Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Gansett budget saga could reach conclusion with joint meeting


Andres Caamano
Senior News Editor/NIE Director

Could the brouhaha over the Narragansett Regional School District budget finally come to a conclusion with Thursday night’s joint town meeting for Phillipston and Templeton?

For Narragansett officials, the goal in recent months has been to get both towns to approve their respective assessments for the district’s fiscal year 2014 budget.

“We’ve done a good job of getting the accurate information out, as this is a hard issue for folks,” said Narragansett Superintendent Ruth Miller. “On what could be cut, that information has not always been based on fact, and it’s difficult for folks to understand the issue at hand, and I think the School Committee has done a good job (getting the word out).”

Ranging from sending messages via Facebook, organizing meetings, sitting in on Finance Committee meetings, having the issue taken up during School Committee meetings and being “on a conference call in Phillipston Monday night,” the superintendent pointed out just how varied the district’s effort has been in spreading the word throughout the two towns.

Nonetheless, part of that challenge has been made more complicated by the ever-changing state budget numbers that never seem to sit still.

“Here’s where the confusion kicked in. The joint committee of the state set the budget, and we didn’t get the numbers until July,” said Miller. “We based our numbers on the governor’s numbers.”

The governor’s plan, the superintendent noted, had sought to reward communities that regularly paid more than their minimum contribution, such as Phillipston, while also pushing communities like Templeton — that regularly “paid less than they can afford, based on the formula from the state,” as noted by Miller — to pay more.

But during the Legislative process, that plan was altered.

“The House numbers took them away, and the Senate put them back in, and the joint committee took them away again,” said Miller. “So that’s why in July the minimum contributions changed for Phillipston and Templeton.”

In one minute, Phillipston saw a reduction of $17,000 in its minimum contribution requirement from the state, while Templeton was to be asked to kick in an additional $65,000 — only for those adjustments to not be part of the final funding requirements.

With the numbers seemingly changing at every turn, the state finds itself once again potentially set to step in and oversee a local regional school district’s finances, if an approved ’Gansett budget is not adopted by Dec. 1.

It was just during the last school year when a similar inability to come to terms on a budget played out for the Quabbin Regional School District, and the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education was forced to run that district under so-called “1/12” monthly budgets.

Even with such a recent and nearby example of a district under state fiscal control, Miller wasn’t sure joint town meeting voters would let it play a significant role in their vote.

“I would hope people make their decisions on what the kids in this district need,” she said. “I would hope that’s how they express their vote Thursday night.”

And if Templeton municipal officials are banking on the state to step in as a means to provide financial relief for the town, Miller is skeptical about such an approach.

“If the Department of Ed takes over, Templeton (municipal government) has to really look how they need to operate with less money, as the DOE has never operated a (district budget under interim ‘1/12’ control) with less than what they had operated under the previous year,” she said. “I’m surprised they haven’t yet made some adjustments, but that’s their problem ... mine is to worry about the school district.”

The biggest problem for Narragansett, though, is the yawning gap between what Templeton voters have so far approved for the school district — $4,430,615 at the May 15 town meeting — compared to the latest assessment for the town of $4,981,074, a difference of $550,459.

More than three months have passed since that town meeting, with multiple attempts at getting the school budget passed, and the prospect of approving such a significant jump Thursday night — more than 11 percent of the total assessment number — would seem slim.

Even with almost $9.7 million in Chapter 70 state education aid to cover slightly more than half of the district’s $18.5 million budget (a 1.9 percent increase over last year’s level-funded budget), the district was forced into coordinating a joint town meeting solely on the actions of Templeton voters.

“We had a no vote (from Templeton), so the school committee had to recertify the budget, and the towns had 45 days to respond,” said Miller. “Phillipston actually passed everything, so they didn’t need to respond. Templeton needed to, as they voted no, and that’s what sending us to a joint town meeting.”

Considering how long this saga has played out, and how large the budget disparity stands, it’s hardly a surprise that an earlier effort to pass an $850,000 Proposition 2 1/2 override — with $691,000 being requested in Templeton — crashed and burned at the ballot box by a 1,117-739 count in June.

Miller, though, nonetheless talked positively about the district’s prospects entering joint town meeting, to get the school budget finally approved.

Previously, the school committee had placed the certified budget on the warrant article, to which Miller explained, “I am going to recommend that the school committee then vote to amend that motion, and read the lower number.”

