http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20130124/NEWS02/701249889
School District defends 2.6 percent school budget increase
By Christian Avard
Staff Writer | January 24,2013
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SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield School Board has approved a budget to present to voters on Town Meeting Day.
The proposed budget for 2014 was $28.3 million, but the board approved an additional $123,700 at Tuesday’s meeting per the request of administrators.
Voters will decide March 5 whether to approve a $28.4 million budget which represents a 2.6 percent increase from this year’s $27.6 million budget.
Included in the budget is $36,670 for a full-time PowerSchool technician. PowerSchool is a web-based student information system and the newly-hired technician will administer the program.
The district requested the line item because the state could not fund the position, according to Assistant Superintendent Zach McLaughlin. The PowerSchool technician’s estimated salary is $73,340 and $36,670 will cover half of the amount. The remainder will come from Springfield High School and Riverside Middle School computer programs, a curriculum fund and unemployment compensation premiums cuts. McLaughlin said the position is vital for organizing the district’s data programming.
“We need to get to the point where (the district) can make data-based decisions. We’re not there yet,” McLaughlin said. “We need to get our data system in order and train (faculty and staff) on to how to look at data, what’s useful, how does it affect their teaching, and how does it measure in effectiveness? This is a first step for us.”
The board also approved an $87,000 reserve fund for contract negotiations with school district paraprofessionals. The board originally cut $130,000 from the fund at a Jan. 2 meeting, but the board put $87,000 back in the fund Tuesday to cover the negotiations.
School Board Vice Chairwoman Jeanice Garfield said the funds were necessary in order to retain staff.
“The support staff is crucial to the work we do in the schools. It affects an awful a lot of people,” she said.
One budget committee member questioned the budget approval. Mike Griffin said Gov. Peter Shumlin informed school boards across the state not to exceed school budget increases of 2 percent.
Administrators were aware of Shumlin’s concerns but they still defended the approved budget. School Board Chairman Scott Adnams said cutting 0.6 percent from the budget is easier said than done.
“I’m just not sure where else would you tighten the budget without it affecting the education of the kids,” Adnams said.
Superintendent Frank Perotti said the district is doing much better compared to other districts across the state.
“Budgets across the state are coming in at the 4- to 5-percent range. The administration, budget committee and School Board cut approximately $2 million from the budget. I think we’re doing pretty well,” he said.
In other news, the board approved an article to buy a property at 47 Union St. The property is located next to Union Street Elementary School.
The purpose of the purchase is to build additional parking at the school, according to Steve Hier, director of fiscal services. Parking is limited at Union Street School and purchasing the property would enable the district to pursue the project. Hier said the project would cost the taxpayers nothing, but voters would need to approve the transaction on Town Meeting Day.
The school budget will be printed in the upcoming town report. A publication date has not been determined.
am so pist at the schools in spfld right now. the get nothing from me
ReplyDeleteIt is pretty clear your didn't get anything from them.
Deletefor sure!!!!!!
DeleteWhy have a budget review committee if the administrators are going to tell them something and go to board requesting what they cut out and get it. Doesn't make sense to me! Oh that's right, this is the Springfield School District who pays their Superintendent not to come to work.
DeletePlease, please vote yes for buying that property though. If we want to make out town better, and make parents feel safer sending their kids to Union, this would be a huge step. I get not voting for the budget, but please vote yes for buying the Union property.
Delete@ 11:24 For what its worth the select board did not adopt the recommendations of the town budget committee last year.
Delete#notjustaschooldistrictproblem.
Isn't that property owned by David Yesman? Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Deletehttp://springfieldvt.blogspot.com/2013/01/salaries-benefits-increase-springfield.html#comment-form
Deleteif I have to choose between the Springfield School system and heroin.
DeleteI choose .....
I'm not pleased with the quality of education in Springfield on many fronts either (and that's not to say there aren't SOME good things going on). But voting against the budget WON'T HELP. There really needs to be some sort of outside/non-partisan review of the way things are, and an action plan that can be carried out.
ReplyDeleteOh here we go with the don't vote down the budget! ABSOLUTELY it needs to be voted down. No doubt about it. You see we the taxpayers are stuck with the bill for this debacle we call a school district. We foot a bill for 120K plus benefits(which amounts to around 140k total) for a super who has not done his job and doesn't come to work. Tell you what trot on over to one of his former districts and ask them how the district was left financially!
ReplyDeleteI want to add that OUR SCHOOL BOARD recommended and approved the raise he received (as well as the other administrators) NOT because they were doing a bang up job BUT RATHER because they felt their salaries needed to match others in the state. REALLY? Why is that? I will ask again. Because they were doing a good job with proven results? NOPE because the school board are complete morons and felt it would help retain good people. HMMMM I don't know about your industry but good people/employees in my field come to work every day and they meet expectations not repeatedly put my business in legal disputes, or are unable to handle drug and alcohol issues, or theft, or bullying, or harassment. Not to mention my peers are up to date on the latest laws and requirements or they lose their job. I like to compensate people for preventing these issues and solving the problems that exist, not have increasing problems.
This is totally backwards folks. You keep letting a district dominate your available household income. The money you have lost in the past 7 years alone to the rise of the budget is money directly out of your pocket, out of your kids mouths. You have this increase and then the one in the spring from the water bond. Put a stop to this non-sense. I mean if kids were getting into Harvard and Stanford from our schools then hey ..hell yeah I am all for it but these kids are doing good if they get accepted to St Mikes, Johnson State, or Keene State. Not exactly first rung colleges.
Another thought to ponder was my comment months ago which true to form I have been right. I said then that the board would project a 4% increase so it made a 2% increase sound great and residents would be fooled and feel satisfied. You know what, money for a power school position is straight out of big mind/small world. Just so you know, school districts that employ someone for that position are usually very large, metropolitan districts like Boston, Concord, Nashua. Not a little small town of 5 or 10K. That is just another reason to "lighten the responsibility" of the teachers and administrators. It is a tool or person to blame. There are other reporting systems that are far easier to use. Instead we need a full time person to report data? What the hell are the administrators doing?
