To many on the BOE, including myself, this is not as easy as simply eliminating XX headcount. It's not something we wish to undertake. We're faced with many obstacles particularly around physical classroom space, a slowly-declining enrollment, increased state and federal education mandates as well as costs that are simply beyond the BOE's control such as Special Education, contracted salary increases and sky-rocketing medical costs.
To make myself clear, I have concerns with the budget recommendation knowing that it's highly unlike the TC is going to support this increase. But. I'm also not in favor of a zero percent budget increase because it's not feasible given the constraints that the BOE has to operate in. For starters, the $3.07M increase is a very hard pill for Cheshire taxpayers to swallow when they (we) have already been contributing our fair share of taxes to education. To be hit with such a large increase just to maintain status is not sitting well with many in Town. I do believe most understand that items such as Special Education, Contractual increases are beyond the BOE's control...but to these folks it doesn't matter, it's still expensive in this economy especially when not everyone has come to the table to help. Naturally, there are some in town that believes we cannot possibly spend enough on education....we should have an unlimited education budget and exceed it.
Some are going to argue that my possible areas of reduction are considered anti-education and I can only laugh at that. Being fiscally responsible and being for education are not mutually exclusive. As a BOE member I have to find middle ground between delivering a high quality education that is also affordable by the Cheshire taxpayers. Let's not forget that another trainwreck is coming at us regarding ECS under-funding and the State's $3.5B deficit...
Potential Areas of Reduction:
Before I look at any potential budget changes that impact learning within the classroom, I'm first looking at non-mandated items in the budget.
- EIC (or the B-3) program is not mandated by Harford but is fully reimbursed by Hartford. It provides an incredible benefit to the B-3 students at no cost to the town. Perhaps the biggest benefit of this program is by intervening early (B-3) these children have been able to adopt and enjoy a positive learning experience as they progress through K-12. I'd also argue that by having this program in place, it's helped keep special education costs down for these students that have started in the B-3 program and have been able to stay within the Cheshire School at a lower cost to the taxpayer as opposed to placing them outside of the district at a greater cost to Cheshire. I support this program and don't propose eliminating it at this time.
- I am considering raising the participation fee for ALL extra-curricular activites as opposed to eliminating some of them, if possible. Sports and clubs are not mandated by State/Federal and while these programs helped some students perform better in the classroom I don't believe it's a necessity or takes higher priority than the classrom. I'm not willing to sacrifice classroom instruction over extra-curricular activities. I am willing, however, to find a compromise that keeps some or all extra-curricular activities in place by off-setting the costs with participation fees. However, I cannot rule out that some programs may be eliminated entirely. Currently, the finance committee does not have data that breaks down the costs to run each sports/activity but Dr. Florio gave us an estimate of $300,000.
- I am considering eliminating the money that the BOE contributes towards the Cheshire marching band, color guard, winter guard other other club-based activities.
- I am considering eliminating the $75,000 allocated for teachers who are expected to earn advanced degrees and will attain a new level of pay. I don't believe that attaining an advanced degree automatically entitles one to a pay increase unless, of course, it leads to a measurable improvement in classroom instruction and/or teaching more classes.
- However, the BOE may be contractually obligated to provide this increas per the EAC contract. I will get an answer on this tonight
- I am considering eliminating stipends given to department heads at Cheshire High School.
- $431,025 is being requested for Rentals & Leases. This amount includes Swimming Pool Rental, Hockey Rink rental, postage/copy machines. It's unclear how much we're paying for Swimming Pool rental and Hockey Rink. But *if* Hockey is eliminated, for example, there should be a cost savings towards rink rental OR if the rink rental can be funded by an increase in participation fees...it would be ideal to know what the rental cost is.
- I am considering increasing class sizes. I do not believe that increasing some classes another 4-5 students is going to degrade quality of eduction but, if this is undertaken, it must done with precision at this point. As I mentioned in another post, this is driven by the paricular needs of any given class. I do believe a class size of 25-30 students can function well if (a.) the teacher is capable of handling the class size and (b.) the teacher can allocate adequate one-one time with each student. (b) is determined by the needs of each student.
