Spencer begins fiscal review to prepare for state-set school budget
By Kim Ring, TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFFSPENCER — Two days after the Spencer-East Brookfield Regional School Committee voted to turn down a reduced budget that the district's voters had approved on Saturday, Spencer Town Administrator Adam Gaudette was emailing the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
The DESE is expected to take over the school district's finances in December, but Mr. Gaudette said he'd like to know as soon as possible how much money the town will need to spend on education because it will have an impact on local services.
"It is imperative that we know so we can get the tax bills out by Dec. 31," Mr. Gaudette said.
The second email he sent was to department heads and town employees warning them that it's "condition critical" and that they are "not to spend a penny without going through me."
Now he's reviewing the entire fiscal 2014 budget looking for places to make cuts, which will be especially difficult since most departments will have spent nearly half their budgets by Dec. 1, when the takeover happens. Voters will head to town meeting Dec. 5 to deal with some of the fiscal changes.
Had the school's budget request passed without a reductions approved on Saturday, the town would have been darkened by the loss of street lights. The transfer station and the senior center would also be closed. Some of those things might still happen once the state reveals the budget for the district.
Mr. Gaudette said he worked hard with school officials to reach a median number between the school committee's requested budget and what the town could afford to pay. He planned to use so-called free cash (unexpended money in the treasury) to make up some of the difference, even though doing so is ill-advised.
But when school committee members saw the list of $700,000 worth of proposed cuts on Tuesday, three of them voted against the reduced budget — enough to keep it from being approved.
Mr. Gaudette said he is somewhat frustrated because he has been receiving emails and calls from residents who accuse the town of having underfunded the schools for years.
"I'm hearing a lot of misinformation," he said, adding that per-pupil costs in the district are higher than those paid by residents who fund the Dudley-Charlton Regional School District, Quabbin Regional, Wachusett Regional and Leicester schools.
"And all of those districts spend less on insurance and retirees and put more into the classroom," Mr. Gaudette said, adding that the other schools fare better on Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System tests, too.
Spencer-East Brookfield's per-pupil expenditure in fiscal 2011 was $12,006. Leicester spent $11,012, Wachusett spent $10,170, Quabbin spent $11,541, and Dudley-Charlton spent $10,348.
Mr. Gaudette said the last time the town funded the schools at the bare minimum number the state requires was in 1993.
"I just don't understand why people think this is a money problem," he said.
Contact Kim Ring at kring@telegram.com. Follow her on Twitter @kimmring
FYI -
NEASC Schools on Probation :
MASSACHUSETTSDavid Prouty High School, Spencer, MA -- June 2008 for Assessment for Student Learning, School Resources for Learning and Community Resources for Learning
******************************************************
Spencer-East Brookfield schools await December state takeover
By Kim Ring, TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
SPENCER — The Spencer-East Brookfield School Committee on Tuesday set the stage for a state takeover of the district, voting against accepting a reduced budget that voters sent back to them after a district-wide meeting on Saturday.
Interim Superintendent Edward Malvey and Business Manager Julie Suprenaut outlined their plan for $700,000 in cuts to items, including supplies and services, special education teachers, fifth grade band, the high school bookkeeper and some benefits. The list also included a furlough day.
The news upset parents and teachers, who shouted from the audience about the fairness of the budget, but four school committee members said they would support the lower amount because it was what voters had asked them to do.
Vincent P. Cloutier said he is a supporter of education, but with voters having turned down override requests and a higher budget number at Saturday's district meeting, he supported the compromise.
He also chastised parents who did not vote on the override and who did not attend Saturday's meeting. Many said they skipped the vote because it was held on a Saturday and they were with their children.
"If it's this important to you, you miss a sporting event," he said.
While the audience lauded the news of a state takeover, Mr. Cloutier warned that it might not be good for the schools
"For those folks that think the state is going to be your knight is shining armor ... you're sadly mistaken," he said, adding that the state has already asked if the district was ready to cut the budget in the wake of the failed override.
Members Mary Gershman, Joshua Cote, and Chairman John Howard voted against the reduced budget, which needed five of the seven board members' votes to pass. Kurt Nordquist, Kevin Hayes, Mr. Cloutier and Christopher King voted in favor.