I don't buy it and you shouldn't either. Talk with your wallet this time. Our little town and these older retired folks that have lived here their entire lives can no longer afford the burden financially for a group of people making poor decisions nor should they have to. Frankly, that two hundred dollars and up in additional taxes is money you could use to heat your home, take a weekend trip, doctors bills. So many uses instead of us footing raises for employees who don't do their jobs.
Please stop posting the truth. We can't handle the truth!
DeleteOh here we go again... another know-it-all savior with all the answers riding in just in time to vote down the budget.
DeleteFirst off, catch up. Perotti is done, he's going away. It's an old issue that has been dealt with.
Second, I've actually looked up what administration is making I thought MAYBE they were being overpaid, but it isn't any different than the other districts in Vermont. What big raise did they all get? The one that was less than the COLA rate on Social Security?
Since it seems you are a PowerSchool expert too, and know just what is needed for a district our size to run it, (where did you get such training, anyway?) perhaps you will enlighten us with this other 'reporting system' that is easier to use. (your facts and sources all seem kinda thin)
So yes honey, talk with your wallet. I rather suspect you are actually talking from an orifice close to your wallet.
Yes, Kendra- I am the savior. And I will be voting down the vote. I understand that Perotti is done. He is done on my dime while not showing up for work being paid because he has a history of litigation with his employers over his "contract."
DeleteHowever that does not excuse the district board from keeping him this long or overlooking missing funds under his watch that can't be accounted for yet are replace from a budget that I pay for in a different year.
Since you are such a super smart sleuth here is the information you are clearly unknowledgeable about; http://www.infinitecampus.com/home/products/infinite_campus_district_edition/
Look it up and do your own homework dear one! My guess is you are one of the voting individuals who don't pay property taxes. More than likely a renter who loves to vote up everyone's taxes so your ill mannered child can get babysitting. Birth control was created for a reason!
I am tired of people like you costing me and my neighbors and the elderly unnecessary money which should be handled professionally not by a bunch of town nobodies who feel important because they gave themselves a title.
So far as the raise..again since you are a sleuth try this. Maybe you should go back and look at the district notes about the raise they voted in for the administrators. If you had done your research you would have been informed what the increase was and what the salary was before. This district has one of the highest paid superintendent positions in the state...not the highest but it is up there. The point of the comment sweet uninformed one was that you don't get a raise in the real world if you are not performing your job!!Did you do your homework as to the other districts performance records so you could match apples to apples. There is a difference from a passing district and what they pay their super and one that is in need of improvement. Do your homework before talking out your orifice.
I want to address the comment below about Union st. It would be a wonderful thing to have those properties gone. No doubt about that. However, the money that supposedly won't cost the taxpayers is coming from unused bond funds which well, to be honest is costing the taxpayer. Whether it cost us last year or this year it still costs us. Instead why are those funds not being used for outstanding projects that are being written into this budget. That would be a more fitting as well as intelligent decision. There is no prioritization with this district board and that is the issue. A parking lot does not top the priorty list if your roof needs repairs, or plumbing or whatnot. That is a foolish choice.
Thank-you Amen to the above comment.
DeleteYes an Armchair savior who doesn't get off their butt until the hard work is done. All your "brilliant" ideas come after the fact, not when things were happening and decisions needed to be made. Voting "no" now doesn't make anything you want to happen, happen. It squeezes the already fine margins and undermines work because they have to cut more to repropose the budget.
DeleteContract and Perotti are the key words. They are taking what is the most reliable way out. I am sure you would rather fight it out and ring up tens of thousands of dollars in legal bills with the possibility of still having to pay him with damages added on top. They are playing it smart I think.
So you can work Google and found infinitecampus.com. Great. Why is it better than PowerSchool (which every school around Springfield seems to be using) other than your say so? Where were you on this before the budget was done?
I did look it up. I saw a 2% raise for administrators when the teachers got a small raise. Again where are your facts? Point them out, don't just spout that they all got a big raise without any figures or when this big raise happened. I want facts, not bullcrap.
One of the highest paid Superintendants? Hardly. Paid more than he is worth? Probably. Again you are spouting facts without really knowing anything.
http://www.7dvt.com/2010vermont-superintendent-salaries Providing no other salaries have changed since this was published he would be 7th, while Springfield is the 10th largest town by population. That is not out of the realm of realistic-IF he was a good Superintendant. As you hound on, he's not a good Super. He is however going away with the surest deal to make him go away.
Really, you want things fixed your way, go to the school board meetings...run for the board. They reason you haven't dear Anon is that you are full of crap. You think you are some brilliant leader with all the answers. What you are is stirring up trouble with nothing more than wind. People are smart enough to figure that out.
Thank you Kendra. A good quote from that article:
Delete"While $105,000 might seem like a small fortune to many, it’s actually on the low side ... Neighboring states like Connecticut and New York pay significantly more; the national average is around $155,000."
I think it's notable that the two candidates standing for superintendent have significant experience in our district. They know the budget voting history and they are *still* willing to take the job. I'd be happy with either one.
The only thing that will turn the school around is to get a competent super in from the outside who is not beholden to anyone else in town. Hopefully one from an area that has experienced a favorable rising tide of school statistics in an area of "poor demographics". There are many areas that have had success in improving schools and don't use the demographic excuse for failure as our current school administrators have done.
DeleteDo you find that either of the superintendent candidates are beholden to anyone in town? I haven't seen any evidence of that. Please give details.
DeleteCandidates from out of town are likely to be put off by our attitude to education (see the tone of this blog) and our history of poor decisions (see the difficulties Elm Hill has had in retaining a principal).
Candidates from out of town are better suited to making changes without having to play politics for at least a few years. Those in town are tainted and jaded by the experience of the Springfield School District. The corrupted system only gets fixed with a qualified and successful "outsider" in control making the changes. Too much to risk betting on the locals in place. Remember how hard it is to get rid of the vermin once in place. It takes years.....if ever.
