Some have spun the BOE's decision to not reduce the superintendent's budget as a means to pass the buck on to the town council. Many, however, have realized something rather important about the decision...this BOE could not easily determine (or some didn't want to) areas of reduction. It's tight and as I mentioned previously...we're now at a point with reductions wherby they have to be well thought out and....precise. Yes, it's that serious. But...annual reductions...hoping for the best...maintaining status quo...is not a feasible strategy. While the BOE finance committee is working on identifying specific reductions over the next few months...what about next year? Or the year after? Or perhaps this summer if ECS funding goes to pot? The "strategy" is not necessarily a financial one but the annual process of reductions is a reactionary strategy, at best.
2/10/2011 Cheshire Herald Editorial
(Copied with permission)
District Needs To Plan Ahead
Superintendent of schools Dr. Greg Florio has preached a “multiyear” view when it comes to reviewing his 5.09 percent budget increase request. Yes, the increase is large, but Florio insists that such a large commitment would allow the school district to maintain current staff and programs levels, and would require much smaller increases in the future as enrollment goes down and the teachers union contract expires. But, is it safe to assume that things will stay status quo for the next several years, and that Florio and the Board of education will not be back looking to make up shortfalls in order to stave off deep cuts in the future?
Florio has acknowledged numerous times that federal aid that has helped prop up the school district's budget disappears this year. it is hard to imagine that a congress, voted into office on the promise to cut government spending dramatically, would be inclined to hand out large “stimulus” checks anytime soon.
Also, state aid is all but guaranteed to drop as lawmakers in hartford grapple with a mindboggling deficit that runs into the billions. and, perhaps most ominously for the town, rumblings have been getting louder and louder that the way in which the state allocates money through the educational cost sharing (ecs) program is about to change. there is a significant push to begin funneling more ecs money to lower-income areas of the state, like Waterbury or Meriden, and away from “wealthy” communities like cheshire. there is also talk of changing the ecs formula in a way that would prevent cheshire, and similar communities, from receiving more money because of the presence of the correctional institutions in town. all of it adds up to less state money for cheshire and more financial burdens for local residents.
Even if the cheshire town council were to pass Florio's budget, and allocate an extra $3 million in spending for the schools this budget year, it is highly likely that the BOe will be back in the same spot next year and the year after, asking for a sizeable increase in spending to hold off deep cuts in staff and programs.
At the most recent Board of education meeting, republican alan sobol, the lone member to vote against approving Florio's budget untouched, expressed his disappointment that the district hadn't taken the opportunity to “re-invent” itself. sobol predicted that public education is going to change, that all districts are going to have to find a way to teach students with less staff, and that cheshire should be out in front of what he sees as a certain future, rather than simply reacting to the current situation.
The fact is that sobol is probably correct: the public education genie isn't going back into the box. it is highly likely that changes at both the state and federal level are going to mean a permanent decrease in the amount of money cheshire receives from outside sources, and it will be impossible to ask the residents to continue to make up the difference.
Instead of lamenting this possibility, or operating under the assumption that 2011/2012 will present that last great hurdle for public education funding, the Board and school administrators should be devising ways to handle the new realities and be ahead of the curve.
30 comments:
Tony
I liked the editorial as well. It does bring up an important point, next year, we will be facing the same issues. We can't continue to increase the mill rate to that extent each year. What is the BOE and the School Adminsitration doing to "re-invent" themselves?
It seems like Florio would just rather keep sking for more money. He didn't appreciate the Herald's editorial from a couple of weeks ago where they compared Avon to Cheshire. I see it as moving numbers around to make it look any way you want. As fas as I can see, Avon figured it out.
Dr. Florio needs to go to his adminstration and tell them that it is time to come up with a way to run a good school system on $60 million a year, not $63 million. If he can't do it, then we find someone who can.
11:33PM I TOTALLY AGREE!
I'm not certain that the school district needs to re-invent itself entirely but I do believe there are areas that should evolve.