That “lower number” is largely a result of new state funding and grants. In presenting the change, Miller said, “we will then attempt to explain this to the community, which is very confused, and I don’t blame them.”

With that additional revenue, she cited it will then allow the district to “apply (those funds) to the budget to reduce the burdens on both towns.”

If the school district budget isn’t approved at the joint meeting, Miller forewarned significant cuts would be around the corner.

“We already cut $300,000 to get to that number, but if it doesn’t pass, I have already proposed some other cuts,” she said. “We would have to anticipate cutting $350,000 in the budget for services for kids,” which would be represented by the district’s loss of six teachers, an elementary adjustment counselor, to go with a range of programs and other activities slashed.

(Andres Caamano is the Senior News Editor/NIE Director at The Gardner News. He can be reached at acaamano@thegardnernews.com.)

25 comments:

  1. Ms. Miller seemed surprised to learn that the district budget includes $437,000 for secretaries. Well, when you watch the pennies, the dollars take care of themselves, as the saying goes. When you don't watch the pennies, you end up with $437,000 spent on secretaries in a school district of 1400 students. The guidance/adjustment counselors are not mandated at the level NRSD funds them. Nearly a half-million dollars on guidance/social work. Let's let the Commonwealth of Massachusetts take care of the social work, and slice that budget. It's the opposite of an unfunded mandate. It's an unmandated expense.

    Let's also not kid ourselves that the school admin is anywhere near lean. There is plenty to cut.

    The school spent their E&D money to increase last year's budget. Here's a hypothetical scenario: if the district had a million dollars in E&D, and spent it on last year's regular budget, would Templeton then need to cough up our share of $1,000,000 for this 1/12 budget?

    If the school somehow gets this budget without a yes vote for an override, why does Templeton have to pay? What does the town counsel say about that? We had a vote for the general budget. That should be binding, no matter what DESE says. We had two failed overrides. DESE is going to negate the will of the voters? The district is using scare tactics. We're spending $13,000 per pupil. That is hardly bare-bones.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Down hear on the lower forty we like to keep things as simple as can be. The town voted too times in a ballot against giving away money that could not be afforded, I guess times are tough all around. The folks at school committee decided they needed the money come hell or high water. To me its about taking personal property when someone else is keeping up with inflation and I am going backwards. What are we teaching the young ones with all of this?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Someone is teaching them that do whatever you can to get what you want. Ignore the vote, play dirty pool, it's OK so long as you get whatever YOU want.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Just say NO ....AGAIN on August 22nd!

    Nice job in the article of failing to mention the failed override vote on April 30th. That's TWO failed votes at the ballot box - April 30th and June 25th as well as two failed votes at town meeting...and NOW a joint town meeting.

    Please VOTE NO on August 22nd to preserve public safety in Templeton.

    Thank you

    ReplyDelete
  5. Taking away all they have is teaching them a great lesson. Some of the towns people may not be able to afford it but let's face it. We can't base everything on them. I understand the majority voted No and that's fine. Thank you for voting. But the school has to do what's best for the school to keep up with regulations. Not an easy job. The town over the years has messed up by alowing people to spend their money foolishly. Now everyone cares when it's too late. The school doesn't run the town they just need their budget. The blame is on the past officials who really spent, spent, spent. But let's not take this out on the school because the town failed them. Plus taxes went down this year what's everyone's gripe? When I see these Templeton tax payers stop buying scratch tickets, smoking cigarets at $10 a pack and Frequenting the liquor stores then I will believe Templeton can't afford to help their school.

    ReplyDelete
  6. The school is not doing what is "best" for the students. The school is doing what is best for the school itself. Employees, especially management, benefit by having a greater budget. Imagine having a budget so large that you don't even notice that you are spending $437k on secretaries salaries?

    The school argues that administrative expenses have gone down. The fact is, they have averaged an increase of 6.4% over the past dozen or so years. The data comes from the annual town reports. And just as one would expect, admin. more than doubled in those dozen years, as predicted by the rule of 72.

    ReplyDelete
  7. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  8. the problem we have here is phillipston spending Templeton's money !!!phillipston voters have nothing to loose and everything to gain in a yes vote ..and for batman just look at the followers that he has on twitter you will know where he comes from!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well Templeton always tells Phillipston what then can and can't do so yay for them finally getting a say! It's about fricken time!