The board also voted to hold no further discussions about the fiscal 2014 budget. They will meet again Nov. 12.
Interim Superintendent Edward Malvey and Business Manager Julie Suprenaut outlined their plan for $700,000 in cuts to items, including supplies and services, special education teachers, fifth grade band, the high school bookkeeper and some benefits. The list also included a furlough day.
The news upset parents and teachers, who shouted from the audience about the fairness of the budget, but four school committee members said they would support the lower amount because it was what voters had asked them to do.
Vincent P. Cloutier said he is a supporter of education, but with voters having turned down override requests and a higher budget number at Saturday's district meeting, he supported the compromise.
He also chastised parents who did not vote on the override and who did not attend Saturday's meeting. Many said they skipped the vote because it was held on a Saturday and they were with their children.
"If it's this important to you, you miss a sporting event," he said.
While the audience lauded the news of a state takeover, Mr. Cloutier warned that it might not be good for the schools
"For those folks that think the state is going to be your knight is shining armor ... you're sadly mistaken," he said, adding that the state has already asked if the district was ready to cut the budget in the wake of the failed override.
Members Mary Gershman, Joshua Cote, and Chairman John Howard voted against the reduced budget, which needed five of the seven board members' votes to pass. Kurt Nordquist, Kevin Hayes, Mr. Cloutier and Christopher King voted in favor.
The board also voted to hold no further discussions about the fiscal 2014 budget. They will meet again Nov. 12.
The situation in Spencer East-Brookfield is worth watching for many reasons. It is also interesting that David Prouty High School's accreditation has been on probation since 2008.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, the process used to fund education in Massachusetts is deeply flawed. The Nuclear Option aka 603 CMR 41.05 is a divisive way for a regional school district to fund its budget.
When is Narragansett's NEASC visit scheduled? Where are the recommendations from the last NEASC visit? A school district's accreditation is important when students apply for college. Should it take a public records request to obtain this important information from the school district?
Perhaps there is a need for a new member on the NRHS district school committee.
ReplyDeleteI believe Gansett is in the "self=study" phase of the NEASC process, which means they are looking at how they measure up against the standards. This is all done in preparation of a visit. It is interesting that recently there have been several school in MA that are not going to continue their NEASC accreditation...due to the costs and time and effort with all the other state and federal mandates. Google Reading Schools and NEASC and you see the article. It is a costly and time consuming process. According to the article more and more schools are questioning the value of this process. It will be interesting to see where this goes.
ReplyDeleteIt is going to be extremely interesting to see how this all works out. Spencer and East Brookfield had huge numbers at the polls. Die all of these people show up at the town meeting? No they did not !! So what is their problem ?? Now the people who did not bother to attend are all upset. It may be that they over planned the meeting, making arraignments for shuttle buses, extra parking and room to try to accommodate everyone. The meeting was planned during the day so the elderly could attend. As far as I could see, this group of people did their best to make the day as good as they could. So what was the problem?? People need to make these meetings a priority, and if someone does not go they do not have a reason to complain. Well we can see how this plays out, it should be very interesting. Bev.
DeleteNRHS hasnt been accredited for awhile now. Ever since you cut the librarian.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure that is an accurate statement. According to the 2012-13 handbook they are accredited. According to the NEASC website they are scheduled for review in 2014.
DeleteDear Voiceofreason
ReplyDeleteIf schools opt out of the NEASC accreditation process that will have an impact on students leaving the district under school choice.
Supt. Miller was quoted in a Gardner news article:
"Many local districts already offer online courses at various levels, however, with Greenfield Public Schools now offering virtual school, Narragansett Regional School District Superintendent Ruth Miller stated that the districts stand to lose money if students school-choice out for online courses.
“Effectively, it’s a charter school, but it’s not limited to any geographic area,” she said. “It’s all virtual, the kids never go there. They can take students from everyone, and it’s $6,500 for students to go.”
If every student opted out of the Narragansett regional school district at $6,500/per student what would that cost?
If you calculate 1200 students in the NRSD that cost would be $7,800,000 significantly below the over 18 million dollars budgeted for the NRSD. Not all of the students are Templeton residents nor do these costs reflect the Monty Tech assessments. So maybe a really thorough financial cost benefit analysis needs to be done on school finance.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI was of the understanding that without a Librarian, a school cant be accredited. And we have a secretary watching over the library to save money. You cant cut the jobs, then question the outcome.