DeleteExamples of these two superintendent candidates playing politics?
DeleteYou need to provide them, otherwise you're just blowing smoke. These are the candidates we have. They seem very solid. Zach is responsive, friendly, open-minded. Martha is the same, and has a good track record an Union Street.
Do you have anything fact-based to offer?
The fact that these two are being continually promoted here as valid candidates for a busted school system that they are part of is all the proof that anyone with a brain needs to see to figure out an independent from outside for this district is truly needed.
DeleteThank you anon 1:17 It couldn't be put anymore plainly than that. It seems that Abby and Kendra are one in the same. It appears that whomever they are they at the very least hold a position with the district due to their unmistakable bullying attitude which mirrors the administrators responses and the teachers responses to inquiring parents.
DeleteExactly who would they think they are talking to demanding examples. I have to laugh at their small town, white trash attempts at trying to hold up their argument. Listen Abby and Kendra..how about you pop an estrogen and take abit of advice...quit trying to play the pocket lawyer because it just comes off as you being really really unintelligent!
Since when is wanting facts a "lawyer" thing? I didn't see any legalese in anything I said. What I don't like is Chicken Littles screaming about huge raises, conspiracies, and other crap that doesn't exist as a reason to vote down the budget. You may mistake busting their bullcrap bubble as "bullying" but if you are going to promote your own thoughts as gospel and the "truth" you better be ready for someone to burst your fantasy.
DeleteKendra- You are bullying because you don't like what another opinion is. You are typical Springfield trying to put the springfield twist onto something to justify your position.
DeleteFirst-nobody screamed of huge raises. The comment was the raises given out to both the superintendent and the administrators was wrong. It was NEVER referred to as huge. (not that it was the point) The comment dealt with the fact that the district gave out raises to a group NOT because they deserved them but because they wanted to match the state level. Again, the schools were and are failing, they have numerous issues across the board and frankly you don't reward someone for not doing their job and just being a warm body with a pulse. Those raises were documented in the school board minutes. I do not have to "prove" squat to you. If you choose to read them and find out about them then do so just as anyone else can.
Just as the raises were referenced I will address the conspiracy I guess you are reading into to comment. A good example would be the 10k that is missing from the student fund. The money had been missing for long over a year. It was never reconciled where the money went and then the board voted to replace it with money from a budget two or three years later still with no accounting for where it had gone. Now, I don't know what world you live in but any amount of money over $500 (I believe but may be 1000) stolen is considered a felony in the real world. That also is documented in school board minutes.
Apparently you took issue with the comment about infinite campus vs the school's current program. The fact is infinite campus has a long history, it is the most widely used program in schools across the country. The system is superior to the school's current program by means of accounting, reports, control of those, ease of use, user support, the ability to take online payment accounts for nutrition programs, school functions ie sports, dances and extra curricular. The tracking system on it is so user friendly that it is easily adapted to a smaller district. Again, you were being inflammatory with your comments because you didn't have the knowledge and wanted to prove your superiority in the subject. Again, a person does not OWE you an explanation or instruction. You asked what program and I gave it to you. It isn't my job to sell a system or program to the district let alone you. I know what I am talking about, I have used the program. Most of all I have attempted to relay these things to the district in an effort to help. It was mentioned to a board member and to a teacher's union rep along with another suggestion for a program to build or enhance online tutoring for all grade levels which was FREE rather than the one the school had been paying for. I was very curtly brushed off because knowledge in this town with these people is intimidating to them. I have worked diligently in the district for change and that is only now beginning to happen. I don't need a gold star or an approval from you or anyone else.
cont. from above:
DeleteAs to the other comments, I can't speak for them nor do I need to. What is important to recognize and take from those comment isn't the "facts" that you so rudely want but the tone. The community is distrustful of the board and the administrators. They have lost that faith and that isn't something that will be rebuilt overnight. In order to accomplish that it takes time and SMART business decisions with a fully transparent system. They need to feel informed and involved as to the why, when and how comes of a decision. A good example would be the minutes. If you look at other systems outside the area, board minutes. They are comprehensive, like reading a book. Therefore community can actually read those notes and have answers they need before flying off the handle and getting mad. That is an example of how to rebuild a small level of trust.
So please stop droning on with your attacks about facts and verbal garbage because it is counterproductive. Quit spinning your school tone on everything. YOU are the type of person that creates the distrust with everyone because your argumentative tone and spin is EXACTLY what the residents get when they question anyone in our system. It isn't cute and it isn't smart and it isn't funny. It is annoying. Read between the lines, analyze and quit your accusations. Here is what I see from you. You wanted an answer, you didn't like the answer so then you argue more and spin the point off track. Stop being part of the problem and part of the solution.
I could say the same thing about my position, the stuff I have had back is far more insulting than my tone. I choose not to answer it. Calling people "morons" and calling my children ill mannered, etc. doesn't help them with their point.
DeleteHonestly, I could give a crap less about what database the schools use. All I know about it is that we are invested in PowerSchool and a great many other schools in the area use it. If you really want this Infinite Campus, then go to the meetings. Run for the Board. Get some hard facts about it with the data to back it up. You saying Infinite Campus is better amounts to the same thing as me saying PowerSchool is better. It doesn't mean anything without real information to back it up. This just seems to escape you.
That is my point. Facts, not I heard this or that or the other thing. It's like a big game of Telephone.
I know the schools have problems. The isn't news, and I can rant about it with the best of them and have. But, blowing things out of proportion with hearsay or "I say it, so it must be true facts" won't fix anything, nor with the misconception that voting "no" will make your pet peeve get fixed along with the other few thousand everyone else has. That is part of the problem. Get involved and not when it's all done after the fact.
As I stated before. I am involved. You asked for details and facts and I gave them to you. Again, my answer was not sufficient for you. Somehow you feel as though I should supply a booklet of data on the pro's of a system that in a passing comment dealt with OPTIONS the district has which are more cost effective rather than adding a fulltime position at 70k plus to the already burdened taxpayers. Again, the point was options to creating a position which wouldn't otherwise be needed. Nothing is blown out of proportion except by you and in your opinion. I tried to enlighten the board as best at the time. They were not interested and were not willing to discuss it or honestly didn't want to.