I'd like to see a performance-based review system implemented for our teachers, for starters. One parent mentioned this at a BOE budget meeting and what resonated with me was her comment that in the private sector, performance-based or SMART goals was the norm and leaders try to cull out the bottom 5-10% of underperforming employees.
I've done this in my career but the sticking point is how can we objectively measure teacher performance especially when influences outside of the classroom may impeded student learning...something a teacher can't really control.
Food for thought.
Last year we were told that this yr was going to be worse but it doesnt look like the BOE took it to heart as they dont seem to have a plan in place to make tough cuts...so again they leave it to the TC.
"Last year we were told that this yr was going to be worse but it doesnt look like the BOE took it to heart as they dont seem to have a plan in place to make tough cuts...so again they leave it to the TC."
Seems about right since this TC wants complete control of the education budget so they can continue butchering it and lowering our property values in the process.
No doubt they will swing a great big axe. After all elections are in November and I'm sure these hypocrites on the TC want to go out with a big bang before Nov.
This TC does not want control over the BOE Budget. They want the BOE to make the tough decisions - unfortunately the BOE fell down on the job and left it to the TC - that is not their fault. The TC represents all of Cheshire's residents and as such they must take all residents concerns, including higher taxes, into consideration.
2:43 You should read Tony's posts about the budget and the "train wrecks" he talks about. Then maybe you'll stop blaming the council and realize even the boe knows the budget has to be cut.
"They want the BOE to make the tough decisions - unfortunately the BOE fell down on the job and left it to the TC - that is not their fault. "
It would seem that the board made the tough decision however it's not one that's popular for those who are against education and/or have a personal agenda for the unions. Yes, those folks upset about higher property taxes have every right to be.
I think Mr. Perugini has done a great job listing the particular issues with further butchering the education budget. And while I understand that the board is planning severe reductions, which does concern me, at least they are being diligent and not reckless like the tc.
Let's face it, if the board did make a reduction, it would've made the tc's reduction look smaller. In the end, this is what the R's are upset about...they know about the ramifications and boundaries around butchering the budget...they just want to appease the haters and stick it to the teacher's union...and parents.
The tc can spin the victim strategy all they want but come November most of them will be gone and that cannot happen soon enough for cheshire. They know this which will make for good theatre come the public budget meetings.
You must be some poor loser democrat. I'm sure the 2 on the tc that weren't really even elected will create their own drama and grandstanding. I can see his eyes rolling already as he checks his text messages.
While Mr. Sobol has his moments, my question would be to him regarding the "re-inventing" of our scool system, "What are your recommendations and strategies for doing this?". Mr. Sobol is never short on words and using his vast vocabulary to make his points, but it is difficult to recall anything that he has suggested over the years on "reinvention", which is not something new, as I believe he mentioned this a couple of years ago.
Tony,
Can you tell me how much unemployment costs for the district? Do they have insurance?
Thanks.
I've heard Mr. Sobol talk about reinventing the school system for a couple of years now. He has valid points. I believe he's tossed out ideas like internet classes and lecture style teaching. But as far as I'm concerned, it's not Mr. Sobol who needs to make the plan, it's Mr. Florio and the rest of the administration. Sobol is a volunteer...Florio makes something like $140,000 give or take a couple of thousand.
While I agree that Dr. Florio should be a major player in the re-inventing process as the Suptd., Mr. Sobol and the rest of the BOE should be the driving force behind it, if not to come up with the ideas, certainly to encourage and require Dr, Florio to come up with the plan. They, as well as the TC, are all volunteers. However, they CHOSE to be volunteers by seeking election and re-election to these posts.
Sometimes it takes more than just throwing out the idea or suggestion. As Dr. Florios "supervisor", the BOE should request that he comes up with a plan that may or may not include the ideas/suggestions of the BOE, his employer.
9:32am I think you have a valid point. The challenge, as I see it, is getting the BOE to get behind the idea of "reinventing" the school district. I don't see it is a reinvention but rather an evolution.