- I propose that we make teaching assistants available to teacher with larger classes so that adequate one-one time can be achieved.
- I base my recommendation on the experience we've had with substitute teachers used to fill a short-term vacancy. We've had great success with graduate student teachers both with instruction and cost.
- I think it's possible that we can, for example, eliminate 6 elementary teachers while will result in larger classes but offsetting those class sizes by having 2-3 TA's available either on a full-time or part-time basis to assist teachers in the classroom in larger classes.
- The TA's could be scheduled to rotate between the larger classes within an elementary school or across several schools.
- I believe that the cost of an IA is much less than an FTE contracted teacher.
- The cost of 2-3 TA's, may be equal to 1 FTE contracted teacher
- Data and analysis are needed to confirm this.
- Currently, many schools utilize parent volunteers in the classroom to help teacher's with various reading, writing and math workshops.
- This has been beneficial in that it frees up the teacher to spend more one-one time with students while the workshop is assisted by a parent.
- I propose increasing class sizes knowing that my 6 and 8 year old daughters at Highland may be impacted by my decision.
- I am not in favor of closing a school during the 2011-2012 school year simply because spreading 324+ students across our elementary schools poses a space constraint issue and there are costs associated with making more space available in existing schools to address a bigger student population and/or retrofitting space to be ADA compliant.
- I do, however, believe we need to reconsider this for the 2012-2013 or 2013-2014 school year when the slowly declining enrollment begins to make a dent in our student population and possibly frees up space within our schools to accomodate a closure of one of our smalller elementary schools.
- Darcey was listed as a possible consolidation in the 2020 Committee report in the next few years. However, there has been no cost-analysis performed (or requested) on doing so.
- It's unclear how much can be saved by closing Darcey vs. how much money needs to be invested to make one or more elementary schools kindergarten acceptable.
- Detailed analysis needs to be performed here.
- My position on redistricting is neutral. Redistricting may be an option forced on the BOE depending on what the final budget number is from the TC. As Dr. Florio stated last week, a $1.5M reduction may jumpstart the school consolidation process.
- But the 2020 report states that Redistricting is not an option at this point due to enrollment/space.
- The 2020 committee also did not run any what-if data analysis scenarios around re-drawing school district lines.
- The lack of a study, with finding and cost analysis (including impact, if any, on student learning) is problematic at this point.
- I want to see employees contribute more to the $8M in health care costs we're facing in 2011-2012. Unfortunately, we have to wait for the next round contract discussions to open that can of worms but it must be on the table and it must be fair.
- Eliminating AP Classes/Electives at CHS. My position on this is neutral at this time. The simple fact of the matter is that we don't have any detailed analysis at this time that either supports or rejects this option. But the AP program has been beneficial for students going on to college that put in the work ethic to undertake AP courses and AP testing.
- I do take Dr. Florio's statement about increased students in study halls as a result of elimination courses at CHS...at face value. I don't question his integrity but I think it would be fair to see the actual courses offered, number of students enrolled, number of seats available to the BOE.
- Eliminating an elective/class may not necessarily eliminate a headcount. More than likely, an instructor for an elective also teacher's more than one class
- More data and analysis is needed for CHS course consolidation options, if any.
Yes, I believe the budget is tight and we must be careful not to make cuts that will undermine our education system.
I hope this provides you with an idea of where I stand on this budget, at this time.
26 comments:
Thanks Tony. This is good and way more than we usually hear from elected officials at all levels of government.
Couple things:
1) With regard to # of students in a class at CHS, what governs it? Is it stuff outside the control of the BOE, such as state mandates, union contracts, physcial space constraints, etc.? Or is it a BOE / Sptd rule?
2) You've asked for suggestions, so here's mine based on your comment
Redistricting may be an option forced on the BOE depending on what the final budget number is from the TC. As Dr. Florio stated last week, a $1.5M reduction may jumpstart the school consolidation process.