DeleteVoting NO is a political statement for many. Again, we have to read the tone of why they do it. Most importantly it is our right as taxpayers to vote down a budget that is out of line with reality.Yet for the money we are not seeing adequate results so something needs to change. There was a school system in Florida burdened with economic hardships and honestly it was in the poorest section of town. They turned the school around so that each child graduates with acceptance to college. EACH CHILD. Those are the types of systems that we should be investing our time in. Our administrators and supers should be picking up the phone and saying "hey, tell me how you did this. We want to follow your example" I mean my God it is worth a phone call. Instead everyone falls back on their "data" and doesn't change anything. In ten years there have been dozens of new programs this district has started and they all fail. We HAVE TO LOOK BEYOND at this point.
I will say that there is a lot I know about in this district. Most cannot be discussed no matter how much I would like to share it. I am sorry for that because it would help you understand a lot of the comments people are making.
Ugh! Just cite a source so someone else can find the data...even a web link. No one wants a book, just real facts. This whole can't be "discussed" thing is just as ridiculous. Not until you can make a case with real information and real data will anyone take you seriously. The Board was not interested? With that attitude, no wonder.
DeleteI tried. Good luck.
Please at least vote yes on cleaning up Union Street. Buying that property would be a huge step forward. Wow. It would make sense a difference. It would definitely influence me to consider keeping my kids in the district past grade 2, if that building was torn down, residents out, and the street was "on the road" to a facelift. I would feel like it would also help with safety concerns.
ReplyDeleteWe need to get the house across the street too, it is the other big drug den on Union St. Get those two and it would make things so much better. Frankly though with the budget as thin as it is, voting it down will likely kill buying up that house.
DeleteActually if they clean up the street you will really like Martha Potter who is Principal. Some really good teachers at Union too.
DeleteI wonder what the house is appraised for?
DeleteDirectly from school board notes: Buyer beware. You ARE PAYING FOR THAT LAND. IT IS A COST TO THE TAXPAYER the money is just moved around. They should be using it for improvements or hey how about this..pay the damn bond back instead of spending money you don't have
Delete"Discussion of Possible Property Purchase Scott reported that 47 Union Street is a blue apartment building that sits at the base of Union Street Elementary School. He also noted that the school has a serious lack of parking. We have entered into negotiations with the owner and agreed upon a purchase price of $94,000. Funding is to come from money left over from the Bond. Steve explained that pursuant to Vermont law a school district cannot purchase property without a vote of the public. Steve read a potential article to be placed on the ballot. “Shall the voters of the Springfield Town School District authorize the purchase of the property located at 47 Union Street for the purpose of constructing a parking lot for Union Street School and apply up to $231,012 of unexpended proceeds from the District’s July 13, 2009 school construction bond for the purchase ($ 94,000) and the project (up to $ 137,012)?”
____________________________ January 22, 2013 Special Board Meeting Minutes Unapproved Page 3 of 3
If approved, the purchase would be Step 1. There would then be expenditures to have the building removed and a parking area created. The intent would be that it would all be covered through the School Construction Bond ($231,012 remains unspent). Discussion ensued.
MOTION: Bill moved and Laura seconded to accept the article for real estate purchase for the March 5th vote, as presented. Discussion. Vote: All in Favor Motion Passed.
The sales agreement is contingent upon a positive vote.Discussion of Possible Property Purchase Scott reported that 47 Union Street is a blue apartment building that sits at the base of Union Street Elementary School. He also noted that the school has a serious lack of parking. We have entered into negotiations with the owner and agreed upon a purchase price of $94,000. Funding is to come from money left over from the Bond. Steve explained that pursuant to Vermont law a school district cannot purchase property without a vote of the public. Steve read a potential article to be placed on the ballot. “Shall the voters of the Springfield Town School District authorize the purchase of the property located at 47 Union Street for the purpose of constructing a parking lot for Union Street School and apply up to $231,012 of unexpended proceeds from the District’s July 13, 2009 school construction bond for the purchase ($ 94,000) and the project (up to $ 137,012)?”
____________________________ January 22, 2013 Special Board Meeting Minutes Unapproved Page 3 of 3
If approved, the purchase would be Step 1. There would then be expenditures to have the building removed and a parking area created. The intent would be that it would all be covered through the School Construction Bond ($231,012 remains unspent). Discussion ensued.
MOTION: Bill moved and Laura seconded to accept the article for real estate purchase for the March 5th vote, as presented. Discussion. Vote: All in Favor Motion Passed.
The sales agreement is contingent upon a positive vote."
look, Springfield's taxes were re calculated at the TOP of the real estate BUBBLE... The company who did your house FIRED or "let go" the people who came up with your tax value.....
Deletewe are *hucked ......
YoU WILL NEVER FIX YOUR SCHOOL SYSTEM....
NO ONE WANTS TO LIVE IN SPRINGFIELD ... BECAUSE OF THE IDIOTS WHO RUN THE BEHIND THE SCENES >
it's the highest taxed town in the entire country..... our school's fail and Town decay's
seriously
Thanks for some words of truth.
DeleteMy house is taxed for "what it could be" and the only way to make it worth that, would be to rebuild from the ground up.
The way my house stands right now it could not even be sold.
Pay for a re-appraisal and appeal.
Delete@ 1:41
Deleteyou mean like taxed for having a roof even though it leaks and ruined everything beneath it?
Or taxed like you have completed rebuilding your master renovations when you haven't even done more than suggest the design.
Is this the house directly in front of the school?
ReplyDeleteIt's the grey one between the two drive was for the Elementary School.
DeleteWhy that house is a gorgeous historic example of Springfield housing, we need to re-invent such historical masterpieces. Why you wouldn't want little children to get a distorted view of reality while coming to school. This house tells it like it is, it and the house across the street are symbolic of small business entrepeneurs and the benefit that black market capitalism brings to our hometown.