Internet-based classes are being piloted at CHS. This is part of the "21st Century" classroom initiative that has been mentioned. Vincent Masciana is on top of this and you will hear more details about this during our capital budget process. Whether or not it's a concept that can be utilized throughout the school district to save costs remains to be seen. But our IT infrastructure is almost non-existent in our school district.
However, there's resistence from many administrators in the school district around changing how we deliver curriculum.
Most feel that curriculum is being delivered efficiently and based on test scores it's working well.
Most believe teachers cannot be replaced with tutorial/lecture videos.
Some also believe that implementing lecture-hall style courses will not work as the amount of one-one time between teacher/student will decrease significantly.
Almost everyone believes that smaller class sizes is the only way to go. I disagree. Increasing class sizes doesn't necessarily mean upping a class from 20 - 30 students without also implementing some form of technology-based support system for the students and/or providing assistance to the teacher.
I believe we can have larger class sizes, utilize technology both in the classroom and away from the classroom and supplement teaching assistants where needed to deliver more curriculum...more effectively and achieve some cost savings.
These ideas and more, however, require that the BOE makes an attempt to force an analysis/plan of evolving the school district. So far, only a couple (including myself) are behind the idea.
I think that it would be prudent for the administration/BOE to study other school districts that have successfully evolved and effectively reduced costs. I think we should be looking at school districts that have implemented Charter Schools for starters.
Most believe teachers cannot be replaced with tutorial/lecture videos.
Online classes (and the reduced teacher / student time) is almost certainly more appropriate for some students than for other students.
I think it was Breachway who suggested eliminating AP classes.
How about moving AP classes online?
I have terrible internet service in Haiti and can't google it. But I imagine the seachwords "advanced placement high school classes online" will generate some interesting info.
I'm confident that Bev would see it as an opening to reduce the number of teachers... and this would be just the beginning of moving more and more teachers online... and therefore replaceable. So she'd fight it tooth'n'nail. But I see it differently.
I don't see the CPS moving first grade classes online. But where do you draw the line on high school vs. college? If college kids can learn online, why can't high school kids? Especially the ones who are trying to get college credit?
Perhaps the BOE would pay the enrollment fees? It's probably a big enough number to research. I'm guessing you have at least a dozen or so AP classes (bio, physics, chem, calculus, history, etc.) and they probably each have at least an average of 15 students. Any idea on what those numbers are?
I'm sure it's different teachers for most of the AP classes. But if each of those science teachers is freed up for one other class, then maybe you could reduce the science dept by one teacher? But that's just an example.
And of course, you have state requirements. I wouldn't be surprised if CTs top teachers' union official (Chris Donovan) has set in place requirements that all learning must be face-to-face.
So it may be prohibited. But it'd be worth investigating IMO.
And with regard to taking labs online... I took a chem lab last semester... over the internet... with Charter Oak... a college under the State of CT umbrella that is NEASC-qualified.
Was it my ideal? No, but it worked.
Actually... I'm thinking we already offer some online classes... and have done so for years. Am I correct? I think there's a room next to the old Principal's office that used to be used for distance learning. And by "old" I mean circa 1990... my time at CHS.
online classes may also provide students with more flexibility in their schedules... perhaps allowing them to work a noon to four shift somewhere... and still complete their studies at night? Not sure... just saying that it may open up other possibilities and have other benefits for the students... possibilities which may be entirely dismissed by the Administration.
As someone who has taken many online and many "live" college courses recently (and paid a lot of money for it), I have found that online courses are a poor substitute for live courses. While there is still a professor involved, you can't replace interaction with other students and the professor face to face. We don't want students to get the short end of the stick just because we don't want to pay for trained professrionals to teach.
Anybody who has gone to college knows that large lecture halls are the worst method of learning. They are reserved for general classes that underclassmen take before they take the advanced classes in their major. By the time students become upperclassmen, the students who have dropped out of college are gone, so class sizes are smaller. Is that what we want for high school, more students dropping out because they can't "keep up"? That's not "reinventing" our schools, that's "deinventing" our schools. THINK about what you are suggesting!
