My Name is Paul H Cosentino. I started this Blog in 2011 because of what I believe to be wrongdoings in town government. This Blog is to keep the citizens of Templeton informed. It is also for the citizens of Templeton to post their comments and concerns.
Paul working for you.
Thursday, July 25, 2013
NRSD INFO FROM THE 2012 ANNUAL REPORT
I've had some requests to publish the info from the 2012 Annual Report on the NRSD So here's the link
What is sad is look under the town salaries - the police chief Whittaker and the Fire Chief Smith combined were paid $135,343.88 as compared to Ruth Miller $120,609.40
Your thinking is very off on this point. The link below shows some Superintendent salaries from 2006. Take a look at the salaries and realize you are paying very little for the position.
The average teacher salary at Narragansett in 2011 was $67,495. Average teacher salaries vary widely in school districts across the state. Topping $90,000 are Dover and Sherborn. The small town of Florida in the western part of the state was at the bottom of the list at $37,580. Narragansett ranked 168th out of 316 school districts. Not to say that the teachers aren't worth their pay. They certainly are and should be paid more than lawyers, and bankers, in my opinion, if the community can afford it. This is just a point of reference when people say that Narragansett teachers are underpaid. They pay pretty well compared to other school districts including many rural ones.
This data is from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Templetonian - I think your post is a good point of reference. I am not arguing whether or not the teachers should make more money in my next statement. 53% of the state is paid more than Narragansett teachers. From FY 11 to FY 12 the overall salary line dropped over 350K for NRSD.
Teachers fund their own pensions. Health costs and other fixed costs are crippling municipalities.
Here is a link to a MA Department of Elementary & Secondary Ed. page with salary information. http://www.doe.mass.edu/finance/statistics/
Interesting, 53% of the state is paid more than Narragansett teachers. Well since Templeton per capita income ($25,627) is number 321 out of 351 towns, I think we must be doing pretty well with funding what we can. And yes, you are right the salary line which you speak off is roughly $350,000 less in FY12. There is also 5.6 less teachers in that time period that on average made close to $68,000 creating the difference in cost. I can not afford to fund my own pensions as health costs and other fixed costs are crippling me. Here is a link to the per capita income chart I found online. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Massachusetts_locations_by_per_capita_income
My point, in a more direct manner, is that the school district is in a much more financially stable condition than the rest of the municipal depts of Templeton (Light Dept excluded). The teachers haven't felt the financial pain as strongly as the rest of the town has. I know its tough for the teachers to work with outdated materials, ridiculous state mandates, and overcrowding in classrooms. But, strictly from a financial standpoint, they are making a decent salary and have not had to go without raises or reduced hours like the rest of the town (Light Dept excluded). The school district also has a decent graduation rate as well as college bound rate compared to area districts. They are still able to function at acceptable levels. However, the town will not be able to function at an acceptable level if a yes vote wins.
And, seeing that they are about to ask the taxpayers to fund a new elementary school next year, their timing for pushing through this request for additional money (and in the manner they have handled said request) instead of level funding or showing an attempt to cut back is poorly executed. I just do not comprehend how the school committee cannot see that going about requesting this money in this manner will put the town over the edge and into receivership by the state. This is what doesn't sit well with the voters. Plain and simple. We'll end up with a school and no town if the "yes" vote wins. No one is against education, teachers, or children. People are against the execution of the budget process by the school committee and do not want to see safety services eliminated for the entire town. The best possible solution is to vote no and have the town and the school district meet in the middle to compromise and find a solution together...something that should have happened back in Jan/Feb of this year. If people seriously want to do what's right for everyone, they will vote no. Unfortunately, there will be many that want their needs met first before thinking collectively and will vote yes. It will be an interesting evening for sure. VOTE NO FOR THE GREATER GOOD OF ALL.
What is sad is look under the town salaries - the police chief Whittaker and the Fire Chief Smith combined were paid $135,343.88 as compared to Ruth Miller $120,609.40
ReplyDeleteYour thinking is very off on this point. The link below shows some Superintendent salaries from 2006. Take a look at the salaries and realize you are paying very little for the position.
Deletehttp://www.boston.com/news/education/k_12/specials/superintendents/compensation_chart/compensation_down/
The average teacher salary at Narragansett in 2011 was $67,495. Average teacher salaries vary widely in school districts across the state. Topping $90,000 are Dover and Sherborn. The small town of Florida in the western part of the state was at the bottom of the list at $37,580. Narragansett ranked 168th out of 316 school districts. Not to say that the teachers aren't worth their pay. They certainly are and should be paid more than lawyers, and bankers, in my opinion, if the community can afford it. This is just a point of reference when people say that Narragansett teachers are underpaid. They pay pretty well compared to other school districts including many rural ones.
ReplyDeleteThis data is from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Templetonian - I think your post is a good point of reference. I am not arguing whether or not the teachers should make more money in my next statement. 53% of the state is paid more than Narragansett teachers. From FY 11 to FY 12 the overall salary line dropped over 350K for NRSD.
ReplyDeleteTeachers fund their own pensions. Health costs and other fixed costs are crippling municipalities.
Here is a link to a MA Department of Elementary & Secondary Ed. page with salary information.
http://www.doe.mass.edu/finance/statistics/
Interesting, 53% of the state is paid more than Narragansett teachers. Well since Templeton per capita income ($25,627) is number 321 out of 351 towns, I think we must be doing pretty well with funding what we can. And yes, you are right the salary line which you speak off is roughly $350,000 less in FY12. There is also 5.6 less teachers in that time period that on average made close to $68,000 creating the difference in cost.
DeleteI can not afford to fund my own pensions as health costs and other fixed costs are crippling me.
Here is a link to the per capita income chart I found online.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Massachusetts_locations_by_per_capita_income
My point, in a more direct manner, is that the school district is in a much more financially stable condition than the rest of the municipal depts of Templeton (Light Dept excluded). The teachers haven't felt the financial pain as strongly as the rest of the town has. I know its tough for the teachers to work with outdated materials, ridiculous state mandates, and overcrowding in classrooms. But, strictly from a financial standpoint, they are making a decent salary and have not had to go without raises or reduced hours like the rest of the town (Light Dept excluded). The school district also has a decent graduation rate as well as college bound rate compared to area districts. They are still able to function at acceptable levels. However, the town will not be able to function at an acceptable level if a yes vote wins.
ReplyDeleteAnd, seeing that they are about to ask the taxpayers to fund a new elementary school next year, their timing for pushing through this request for additional money (and in the manner they have handled said request) instead of level funding or showing an attempt to cut back is poorly executed. I just do not comprehend how the school committee cannot see that going about requesting this money in this manner will put the town over the edge and into receivership by the state. This is what doesn't sit well with the voters. Plain and simple. We'll end up with a school and no town if the "yes" vote wins. No one is against education, teachers, or children. People are against the execution of the budget process by the school committee and do not want to see safety services eliminated for the entire town. The best possible solution is to vote no and have the town and the school district meet in the middle to compromise and find a solution together...something that should have happened back in Jan/Feb of this year. If people seriously want to do what's right for everyone, they will vote no. Unfortunately, there will be many that want their needs met first before thinking collectively and will vote yes. It will be an interesting evening for sure. VOTE NO FOR THE GREATER GOOD OF ALL.