DeleteThe house some uninformed people are calling a drug den are sadly mistaking . I live in that house with my 1 1/2 old granddaughter and despise drugs and drug dealers..... The house across the street were Tyrick Craft lived was the problem, He brought his NJ ganster drug dealing bullshit with him to spfld vt .As most Spfld residents know he has a knew residents SVCF.. Since he has been incarcerated Union Street has been very very quiet. If you take the time to check with Spfld police u will see in the last year, They have been called to this [so called drug den ] 0 times..One bad apple spoiled the hole street. As far as years ago 47 union st i can't say..As far as this being a drug den now its all bullshit spfld roomers. I know i live there and install flooring for a living. The main problem was across the street,and even Tyrick Crafts family has moved out. That building is abandon now. Wasting 94,000 dollars to tear it down is rediculous, The town might as well draw out 94,000 dollars and burn it in a pile..That's what it amounts too.If they must buy a building and make a parking lot, buy the house across the street. Instead of putting law abiding DRUG AND THUG hating citizens on the street.with a small beautiful little girl, after all isn't that what this is really about, The kids, not the need for a parking lot. Or for probley a third of the i believe almost a quarter of a million dollars. 232,000 they could cut down a few pine trees on the lawn, that they already own and build at least a 20 car parking lot there. There is plenty of room right on there front lawn.. Wouldn't that make a lot more sense. especially the way the economy is...There is many more ways that money could be spent. If i seemed a little angry its because i don't like my house being called a drug den. when m and my family dont evn take drugs or much less sell them, I think you would be to. VOTE NO FOR BUY 47 UNION STREET AND WASTING 94,000 DOLLARS ON MARCH 5,
DeleteThere is no point in voting it down, they will keep putting it to a revote. "Are you sure you want to vote no? Are you really sure. Come on are you positive?" That is what they will do. As I recall last year the second vote was on a day that it was pretty snowy out and most people didn't want to go out, it was ok for school to be open but just bad enough that the masses didn't want to go. Coincidently all the teachers made it down to vote. I really think there is no way the budget would have passed if the roads were better.
ReplyDeleteVote no and then make sure we have a new superintendent outside of our district. Remember McLaughlin is defending this nonsense of a budget, with sabbatical's for teachers and positions added, when obviously positions could have been cut. I would hope they would not choose him as superintendent when his decisions support all the ridiculousness that is going on now and has been for years. I'm not sure about Martha, but it doesn't seem like Union is adding positions, and she's not asking or defending new positions. At least that shows some intelligence and an understanding of this town. We have these people who create and defend these budgets when they don't live here or pay taxes. They don't know anything about our town or they would pull the stuff they pull. Bunch of jackwagons. Vote no for budget, but yet for buying the house. If they reneg on that after we vote, than I think we have a right to get really angry and get out the pitchforks.
DeleteI have had my pitchfork out for the last few years. A lot of people have said the same thing but never, ever, take action. I'm voting no and I will be making a sign that says no to it up by the plaza, anyone want to guess how long it will stay there? I'm guessing 45 minutes, maybe an hour. It's like my Romney/Ryan sign that I placed in my front yard, the town ripped it down a day after the election. It's the most diligent thing I have ever seen them do!
DeleteEach time they bring it back for a revote the budget is reduced. What is most important is getting the two board members off the school board. Enough of them already too.
ReplyDeleteWhich two?
DeleteHow does a sabbatical for a teacher to write about The Beatles, and a "Powerschool" position they had money for this year but never filled (where did that money go?) help children's education, Mr. Adnams? Don't we even have teachers who are paid to work from home and get benefits and everything? So where are the teacher to student ratios for the high school? There are no cuts to be made? Why did the administrators give this stuff up for the budget committee and then come back and say they need it? That's just ridiculous to accept anything back into the budget, when they gave it up already. And shame on the administrators. Anyone who asked for things they cut out already need to leave. They are dishonest and don't care about taxpayers. Certainly don't hired them as superintendent for the love of "Hay-zeus."
ReplyDeleteBuying that house simply does not make sense, unless the town proposes to refurbish and rent it at a profit. It would be cheaper to motivate the landlord to screen tenants properly.
ReplyDeleteUlterior motive: CG really wants the school system to buy his house(s) and then have them hire him in to the system as a full time "landlord motivator" for improved tenant screening.
DeleteAlthough efforts are being launched to motivate landlords to screen tenants properly, the school district should have bought the house before they renovated Union Street, but now they definitely need to buy it and tear it down. The Town needs to condemn the house across the street and turn into a park or community garden or something. But efforts have been on the way to motivate landlords to screen tenants (although the Selectboard had to be coerced into doing so and the leadership in this respect has come from outside of the municipal government.)
DeleteWhy I agree with Chuck on this one. Such a beautiful structure should be preserved to grace the front of Union Street School. It is a testimony to the grace of our forefathers, and emblematic of what capitalism combined with our wonderful drug policies can do for a small post-industrial metropolis like Springfield. We need to preserve this to remind our elementary students not to aim too high. Why I would recommend that everyone watch Beasts of the Southern Wilds so that they understand how places like this build community and culture in our town.
DeleteThey will tear it down... Thank Goodness!
DeleteSure they will right after they pay full asking price for it. My mother has had her house for sale for over a year and had to drop the price down quite a bit to get a few bites. It's too bad, her house is beautiful it's just the neighbors are disgusting.
DeleteWhat about eminent domain?
DeleteNo, no, if they buy that house and tear it down it will raise the value of the other houses in the area and then people would start selling their homes and new people would move in. We can't have that kind of disruption of the status quo in Springfield. Union Street is slowly developing into a wonder drug zone and place for post-industrial slum decadence, every town needs to preserve an area like this to remind people of our heritage and the wonders of post-industrialism in America. Its a reminder that people should pull themselves up by their bootstraps -- except I have never had any boots with straps, but I am sure there are some out west that we could borrow or something.
DeleteIn my opinion, you da MAN, Boss Hogg!