"I've heard Mr. Sobol talk about reinventing the school system for a couple of years now. He has valid points. I believe he's tossed out ideas like internet classes and lecture style teaching. But as far as I'm concerned, it's not Mr. Sobol who needs to make the plan, it's Mr. Florio and the rest of the administration."
Mr. Florio would not propose an ill advised and thoughtless idea such as lecture halls because he has actually sat in classrooms and watched good teaching in action and has had the training to know what effective education is. Has Mr. Sobol actually visited a classroom in the past twenty years? If so, he has not been paying attention.
I noticed you shut down further comment on the infamous cartoon. Are you going to remove the cartoon as well? Seems rather unfair to keep that garbage on your blog and shut down comment.
Tony, I applaud your efforts to inform the citizens of Cheshire and provide a forum for open discussion. I also appreciate your candor with regard to your personal thoughts on education and town issues. However, I have to ask, what was the purpose of including this cartoon in your blog? It was not informative,it was just inflammatory. I realize that satire by definition includes exaggeration, but to paraphrase a movie....at no time did the cartoon man in the glasses say anything that even remotely resembling a rational thought and we are all dumber for hearing it. What is disturbing is that the cartoon man in the glasses seems to portray the "thought" process of one (or two) of our TC members. You exercised poor judgement in including this cartoon in your blog. The cartoon is not an "excuse' for anything, but it is a symptom of a disease that is endemic in our town. If you are summarily not re-elected you can thank in large part your decision to include that moronic cartoon in your blog.
By the time students become upperclassmen, the students who have dropped out of college are gone, so class sizes are smaller.
Are you suggesting that CHS AP students are likely to drop out of college?
And as for online vs. classroom, I said it's not ideal. But there is a balancing act that must be performed... taxes and services. It's that simple. If AP is not state-mandated, then the alternative may be to eliminate the classes. Tony has been very clear that the BOE is focused on fulfilling mandates.
Is elimination of AP better than online classes?
"Are you suggesting that CHS AP students are likely to drop out of college?"
NO what I'm suggesting is that we put high school students in large lecture halls for courses that they need to graduate, then the students that can't "keep up" in that environment will suffer. Yes, AP students are best equipped to "deal" with large class sizes, but is that the best way for them to learn? NO. When 94% of Cheshire students go to college, AP courses should be the last ones to consider cutting. If you want to cut electives then choose the ones that are less applicable to college or careers. In my day they were the "basket weaving" classes.
Why is it that the people who went to high school 20-30 years ago feel qualified to give educators advice on how to reform education? I've been driving a car for years, does that make me qualified to give my mechanic advice on how to best fix my car?
When I vote for local officials I usually do not consider political party offiliation as the major part of my decision. Instead, I look at their actions, decisions, and reasoning as the main basis for my vote. I will wait to see what your actions, decisions, and reasoning are especially on the BOE budget/ spending cuts, but you now have a major strike against you for your decision to post that ridiculous cartoon. Really Tony?
"I noticed you shut down further comment on the infamous cartoon. Are you going to remove the cartoon as well? Seems rather unfair to keep that garbage on your blog and shut down comment."
I shut down commenting because some of the comments were getting deratory in nature. Plus I'm also fighting a stomach virus and didn't have the time to baby sit that thread.
I will be removing the cartoon and there will be a post about it on the main page.
"When I vote for local officials I usually do not consider political party offiliation as the major part of my decision. Instead, I look at their actions, decisions, and reasoning as the main basis for my vote. I will wait to see what your actions, decisions, and reasoning are especially on the BOE budget/ spending cuts, but you now have a major strike against you for your decision to post that ridiculous cartoon. Really Tony?"
Fair enough. But I'll warn you now that you won't be happy with my recommendations for reducing the budget either. As it stands now, every aspect of the budget is going to be hit, unfortunately.
"I will wait to see what your actions, decisions, and reasoning are especially on the BOE budget/ spending cuts, but you now have a major strike against you for your decision to post that ridiculous cartoon. Really Tony?"
February 19, 2011 12:34 PM
Why don't you tell us what you think Tony & the board, & the TC should do with this budget. You seem to have a solution in mind.
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