... with regard to the consideration of redistricting, I know nothing will happen by Feb 15. That's fine. But redistricting was first seriously brought into the public dialogue ten months ago by Gerry. Yet it appears that nothing substantive has happened since. As an alternative to getting into a situation where a budget requires it due to Council action... how about voting on a budget on Feb 15 and simultaneously directing the Sptd to begin formulating redistricting options? Maybe have him work with the Planning Committee? And give him a deadline (preferably with a few benchmarks)... whatever it needs to be. Three months from Feb 15 could give the BOE options for your final budget adoption. But maybe six months (or more) is a better choice. And that would give the full BOE plenty of time to receive feedback and deliberate before next year's budget... which seems to be your timeframe for redistricting as an option.
Please don't wait for the budget to jumpstart the discussion. I suggest you jumpstart the discussion by bringing a prepared motion to the next BOE meeting. No one wants to discuss redistricting, but it sounds like you think it's gonna happen sooner or later. It may as well be given as much time and deliberation as possible IMO.
And if the BOE members poo-poo the idea, I suggest you use the power vested in you. You have a seat at the table. Make the motion and let it fail 1-6. As long as your motivations are sincere (and they seem to be based on your post), I think the voters will appreciate an elected official who is trying to deal with reality with a thoughtful plan... rather than elected officials who wait until the Sptd says "it's time b/c the Council cut the budget."
Btw, I have no idea how BOE members will react. But it would be a huge undertaking for GF. So I'm guessing he wouldn't be favorable... and that would be understandable. But it's not his decision.
Anyway... you asked for suggestions!
Tim, I will respond to your questions but I just wanted to ease your mind on this:
"Please don't wait for the budget to jumpstart the discussion."
I wasn't trying to imply that no action would be taken unless forced by the TC. I don't think redistricting is an option at this point simply because given the number of students (or small decline in enrollment), physical space, etc. I don't think it's going to yield anything substantial. I believe what will drive this is a further drop in enrollment which given year 3/4 of the 2020's plan may be an option. However, I'd like to be proven right or wrong and I don't believe it would be a wasted effort to undertake a serious redistricting study. It's something, frankly, the 2020 committee should've done anyway and could've been an input during this budget process.
I'll also state that if the amount of reduction (worst-case) requires a school closure (such as Dr. Florio's example regarding a $1.5M cut) then that would cause the district lines to be redrawn prompting the study.
I will respond to your other suggestions/questions but I'm calling it a night for now. I've got a planning meeting at 7:30am and a full day in the kitchen followed by a full night in the kitchen. I'll respond in between. :-)
Thanks.
Tony
I doubt there are many parents that are "neutral" on eliminating AP classes or electives. A large number of parents moved to Cheshire primarily because of it's high quality education system. In one fell swoop eliminating AP courses or electives would make Cheshire 2nd rate. Talk about killing our tax base. Wow! How short sighted can you be?
As a parent of students who play sports, I can honestly say that I would rather pay extra fees for extracurricular activities than increase class sizes or eliminate courses. I'm not thrilled with higher fees, but they are EXTRAcurricular activities. Higher fees would be better than eliminating certain sports also.
Apparently Cheshire school employees already pay some of the highest fees in the state for their benefits. Where did all the increase in cost for benefits go? To the health insurance companies. The cost of benefits has risen 400% in the past ten years.
Didn't the town run a $1 million dollar surplus last fiscal year? Where did it go? The famous rainy day fund? Seems like the TC could make your job easier by using some of it for education. I guess not until we vote these bums out.
CHS students already take too many study halls. You want to add to that? How does that improve education? The dedicated students use the few study halls they take to actually STUDY. For the goof offs, who take more study halls, it's just more time off from learning.
While I like the fact you are being "up front" about possible cuts that you are looking into, they seem to fall into two categories; those that will directly affect education in a negative way and those that will cost families more money. Increasing class sizes, cutting course offerings,and eliminating department heads are category one. Raising fees for extracurricular activities category two. Which do you think people prefer? You can debate the extent to which each will affect education, but it sure won't be positive.
Hey Tony are you listening? Seems like your constituents are making some good points here. I think most appreciate your putting your cards on the table, but some of your proposals are clearly more reasonable than others. Nobody likes more fees, but given the choice of more expensive activites vs. no activities, well that's a no brainer. On the other hand, don't start messing around with courses and staffing, that's going to drive people away from Cheshire. Here's an idea: consolidate bus routes to save on transportation expenses. From what I hear the buses at the high school are never full.