      Delete
  9. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Did not know they had varsity soccer at gansett. When is Ruth going to cut some uneeded assistants

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If you dont know what programs the school offers, how can you claim to know what admin position are needed or not?

      Delete
  11. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  12. My bad. Lost job for "other" reasons.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I have been told that somewhere on this blog GG is being blamed for being Batman? I wish I was that clever, but I am certain I am sometimes that annoying. I am following Batman on Twitter, but I do not know who they are. They are not part of the core group of Gansett Greatness. I am certain that Gansett Greatness has been speaking out positively as you can see by our Facebook page and if you have been receiving any emails from us. We have nothing to hide and we would not resort to name calling to distract from the issues. We have tackled the issues head on as best we can. I have stated on a different blog post that I as a leader of Gansett Greatness do not condone that kind of behavior. It is obviously a member of the community that may or may not stand with the school, but seems unhappy with what goes on here. I will state once again that if you take issue with Gansett Greatness you should feel free to call me or email me at 1tuesdaygirl@gmail.com and I am happy to have conversations.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hi Diane,
    Was a letter sent out from the school district? Could a copy of the letter be posted to the blog? Or was the letter sent out from Gansett Greatness? In either case, if there is a letter could it be posted to the blog?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I never said I recvd a letter. What I asked was why dont we actively seek a letter? Then we could nail down exactly what would be cut, &make an informed decision instead of guessing.

      Delete
  15. Julie, I was reading these posts earlier and I saw a reference to a letter and I have not one clue as to what letter is being referred to. I am happy to provide whatever is being asked for but I need more information.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I would like to ask Mr. Barrieau if he has sat down with Superintendent Miller and talked about these budget cuts or the positions that you feel these children and this district don't need. I speak to so many people about this and yet when I ask if they have called or seen Ms. Miller, I always seem to get a no. Then I ask why and I don't really get an answer. If you have met with her then I applaud you for doing so. If you have not met with her, then why is she always called out here like she is some terrible and it seems totally out of touch person for doing her job. She is running a district and she advocates for the children and education. I think when people are not on this place to defend themselves we should be a little less harsh how we speak about them. I am certain I would not like someone speaking this way about me and not talking it to my face. That is my respectful opinion about that.

    Also, this is a process to go through since the school does not have a budget. Facts are not scare tactics, they are facts. Would you say that the town is using scare tactics stating that the almost all of the police force is going to be cut? Of course not, it's a fact right?Let's talk honestly about the facts and try to explain BOTH sides of an issue and this challenge with the school budget is just that a challenge. We have never been through this before.

    I understand the school committee meetings have been on the same nights as BOS, but Virginia was on that sub committee...why did she not share the information with the Advisory and BOS? That seems a bit out of whack don't you think?

    As far as communication goes, I 100% agree it needs to be more effective, efficient and EXISTENT. It's been non. The town doesn't post meetings on the school website does it? Why would the school post meetings on your website? The school committee doesn't post them on the NRSD website either ~ it's a whole new way of life this technology thing. So, let's stop talking and let's start doing something about it. It's a two way street and it's got to start somewhere right? So, I will make the suggestions to the School Committee to send in the meeting times to the Town Clerk to be posted. I will say that if the SC meets on a Monday because that is what is good for all of them why doesn't the BOS change their day and time? Is that workable? I'm just making a point here that each committee has members and they need to be accommodated as that committee sees best.

    Ok, well that's enough for me this evening, perhaps we can have more discussion another day. Thanks!


    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Actually, the taxpayers spent a good bit of tax dollars on a TOWN website so ALL town information may be found on one place so since the school is part of the town, it would make sense to this individual for all Town entities to post on the Town website. Then people only need to look at one place for information so they could meet with Ms. Miller and attend the school committee. The school committee could demonstrate to the taxpayers that they are part of the town by posting their meetings on the town website rather than only posting on the school website thereby showing that they (SC) do not take themselves to be above or separate from the town.

      Delete
  17. Ms. Haley Brooks - I did have a late opportunity to broach these and some other subjects with the superintendent at an Advisory Board meeting.

    She's not being called out here "like she's doing something terrible". She and the school committee obviously feels 1/2 million dollars for social work within NRSD is important. She and the SC also must think that $437k for secretaries is also important. I think they might make things run smoother, but are not vital. I have asked Ms. Miller why the threat is never to cut half the guidance budget and half the secretaries or half the administration. If my facts make her budget sound "terrible", maybe you should consider voting no. I think the problem with 'Gansett's bloated budget is due to no careful scrutiny by the elected officials, the school board. It is good when a budget undergoes critical analysis. This budget had, in my opinion, no critical oversight.