DeleteI was thinking eminent domain too. It's a safety hazard for kids, blocks the school view from the street. Can't the town take it over?
DeleteSocialists, socialists..you are all socialists. Proposing destruction of this diverse neighborhood and descriminating against these honest capitalist in telling them what to do with their property. Taking away from the beauty of the free market and the ambience of the War on Drugs. Its gonna be our doom, our doom I say. You just can't take away private property, next you will want their guns, and then probably their drugs. How are we to perpetuate this legacy if you constantly interfere and recomend direct governmental action. The best government is the one that governs least, isn't that what Christ said, I'm sure its in the Bible somewhere.
DeleteHow about 137K dollars that could be used from capital improvements but instead the board wants to buy land and make a parking lot. NOW THAT is a smart value driven decision. Because employee parking is improving children's education right?
ReplyDeleteEveryone better call those board members and give them the what for. That is 137K that could be used towards support staff. They know this is just swapping lines out in the budget.
I can not wrap my brain aroung why they want to buy a house and make a parking lot when there are soooo many other things that need to be done. What about the repairs to Riverside? What about more Paras. We cut them out last year and found out this year we needed to hire more because of the special needs children. I could go on nd on but my words fall at deaf ears when it comes to the school board and the administation. As far as replacing Frank I think we need to look out side , to anyone that has no ties to the current administion.
DeleteThe sad part is according to the papers they are using bond money that they have been sitting on for years to do this. Why are they sitting on money that the school district is paying interest on? Why wasn't that money used to pay down the bond. By the time they pay off these bonds they will have most likely payed more then double what it cost to actually build these schools! Even more sad is nobody is running against the school board this election year. Guess Springfield thinks the school board is doing a bang up job.
DeleteThe bond money they've been sitting on was designated to update Park Street School, but once the consolidation by grade level went into effect and Park Street was closed - supposedly - to classes, that money could only be used for elementary school rehab or updates. Therefore, if they can convince enough people that a parking lot is needed at Union Street School they can use those funds to make it happen. According to the dictates of the bond they cannot use those funds for anything except elementary school reconstruction or renovation and they have chosen not to use left over funds to pay down the bond debt.
DeleteWhy not just vote to allow the Springfield School District to buy the entire town, which will make all the schools safer and allow the district to self-fund to any level it desires because it will then only be taxing itself! Suddenly I bet you'd see the budget shrink markedly!
ReplyDeleteI read this on another story on this blog and had to re-post. It is very fitting to the budget
ReplyDeleteChris Coughlin 1/24/13, 2:42 PM
Throughout their careers, teachers are required to take continued training, though not in the subjects they teach, but in education, if they want to remain certified teachers. This requirement quietly transfers millions of dollars from school districts' budgets to various Departments of Education in institutions of higher learning. A huge publically funded captive clientel ensures that Depts. of Education are the largest departments in the colleges and universities that have them. Certainly majors in education are taught to believe that their strength lies in their numbers and their political connections, and not especially in their knowledge of an academic subject and their ability to teach it. They also like the idea of a captive clientel...Pay your school taxes of lose your house!
If one reviews the mind numbing curriculum required of those training to become educators, it is a wonder that any truly creative or gifted person perseveres to receive a degree. It appears to me to be 4 years of intellectual hazing, with the carry over benefit in the real world of a teaching job with reasonable pay and excellent benefits.
Among those who manage to endure the educational training gauntlet are persons who have no intention of facing classroom teaching challenges, but are focused on being educational administrators. A few in this group are very talented persons, and of these some work in the Springfield School District. But there are many others who see a job in school administration as a road to high pay, little accountability, and personal power. They have no passion for actually giving our children an excellent chance at becoming the very best educated people they can be. They have neither the talents, training or temperaments necessary to lead the Springfield School District into becoming the best school district in the State of Vermont. They do not even think in such terms, and shrink at the mention of such a challenge. Who cares if such do not apply for the superintendent's job in Springfield?
Springfield is rightfully proud of its Cosmos teams. Our coaches train their atheletes do their absolute best, to hold up their end, to work hard and learn from their coaches, and to intend not just to play a game, but to do their best to win. We need a superintendent of schools who will bring the Cosmos' competitive spirit to our teaching staff and students. We must stop being a community expecting and accepting excuses for failure. We must focus on challenging our students to excel, to utterly reject being an "also ran".
If we do not make dramatic changes in our attitudes and expectations, how can we expect anything different from what we have endured or achieved in the recent past? Our school district has enormous assets: excellent buildings, talented teachers and support staff, and many wonderful eager-to-learn students. We need to challenge ourselves as teachers, parents, students, and tax payers to set challenging goals, remembering that the key to academic excellence is not money spent, but academic effort made.
Why have we set a deadline for hiring a superintendent? If we don't find the person who fits our needs by June, someone who is capable and unafraid of the challenge, we can operate with an interim superintendent, even appointing our high school principal to the position for a year. Don't let the advancing calendar stampede our school district over a cliff.
The author writes: "We must stop being a community expecting and accepting excuses for failure...If we do not make dramatic changes in our attitudes and expectations, how can we expect anything different from what we have endured or achieved in the recent past?" So why doesn't this author apply the same standards to himself? Just another self-enamored, pseudo-intellectual, hypocritical beanhead pontificating from his lowly, pathetic perch.
Deletewow, mind blowing.
Delete"They also like the idea of a captive clientel...Pay your school taxes of lose your house!"
hey home owners.... the school board needs an enema .... we pay they play
The author of this article is in search of sensationalism.
ReplyDeleteI am mad as hell. and I'm not going to take it anymore
I honestly believe we need to ask for two of the school board member to step down. I really feel there are some ethical issues that need to be addressed.
ReplyDeleteWhich school board members? Is it over their putting personal relationships over legal justice?
