Thread on My Southborough
Neil Rossen
http://www.mysouthborough.com/2010/01/11/southborough-schools-may-see-teacher-layoffs-next-year/comment-page-1/#comment-12139
There is a lively debate going on. I've copied a recent entry
below,but suggest you do go to the URL above.
The obligation to support Special Education is not new. What is new is
that the State is providing less “circuit breaker” and other funding
to help off set the costs of Special Education even though it raised
our taxes last year.
However, the biggest increase in the proposed budget is the $500,000
in raises for public sector workers. Contractual or not let’s not
blame special ed kids for our financial difficulties the culprit is
skyrocketing labor costs both in terms of wages and benefits. $500k is
enough money to keep 7-8 teachers on the payroll (the ones at risk
tend to be the least expensive)
The K-8 School Committee can take a number of steps to alleviate this
crisis without asking strapped taxpayers for another dime.
1. They can immediately freeze all non union salaries and wages.
2. They can bring their considerable influence to bear to get monies
already paid by taxpayers released from town coffers. In particular
there is about $3 million dollars gathering dust the Overlay Reserve
fund and Stabilization fund. A significant portion of these funds
could be used to fill our budget gaps.
3. They can lead the discussion about our fiscal reality with our
teachers and their representatives
4. They could recommend that we eliminate the CPA which would increase
the funds available for the General Fund (which funds the schools) by
several hundred thousand dollars with no tax impact.
5. They could take a serious and detailed look at whether we need 4
schools particularly if we have to lay off a number of teachers. The
efforts to date have been a start but far from complete.
I have supported every school budget for the last 10 years and have
defended them from raids in forums where the School Committees did not
even bother to attend. I could be convinced to support more funding if
I thought that the School Committees were doing everything in their
power to minimize the impact on taxpayers. But, I do not believe this
to be the case.
We have a crisis in education funding and the School Committees need
to lead. They can’t meet once a month and stay on top of this crisis.
Over the next 4 months the Advisory Committee will meet weekly, the
Selectmen will meet weekly. The School Committees need to step up
their game and stay ahead of the curve.
I do wholeheartedly support your call to get more people to town
meeting whether they agree with me or not.