You want someone to blame for skyrocketing costs, look no further than the health insurance companies. The schools have less employees than two years ago and the insurance companies are charging the BOE more and more for their benefits. Are the employees getting any more services for that money? NO, and claims are not increasing either. The towns are getting raked over the coals.
Don't forget the oil companies and what they have done to utilities and trnasportation costs. Have their profits suffered?
"Here's an idea: consolidate bus routes to save on transportation expenses. From what I hear the buses at the high school are never full."
January 17, 2011 9:47 AM
Consolidating bus routes has already been talked about. It can't be done because you have to provide a seat for each student that "could" be on that bus. It doesn't matter if half the kids on a bus drive themselves to school you still have to make sure there's a seat on the bus for them.
As a parent I have to take issue with the idiotic idea of using parent volunteers and uncertified graduate student TAs to help make up the difference in having an appropriate number of real teachers in the classroom. I am actually embarrassed that you would even suggest that Billy's mom or Sally's Dad can do just a good a job teaching math or writing as a certified teacher. Do you have no respect for the people who educate your children?
CT has one of the highest requirements for becoming teachers. I don't think that the State BOE would look to favorably on you replacing qualified certified teachers with parents and graduate students they have not certified. Do you plan on giving these people training? I think a lot of parents in town would have serious issue with this happening in Cheshire's once "great classrooms." This does not create a helpful situation for teachers. It only creates yet another person for the teacher to supervise and instruct. Teachers get degrees and training for a reason. That you think anyone can just jump do it is disappointing.
Secondly, using graduate students as substitutes is NOT the same thing as having them in the classroom on a more permanent basis. These people are NOT teachers. When acting as substitutes they are given plans by real teachers to follow and in most cases they are not presenting real instruction. They are supervising learning not educating. Ask any student and they will tell you this.
You also suggest removing a teacher, adding more students to classes and having a few extra IAs float between the remaining classes. Again this not sound educational practice. What about the time when the IA is not there to support and there are still 30 students in the room? You can't really expect that students are going to get appropriate one on one time with a teacher even with an IA in the room with 30 students. I suggest that you and your fellow Board members go to the schools and spend the day in the most crowded classrooms that already exist and see what its like for both the teacher and the students.
I really hope that when it comes time to vote on this budget that you decide to pass Dr. Florio's budget as it is. Cutting this budget now will only increase the hack job the TC is willing to make. You and your colleagues need to safeguard what's left of this education system while you still can. I also hope that once this budget gets passed to the council that you and your colleagues actually step up and defend it to Mr. Schrumm and the Council.
We have the money. Its sitting there waiting to be used in the rainy day fund. We need to get through this without further damaging the integrity of this school system. Please stand up for our kids and your own and live up to the obligations and expectations the tax payers set for you when they elected you to the BOE. I highly doubt when people elected you they said, "maybe this guy can ruin Cheshire's schools for us."
"As a parent I have to take issue with the idiotic idea of using parent volunteers and uncertified graduate student TAs to help make up the difference in having an appropriate number of real teachers in the classroom."
4:36, I think you need to re-read my idea for allowing part-time teaching assistants in the classroom to assist contracted teachers with large class sizes.
Second, it may surprise you but teachers have been using parent volunteers for some time now. In fact, my wife volunteers at Highland helping our 1st and 3rd grade teachers with reading and math labs. There are MANY PTA/PTO volunteers throughout our district that assist in the classrooms in various subject areas and/or activities. This type of help is under the discretion, and request, of the teachers.
You may want to get involved and/or attend your school's PTO/PTA meetings to find more about this. It may not be as idiotic as you think.
"I don't think that the State BOE would look to favorably on you replacing qualified certified teachers with parents and graduate students they have not certified. "
I don't intend replacing certified teacher's with gradudate students. We've had great success with them as evidenced and discussed by Dr. Florio. They are educators and/or educators in training that are pursuing graduate degrees in education and putting their skills to use. I don't see the harm in hiring some of these folks to assist teachers, not replace them.
The idea is to simply hire someone qualified on part-time basis to assist a teacher with a large class size and/or where the specific needs of the class as a whole deems it necessary.