ReplyDeleteBesides, wasnt the $40k for accreditation cut from the budget? If you cant get accredited, why spend the money for the review process?
I was not aware that town officials could cut any school jobs, that would be up to the superintendent and school committee. Remember, that is how Templeton had such fun with special town meetings, ballot elections and combined district meeting because it was said the jobs could not be cut because they are required or mandated so I guess the librarian was / is not required or mandated. I do not think it can be both ways.
ReplyDeleteThe librarian has been gone for awhile Jeff. One of those cuts that everyone was questioning who got cut over the past 10 years. When they said 17 jobs, they meant it.
DeleteI thought Mrs. Bankowski was the librarian. The kids at school do think so.
DeleteMrs. B is a secretary, not a certified librarian. Hence, the problem.
Deleteuhhmmm, from lunch lady to lady who sits in library full time and shush's the kids and gets paid for the job. sounds like all that's needed. "certified librarian" Hence , the problem.
DeleteMaybe the kids should be told she is just a secretary and has no more knowledge then them in the library.
My point was / is Huff, the librarian position was cut by the district superintendent and or school committee rather than town officials or residents. Now the question is why does it seem the things that get put up for cutting are always the things that hurt the kids the most. Lets see, librarian or secretary? yeah lets cut the librarian. Kind of an odd thing for school committee and or superintendent to do. And no, it is not easy to cut someone's job, but I would think if you are going to cut jobs, it would be some admin jobs rather than a librarian or teacher. Just my opinion.
DeleteWOW. You guys are so out of touch its unbelievable!
Delete& Jeff, that person is now doing the jobs of 3 people. You want to cut that person too? Sure am glad you got all your cemetary workers.
WOW PUFFY!
DeleteNowhere did Jeff Bennett state "You want to cut that person too?"
What Jeff Bennett wrote :
"Lets see, librarian or secretary? yeah lets cut the librarian. Kind of an odd thing for school committee and or superintendent to do. And no, it is not easy to cut someone's job, but I would think if you are going to cut jobs, it would be some admin jobs rather than a librarian or teacher. Just my opinion."
When was the decision made to cut the librarian position? Who made that decision and when?
NEASC will want to know the answer to those questions. How do band uniforms and middle school sports meet the educational goals of the students in the Narragansett Regional School District vs a certified school librarian? Fortunately, the school administration has a year to come up with an answer to that question during its self-study.
Sorry, but it seems like this BOS is all for cutting jobs in the school system, ie. principals, secretaries, etc... Dont forget, these are your constituents too. Not just cemetary workers, hwy workers, & senior center workers. Hell, probably more so, as they affect every single person in town ( everyone goes to school at some point). We saved your precious cemetary dept., why dont you fight for the jobs of the school workers just as hard? Do they not mean as much to you? Are they not just as important, if not more so, than all the others?
DeleteIt just amazes me that after all we just went through, & the fact that the parents are now paying attention, you're gonna come out now & say cut more school jobs.
The point will not be argued here, but the fact is when the district proposed cutting things recently, it seemed it was all things that directly affected the kids like a late bus, cheer leading uniforms etc. When I see $16,000.00 spent on books and $400,000.00 spent on secretaries, I have to question that and no, I do not enjoy cutting jobs but financial reality is it and we will soon see how much money is in the school E&D so we will be able to get an idea of the 2013 budget. That is all for now.
DeleteWell Jeff, when one secretary is doing the job of three people, due to the massive jobs cuts over the past 10 years, that is exactly what will happen. Would you rather they spend $170,000 for 3 people, plus benefits? They already HAVE cut the jobs! That is EXACTLY what got us into this mess in the first place. SOMEBODY has to do the work, & its being pushed off on the secretaries at a much cheaper cost. If you cut them, then who does the jobs of those 3 people? You'd end up hiring them back, ergo costing us more. Look at the whole picture.
DeleteHENCE, the solution is to get rid of 2-3 staff and replace them with 1, seeing as it is very obvious that 1 is very capable of doing the work of 3 if Mrs. B is doing just that.