DeleteI really agree with this. Do people know that the state has appointed a former superintendent from another district to oversee things around the state "improvement plan" for Springfield through the end of the year? The truth is we went over a cliff these last three years with regard to our special education violations and abuse of those padded rooms. Everyone from the Board level on down is in a conflict of interest situation about telling the truth and making things right. If they come clean, they lose their jobs and we get the crap sued out of us. So, everyone in any official capacity is silenced (officially) but the truth keeps leaking out and nothing can REALLY move forward for the town or the schools while the cover ups (note the plural) are on-going. Under No Child Left Behind, there are three possible next steps for the district: comply with all the provisions of the improvement plan (not realistic given the current issues), state take-over, and closing the schools and sending the students elsewhere (also not realistic). I think the Board has lost the moral authority to govern the schools and who in their right mind wants to run for a seat given the state of things? Ditto the superintendent's job, by the way.
DeleteWhat the public also didn't know is that a grand jury was convened to look at something with the district.
DeleteI don't understand why it is so difficult for the residents to comprehend that when you have a Grand Jury even being called to look at a situation/s there is a REAL and substantial problem.
Not true... The grand jury's job is to see if there was a crime. If they don't charge anyone, they didn't see proof a law was broken.
DeleteWhat portion do you feel is not true? I believe the post said that for their even to be a grand jury inquiry into something that something is wrong...a properly functioning system does not have that type of thing happening.
DeleteSo wait, what? There was GJ, but they didn't find a crime? That's good, right?
Delete@ anon 4:18 I think what's being said is that just because no law was broken, doesn't mean everything is fine. Just that now it's a political problem. We have to stand up and say what this community does and doesn't want from our school leaders. No grand jury is going to clean house for us.
DeleteNope and I don't think it was at all about the grand jury but as you said pointing out that things are not fine within the system. Also, just have to add that it does not mean a crime WAS NOT committed but possibly that the evidence was not strong enough to gain a conviction. There is a difference between the two.
Delete70 % drop in HOME VALUES for 05156 ........
ReplyDeleteIt's not gonna happen. That is where we are at since the last appraisal.
That's funny, mine went up
Delete@ 1:12
Deleteoh yeah? what's your address?
....
thought so.
Mine went from 189k to 121k and I built a 2 car garage. I resided it and paved my driveway, money not very well spent now.
DeleteSomebody reach out to Michelle Rhee, former Washington DC schools chancellor and convince her to take on the task as Springfield superintendent of schools. She shook DC's educational establishment to the core and is exactly the caliber person that Springfield must have if anything is to change.
ReplyDeleteExactly my thoughts! If only we could steal her away from StudentsFirst.org she is amazing and she got it! Funny how her schools students saw a 42% increase in their grades and their test scores as well as attendance being up. Despite what critics say the schools flourished. Once she left they went back down again. The critics were all the outdated and dead weight teachers and administrators who were held accountable for their actions.
DeleteUnfortunately, the Springfield School Board does not have the knowledge or intelligence to search and hire a person with those qualities. They would rather have someone they can control and who they are friends with. I rub your back you rub mine is their attitude which is what has them in the quandary they are currently in.
Maybe I'm wrong, but I've always thought the School Board of Directors was the BOSS for the district who hired the super and administrators. To me, this means THEY are supposed to make decisions, not simply parrot what the super tells them to say and do. Of course, with the current situation I'm not sure who is in control of what since virtually nothing is being accomplished except a lot of executive meetings and decisions being made behind everyone's back.
DeleteWant to know what I am psyched about? I am psyched about an English Teacher going abroad to write a book about some stupid band that was cool like 300 years ago and the relevance to the classroom that this has. I bet she is going to come back with so much cool stuff to teach kids about, about the road and the fame and all the cool stuff "that band" did. Why is this happening and why is this ok? We are paying for a hippy to go write about dumb hippy stuff on our dime. C'mon let's get real! We pay her salary and then some other teacher to come in and teach for her that we pay as well. Let's use this bull-#$%^ as a starting point to figure this district out. Start at the top and bull-doze...
ReplyDeleteis the LSD paid for by the school too?, man.
DeleteRight 'cause the last thing we need around here is to let the kids see an English teacher write a book. Or that the community supports writing as a meaningful activity. Sheesh what if some kid wants to write one next. We can have that...
DeleteI'd rather have an English teacher teach our students how to write a book. Because that is her job right? To teach! If she wants to write a book on her own time, that's great I'm sure she could find an investor to help her out....but that fact that we're taking money away from our children's education to support this project is insanity!
DeleteAMEN Anon 9:38 No Truer words
DeleteHow about going to the 12/12/12 concert and posting it on facebook, union president?
Delete"We, the state attorneys who represent members of the National Education Association (NEA), love a good courtroom fight. In fact, we have an impressive win record in board hearings, trials, and appeals. So when clients have been sexually harassed, wrongfully terminated or denied wages, we take careful notes and fight the good fight on their behalf.
Sometimes, however, clients bring us stories that aren’t going to end well—where there is no argument to be made and our client isn’t on the side of truth and justice. In those cases, the most we can do is point out the error of their ways and hand them a Kleenex.
Sin: Calling in sick then posting pictures of yourself at the lake, mall, or Disneyland on Facebook.
Ah, my favorite. The employee musters up their raspiest voice, throws in some hacking coughs for good measure, and then leaves a pained message on the school’s answering machine about how they are too sick to come in. All spoken via cell while in a swimming suit floating on the lake, beer in hand. How do we know? Because the employee had their buddy take a picture with his iPhone and post it to Facebook, commenting: “great sick day at the lake!” Once again, here’s your Kleenex and best of luck in your next career…
The bottom line? Think before you act. Or, at the very least, call your regional advocacy specialist before you act so we can help."
Ouch... Really?
DeleteOkay, then let's respond to the policy that allows sabbaticals and not attack an individual for pursuing a reasonable academic goal.
ReplyDeletelucy in the sky with diamonds
DeleteMany people thought this was about drugs, since the letters "LSD" are prominent in the title, and John Lennon, who wrote it, was known to drop acid. In 1971 Lennon told Rolling Stone that he swore that he had no idea that the song's initials spelt L.S.D. He added: "I didn't even see it on the label. I didn't look at the initials. I don't look - I mean I never play things backwards. I listened to it as I made it. It's like there will be things on this one, if you fiddle about with it. I don't know what they are. Every time after that though I would look at the titles to see what it said, and usually they never said anything."
