfunction Junction".
Bill, "Radicals"? Really?
Are you really calling Jennie and Dori radical (they both joined the other four members of the BOE to support the 3.95% proposed budget)? All members of the BOE have been faced with a perfect storm -- three years of devestating State aid cuts, continuing increases in mandated costs which district does not controll, and contracts with the teachers, nonprofessional staff, and unionized adminstrators which were negotiated BEFORE the finaiancial crisis hit.
I do not agree with every decision the BOE has made in the last three years. However, my observation is that they are hard working members of our community who are stuggling to protect the quality of education in the district in an extraordinarly difficult financial environment.
Suggesting that pulling $500,000 out of the district's largely depleted reserves to get to 2% is somehow the magic bullet here ignores that it is a one year, one shot solution that will simply kick the can down the road to next year when we will face yet again the question of what the community is will to pay to support the educational program you claim to support.
There are no easy answers here, and the education of the children of this entire community is in play. I encourage you to work constructively with the rest of the BOE to find the best solutions possible, rather than taking pot shots at folks on line. I encourage you to join the rest of the BOE to support the proposed budget, work to get it passed, and continue to work constructively thereafter to find additional savings that might be used restore progarms.
Thank you insider:
You just made my point.
Have you missed the $1.2 million in profit in the budget last year?
Maybe you can ignore it, I can't when cutting classes and sports
I would be willing to bet Jennie and Dori have some voters remorse right now. There is $535,000 built into this budget also. Agree or deny oh great knowing one?
BTW: Dori just got on, Jennie and I have been the minority for years.
The post was to the past three years and the MAJORITY in charge, two are up for approval this year.
Let's just see what happens.
Frightening for you isn't it?
Bill, FYI. I'm not an "insider" just a concerned member of the community who has attended a fair number of board meetings in the last four years.
I'm not sure where you are seeing $535,000 "built into this budget" or 1.2 million in "profit." The district does have a relatively small remaining reserve (a "rainy day" fund if you will). I understand that you are advocating taking an additional $500,000 from the reaserve fund. I note that you have been suggesting this option NOT to restore cut classes or sports but to reduce the proposed budget to 2%on the levy.
I suggest that such an action, if adopted, would further hamsting the BOE's ability to restore the classes and atheletics that you profess support (if other savings can be found). It would also further exhaust an already largely drained reserve fund, placing the district at greater risk of not being able to respond to an unanticipated fiscal "rainy day".
Bill,
Why do you insist on distorting facts? There wasn't a $1.2 million "profit" in the 2011-12 budget year. However, there is $1.2 million in current reserves that are being applied to the revenue budget in 2012-13 year's budget.
As has been explained at several board meetings, $700,000 of that $1.2 million came from a REBATE of monies that had been paid out to the health insurance consortium. Are you suggesting those monies weren't really paid to the consortium during the last year? Or perhaps you are suggesting that AP can unilaterally decide how much it pays to the consortium? Does your crystal ball tell you exactly how much rebate, if any, we can count on this time next year?
You also refer to an additional $535,000+ in this budget as "yield". Where exactly in the 2012-13 proposed budget is this additional $535,000? Which specific budget line(s) are you referring to?
I also find it ironic that you have criticized the Board and Administration for spending down the reserves. In fact, you previously cited it as evidence of their incompetence.
The proposed budget already spends $1.2 million in reserves. You advocate the BOE spend another $500,000. What happens next year when that $1.7 million is no longer available? Are you seriously suggesting that the BOE can find $1.7 million in "profit" hidden in the proposed budget?
If anyone ones to be educated about where the money is being spent, pick up a line item budget. Then you can see for yourself exactly where all your hard earn money is going and how it's being spent.
Relying on other people to make the decisions on how your money is being spent is foolish.
Hey everyone, don't forget, we can always close another elementary school, and we do have those "raging" profit centers in our cafeteria services and our Boces/Questar takeover at GWS!
Not to worry, according to Mike Ouimet, who is still VAGUE on those numbers, all is good and profits are being made there, right?
And according to Mike Ouimet and Sharon Lawrence, transporting students to Poestenkill from Brunswick is NOT a financial drain on the district, right everyone?
Now let's all settle down and have another glass of Kool-Aid, while our kids hope to get a job at Hoffman's car wash, shining up Lawrence's, Goldstein, and Ouimets cars!!!!! And we must all think that 3.95%, with NO CHANGES IN SPENDING OR RENEGOTIATION OF CONTRACTS (teachers and copiers), is something to "get behind".
Since I didn't get my complimentary APCSD labotomy yet, I see Bill's point that MUCH work hasn't been done, and 2 years ago spending behaviors SHOULD HAVE CHANGED!!!!
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