"You can't really expect that students are going to get appropriate one on one time with a teacher even with an IA in the room with 30 students."
Yes, actually I do.
" I suggest that you and your fellow Board members go to the schools and spend the day in the most crowded classrooms that already exist and see what its like for both the teacher and the students. "
I do visit and spend time in our classrooms, IMO they are not crowded. However, there's very little room to expand and/or add students in most of our classrooms.
And where there are classrooms capable of accomodating 2-3 or 4 more students, it has to be done with accuracy. Can this be done? Yes, but requires careful planning which I'm in support of.
"Please stand up for our kids and your own and live up to the obligations and expectations the tax payers set for you when they elected you to the BOE."
Standing up for our students goes well beyond waving my pom poms for the Superintendent's budget...or proclaiming "Raise my taxes!" or "Spend baby Spend!" and then hiding my head in the sand hoping for the best.
My operating mechanisms are transparency, accountability and fiscal responsibility. I'm also rational not emotional as my constituents expect me to present fact over emotion. Our fiscal problems go far beyond the current budget or the next budget. They will not be solved by supporting the Superintendent's proposal and hoping for the best.
We have serious funding issues ahead of us. I've offered some ideas for consideration. Some folks like what I have to say, others don't. But supporting our students and being fiscally responsible is not mutually exclusive and my support for education and students goes well beyond the annual budget process.
Raiding the Rainy Day fund is not the silver bullet. It may be part of the solution but would need work in conjunction with other measures such as concessions from the teacher's union, for example.
"Raiding the Rainy Day fund is not the silver bullet. It may be part of the solution but would need work in conjunction with other measures such as concessions from the teacher's union, for example."
I would not call using the rainy day fund to help pay for the skyrocketing BOE medical benefits costs "raiding" it. I would call what the insurance companies are charging the BOE "raiding". As far as concessions go, the way the present TC has demonstrated disdain for the entire education system has probably poisoned the waters for that. I know the union negotiates with the BOE not the TC, but the TC forces the BOE to make further cuts than they know are prudent to preserve the quality of education. The TC simply doesn't care and have set the tone, not the teachers' union.
You have to love this time of year.
When Florio presents his budget and then riles up the parents by saying what will be lost if he doesn't get his budget passed.
The parents, students and teachers will all show up arguing why we can't cut this or that and they are all willing to pay more taxes, because "the education system is the reason they moved to Cheshire".
blah-blah-blah....
The bottom line is that these are difficult times.We need to cut the budget. If we don't, we won't have anyone wanting to move into Cheshire bcause our tax base will be so high.
I don't envy Tony, the BOE and the TC. They will be yelled at, called names, and told that they don't really care about education. The truth is, they have dedicated their personal time to try and make this town a place where people want to live snd raise their families. We also want to be able to live out our lives here when are families are all grown. You keep pushing up the tax base and you will lose those many good people.
Thanks Tony for doing the dirty work here. I know it is not an easy task and you should know that there are many people who appreciate what you do for this town both by representing us on the BOE and now by keeping this blog up and running so we can all understand what is going on.
"You keep pushing up the tax base and you will lose those many good people."
People don't move to Cheshire for low taxes, they move here because it's a nice community with good schools. If you want low taxes there are plenty of other choices, but they don't have good schools or any of the other amenities that Cheshire has.
Nobody likes higher taxes, but most people are realistic, if you want to live in a town that has good services it costs money. Duh!
Where is this dreamland that has good services and low taxes? It doesn't exist!
12:31
I disagree with you on the fact that people don't move here for the lower tax base. Besides being a centrally located town, the tax base has always been lower than most surrounding communities. There are people who move here for the school system as well, but I don't feel that is the main reason. I can also point you in the direction of many people who have moved their kids out of the public schools after they found out that they weren't living up to the high expectations that we all have of them.
I can tell you that I know a number of people who moved here because it was affordable. It was a good place to raise their families. It was also a place that they could continue to live in after their children were grown. Now I see many of the older people in my neighborhood moving out because they can't afford it anymore. It is a shame.