    I don't agree that these line items for the Gansett budget are important enough to cause the cuts in general government for Templeton that this budget would precipitate without an override. Speaking of overrides, we've had two and both failed. I have blogged many times about the importance of accepting election results. Why did Mr. Columbus call a selectman an hour before the emergency meeting to tell him it was too late to schedule a Special Town Meeting? Ask yourself that question, when I ask myself, the possibilities all point to an unwillingness to accept the results of an election. That unwillingness leads to political trickery at its darkest level. It is damaging to our system of government, which is best served when everyone participates by voting. Nice civics lesson by the school committee. I also think it is unfair to use school resources to campaign for a yes vote. The ends do not justify the means. If you lose at the ballot box, accept it. It's the only way our form of government will survive.

    ReplyDelete
  18. One other point, Ms. Haley Brooks. I don't think the solution to NRSD budget is to cut the salary of any school employees. The superintendent has a lot of responsibility, the position requires specialized education and training. What I am pointing out is that 10 secretaries seems like a great many in this computer age. Productivity improvements from technology should show up in the budget.

    I would not propose any pay cuts for staff. I would cut positions and also closely watch all expense budgets. These are only my opinions. We have different opinions, which is fine and dandy. As long as people respect the will of the voters, democracy works. The process being followed by the NRSD School Committee is the problem. They could have accepted the will of the voters. But they did not, and now they have forced a situation where the results of two elections are ignored. The strategy seems to be "keep voting until the answer is yes, then that vote is final".

    ReplyDelete
  19. Mr. Barrieau thank you for taking more time to give me more information. I will research all of that further with the Superintendent and the School Committee. I believe that cuts that have been made and have been proposed have had an affect on learning and on teaching and will have an affect on the students, staff and teachers. Even the late buses being cut will have an affect on my child that has learning challenges and needs that one on one time with the teacher. Technology costs money and the school obviously doesn't have that at this time as it would be wasting funds wouldn't it? I will keep in mind that they are just words you are using and not take them personally I guess, thanks for pointing that out. I have carefully thought out my position for months now and have the same struggles as everyone else does right now ~ as a parent do I let the education of my child be this strongly affected as it may be the ONLY education he gets? Or do I let the town take cuts to safety and other personnel and services? I am voting yes for the school budget as I believe as a Realtor also this will have a lasting affect on value in our town and on business coming here. I don't argue about how people vote that is our right and our decision I ask for a yes and you ask for a no and that is perfectly fine. I do take everything that people say and write under advisement though and ask more questions.

    Mr. Bennett, it was late while I was writing and I think a paragraph got deleted from my post as my computer is a laptop and I have a habit of leaning on the mouse pad sorry. I think the School Committee absolutely could post meetings where it is more visible. Gansett Greatness is pushing for better and more effective communication. I think the point I was making was that I don't know if they thought of it or had even been asked to do so?

    I have sat at several School Committee meetings and I have stated no cuts. I have spoken to several members and I have stated no cuts. I would ask them again if this does not pass at tonight's meeting to continue to the process, no cuts. I believe we have cut long enough to the education of our children in both districts. We should not continue to tell Phillipston's children what education they cannot have as they as a town always say yes and we have continued to say no. I am happy we will sit down together and hopefully have respectful and thoughtful discussion and then vote our choosing.

    I believe that Templetonian has the right idea and one I strongly believe in an advocate for.... that opinions are just that our opinions and we need to keep it civil, not call names or belittle others for taking time to figure it out and for seeing something differently than others may. I think this blog does have some fact, some fiction, some ideas and although the tone can be harsh at times each persons heart is in the right place for themselves. I have done more reading here and although I don't always wish to participate, you have some great information here for the people to discover and research and get involved it. Good for you!

    I also read today's post from Pauly and I appreciate all the information was written and asked for the respect and I would ask the same from all of the GG people and community. This is a tough issue and challenge and in the end we are all neighbors and friends and we need to remain that way going forward or nothing in this town will get accomplished.


    ReplyDelete
  20. Huff and Puff, the proposed cuts were handed out at a school committee meeting and we have posted them on the Gansett Greatness page time and again and they were in flyers we passed out. There was no official letter that went out to the parents.

    ReplyDelete