DeleteIF 1 person is doing the work that 3 did, than those 3 people were getting overpaid for not working enough.
YOU Huffy just don't get it.
UGH. DO, do you ever step foot in the school? You dont seem to grasp how a school operates. The work ISNT getting done, the school CANT get accredited, ergo, everyone suffers. THIS is why the school had to go the route it did, THE TOWN just doesnt get it.
DeleteBTW, your welcome for all the work done to save the jobs of the dust cutters.
Puffy,
DeleteThe nuclear option will have a lasting effect on this commUNITY. The school CHOOSE the nuclear option. The school would NOT compromise.
BTW, THE TOWN gets it. Time will tell if the nuclear option will work again.
Oh yeah, forgot to mention that NEASC will be looking at the schools relationship with the TOWN ....maybe they will interview a few dustcutters.
NEASC is a private organization thus does not have anything to do with state education regulations. If a school does not have certain positions, like the librarian, it can impact standing with NEASC. When certain standards are not met then NEASC can place a school on probation or warning status. No school can have its accreditation terminated unless it is already on probationary status. To my knowledge, Gansett is not on probation.
ReplyDeleteDust cutters?
ReplyDeleteThe grass cutters that waste time, cutting grass that doesnt need it, going over & over the same spots...... dust cutters
DeleteWoW Puffer, I sure do hope your not a teacher or employed by the school because you continue to be an Idiot and do not need to be around our children.
DeletePuffy,
ReplyDeleteWhatever happened to commUNITY? Back to name calling 'cause you got nothing else?
You seem a bit confused about the accreditation process as well. You might want to google NEASC.
Stay warm!
UNITY implies careing for all of the community, not just what makes you look good in the moment. I have always stated that I dont want a single job lost, school, town, or otherwise. Yet both you & Jeff immediately came out after we passed your override for town services, stateing, on this blog, that you want the school to cut even more jobs.
DeleteIf you want to preach unity, you better start practicing it.
Puffy,
DeleteI think it would be a unifying experience for all departments including the school to have more transparency and fiscal accountability.
I believe fiscal accountability by ALL departments including the school department, would create UNITY in the commUNITY.
I will be taking out papers to run for school committee in the Spring. Thank you for helping me make that decision. You have inspired me to participate!
My platform for school committee will be that I will never vote for nor will I endorse the nuclear option to fund the school department. The nuclear option is one of the most divisive acts ever perpetrated upon the Town of Templeton. The nuclear option was deployed against the Town of Templeton; it was premeditated with malice aforethought by the current members of the school committee and the administration. The nuclear option has created ill will in many people's minds including a significant portion of the voters in Templeton. The nuclear option was not the unifying experience you try to portray.
It would be a unifying experience if you would hold my election signs for school committee…oh but wait …we don't know who you are.
Have a great night!
Julie, considering that the "significant portion" of the voters voted IN FAVOR of the the "nuclear option" & IN FAVOR of that budget, I think you need to rethink your stance. A majority voted just for this.
DeleteI would strongly advise against takeing papers out for ANY elected office in this town, as I'm pretty sure that same majority will NEVER vote for you.
Thanks for the advice Puffy, but I think I'll give school committee another go. You have inspired me.
DeleteBTW Puffy, The number of people who attended the Joint Town Meeting in August is but a fraction of those who vote at the polls.
I think the ""significant portion" of the voters voted IN FAVOR of the the "nuclear option" & IN FAVOR of that budget, I think you need to rethink your stance. A majority voted just for this." were mislead about the consequences of such a vote on public safety in the Town of Templeton. I think the voters now "get it".
It will be interesting to see what DESE decides in the Spencer East Brookfield case.
Huff on this tid bit, the school super n committee rather be payin 27 big ones for snow when it could be 19 grand and be usin the other green backs for sport so de kids don't have to pay to play. Here in de hood, we call dat a playa as in talk dis way but do the otha. Plain English, ruth rather spend 27 grand on snow when she could spend 19 grand and use the 8 grand to go for sports so the kids families don't have to pay extra for sports. Dis show a great lack of respect and a lack of care for the kids. How you be defending dat Huff? What you holdin in that brown bag kid.
DeleteOh! I forgot.
ReplyDeleteHow about those Red Sox!