I am not ignorant to the fact that taxes do have to go up so Cheshire can contiue to be a desirable place to live, but it also has to be realistic. We can't keep raising taxes in high increments to cover the education budget, especially when projected enrollment will continue to decrease. It has to be reasonable.
So, 12:37....what good services do we have to entice people here?
A pool with a collapsed bubble?
A new turf field coming?
Nice street lamps in front of a convenience store on West Main St?
I know, we can tell them this is the land of package stores, pharmacies, and pizza joints...that should entice them.
We have our location and our reasonable tax base. That's it...the schools have not been up to the standard they once were, but are still better then other towns.
So duh....our tax base has to be commensurate with what the town has to offer. Can't be too high if there isn't much to offer.
"what good services do we have to entice people here?"
How about a low crime rate, nice parks, streets that get plowed when it snows, and good schools by any objective standard. All thanks to government employees paid by our taxes. None of our surrounding communities have all of these.
"Can't be too high if there isn't much to offer." If you don't like it here, move. Personally I like this town and am willing to pay to make sure it stays that way.
Don't you just love the DRMT (don't raise my taxes) crowd. They want us to look like some of the neighboring towns. Ahh crime, squalor, crummy schools, yea that's what I want.
10:45
I am still trying to figure out what services we have that 12:37 was talking about.
Yes, low crime rate, nice parks, and decent schools are all a plus and is why I live here. But, we continue to have issues with our PD and the high turnover, our parks, in particular the fields, are in horrendous condition. The town does not take care of them and they have basically been let go. Our schools are decent.
Now, if we pumped more money into our budget, will that improve the morale of the PD? Will the fields and parks get properly taken care of? Will the schools get better? I doubt it. WIll they get worse if we cut the budget??
I am not one to say, don't raise my taxes. I am saying that if you do raise them, then let me see that the money is getting used wisely. I have not seen that in many years, yet our mill rate continues to increase.
To 11:09...I am not a DRMT person. I am a concerned citizen who likes to ask questions and see that the people we elect use are tax dollars in the best way they can.
I also not a RMTNQA (raise my taxes no questions asked). I am tired of going to budget hearings and listening to the parents say we have to go along with whatever Florio says because he is the superintendent. They are the same ones who will move out as soon as we educate their children.
Lets be realistic. We have lost some state funding, so obviously we need to make that up. But it is also a difficult time for many of us and we need to make sure that whatever increase that is passed along, is affordable to all.
You morons who say if you can't afford the taxes then move out just don't get it. You want to tell many of the older people, who built this town, to move out? Nice.... I would hate to be your elderly parent. Sorry dad, your SSI just isn't covering your rent, so you need to move.
"You morons who say if you can't afford the taxes then move out just don't get it. You want to tell many of the older people, who built this town, to move out?"
There are subsides for low income seniors to lessen the impact of tax increases, and I'm all for that. Also, don't forget there are plenty of seniors who want their grandkids to get a good education and don't mind paying a small increase. They don't want their tax money socked away in a rainy day fund instead for some "earthquake on Rt 10".
6:47
A small increase is fine.....but what is considered "small"?
I can tell you that I know many seniors who are struggling in this down economy with meeting their expenses, so when you talk about them wanting to see their grandkids educated, wouldn't that happen even without a large tax increase?
Perhaps Tim or Tony can answer this question---what impact on the mill rate would happen if the education budget is increased by Florio's sugested $3.07 million?
Perhaps if we all see the true impact in our taxes, we can have a better idea on what we can and can't afford.
Remember, that is just part of our overall budget and I am sure other dept's will be seeking increases as well.
I can tell you that I know many seniors who are struggling in this down economy with meeting their expenses, so when you talk about them wanting to see their grandkids educated, wouldn't that happen even without a large tax increase?
Yes, if the TC was willing to use some of the ever growing rainy day fund, but NO they want settle some political score at the expense of families (which include grandkids).
"I want to see employees contribute more to the $8M in health care costs we're facing in 2011-2012. Unfortunately, we have to wait for the next round contract discussions to open that can of worms but it must be on the table and it must be fair."
Is it possible for all town employees to be pooled together to lower insurance costs? The insurance companies are gouging the towns.
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