Paul McCartney would later say it was "pretty obvious" that this song was inspired by LSD.
According to the Beatles, one day in 1966 Lennon's son, Julian, came home from nursery school with a drawing he said was of his classmate, a girl named Lucy. Showing the artwork to his father, young Julian described the picture as "Lucy – in the sky with diamonds."
DeleteJulian later said, "I don't know why I called it that or why it stood out from all my other drawings, but I obviously had an affection for Lucy at that age. I used to show dad everything I'd built or painted at school, and this one sparked off the idea for a song about Lucy in the sky with diamonds."
The "Lucy" who inspired this song was Lucy O'Donnell (later Lucy Vodden), who was a classmate of John's son Julian Lennon when he was enrolled at the private Heath House School, in Weybridge, Surrey. It was in a 1975 interview that Lennon said "Julian came in one day with a picture about a school friend of his named Lucy. He had sketched in some stars in the sky and called it Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds."
DeletePaul McCartney would later say it was "pretty obvious" that this song was inspired by LSD.
The images Lennon used in the song were inspired by the imagery in the book Alice In Wonderland.
http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20130127/NEWS02/301270015/What-does-a-high-school-student-need-to-succeed-Burlington-and-Winooski-parents-have-many-answers-
ReplyDeleteChances of something like this succeeding in Springfield: 0.0.
Too many people would rather talk on the blogspot.
I'll run your schools
DeleteWell back to the point at hand- What do we do about this horrific budget? I firmly hope that everyone will phone each school board member, let them know you do not support the budget as it stands and don't forget to let them know your thoughts about hiring a superintendent. Let them know you will be voting AGAINST the budget if changes are not made to improve our schools.
ReplyDeletePlease do not speak for me, I will be voting for the school budget.
DeleteOf course you will....baaaaaaa sheep!
ReplyDeleteJust as many sheep being told that voting "no" will fix any of the hundred issues they want fixed. Voting no results in a small cut and a re-vote. That is the ONLY outcome of voting "no". If you want REAL change go to the meetings and make your voice heard!
DeleteCant speak for anyone else but my voice has been more than heard. For the record my comment was about voting NO because the budget is outrageous and the politics to get it are criminal. So yes..I am still voting no!
DeleteDon't worry. The budget will pass. Why? Because the only drive to turn out to vote will be from the union members and their friends and family members who will benefit from increased higher financial taxpayer assistance without any accountability. The rest of the town will be too busy to vote because instead they are eagerly awaiting the next episode of the Twilight Zone AKA as the Springfield Vortex.
DeleteIt is on topic, because it shows they are wasting money on things that don't improve our schools at all. It's just a symbol of what the administrators support in the budget, and what the board is defending as responsible. So, if this one thing is being talked about, imagine all the things we don't know about? The budget can be cut without a negative effect on children.
DeleteBut, these comments do seem very malicious, targeting one person. That's not right.
I don't think that anyone is actually meaning to be malicious. I think it really is meant to prove a point of how backwards the system is in regards to the will of the people. The majority of the school vote comes from its employees. The reason the board and the employees NEED to push through the idea that an insider "knows the issues" is to keep all them employees employed. These people know if you get a seasoned professional, who has the experience of turning the school system around, chances are, more than a few current employees face the prospect of losing their jobs because they are dead weight. After all who wants to sign up for that when you can come to work and not be held accountable. I suspect there are a lot of old bones in the closet that if revealed might risk legal consequences. I mean let's face it everyone is covering everyone else's back to be safe. THAT isn't exactly putting the children's best interest first. All in all at the end of the day each person has to account for the untruths and misdeeds they know about but didn't reveal to whomever to keep children safe. I personally have more integrity and pride in myself than to sit idle. But the final judgment will be the worst. God doesn't like ugly and he doesn't like liars who don't protect innocent children.
DeleteThank you, Anon 12:07, for posting this perspective. It is immorral when a system is more interested in protecting itself than the children they serve. Parents and staff who step forward with truth are threatened and marginalized permanently. I sincerely hope the new administration brings some sanity back to the district and that the focus goes back to helping the kids. I do have faith in both candidates.
Delete"Fear is the tax that conscience pays to guilt" the fear of change!
ReplyDeletebarf
ReplyDeletewell let's see a 3% increase in your taxes because of the town budget, an increase in your taxes due to a school budget and an upcoming increase in your water and sewer base amount (which was stated will happen this spring/summer, at the time of the last water rate increase)
ReplyDeleteHey good luck with all that. I can only surmise that the real estate going on the market will increase unfortunately the pricing of that real estate won't since the increase in taxes will drive down any increase in value. Good luck everyone!
so $10.3 million for the town budget,$28.3 million for the school budget and another $2.5 million for us lucky people that have town water and sewer,that's a little over $40 million for the services provided to a town of 9000 residents,lets do the math.
ReplyDeletei have asked members of the select board why residents don't get to vote on the water and sewer budget,but nobody will answer me,can somebody tell the answer
cricket
Deletecricket
cricket
http://springfieldvt.blogspot.com/2012/11/opinion-tough-springfield-school-budget.html
Deletehi
ReplyDeleteTO ALL OF YOU THAT ARE CALLING MY HOME A CRACK HOME BITE ME WE DO NOT DO DRUGS, YOU HAVE THE WRONG HOUSE. GOT THAT TAKE A LOOK AT THE BUILDING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET. WE JUST MOVED IN HERE A FEW MONTHS AGO. DON'T RUN YOUR MOUTH'S ABOUT WHAT HAPPEN'S IN THIS BUILDING INTILL U ACTUALLY KNOW THE TRUTH, BYE THE SOUND'S OF IT YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THE HELL YOUR TALKING ABOUT. THANK YOU
ReplyDelete