Voters approved the $27.5 million Springfield School District budget by 175 votes Tuesday.http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20130424/NEWS02/704249864/
Voters OK Springfield school budget
By Christian Avard
Staff Writer | April 24,2013
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SPRINGFIELD — Voters approved the $27.5 million Springfield School District budget by 175 votes Tuesday.
The tally was 620-445.
School Superintendent Zach McLaughlin said he was pleased with the result and thanked voters.
“I hope this vote is a reflection of the town and they feel they can trust us on this particular issue,” McLaughlin said. “We're very appreciative of their endorsement and it now puts us in a position to begin the planning process for next year.”
The 2014 school budget is $27,534,541, which is $511,153, or 1.9 percent, more than this year's budget of $27,023,388. The amount does not include the $651,380 River Valley Tech Center obligation, which voters passed on Town Meeting Day.
The school district originally proposed a $27.7 million school budget, but voters defeated it on Town Meeting Day, 917-768. The budget committee and school administrators trimmed $384,623 from the budget but added $168,325 for a net decrease of $216,298.
The cuts include reductions in health insurance costs, $103,000; reduction in superintendent salary and benefits, $12,950; a re-classification of assistant superintendent to curriculum director, $13,057; a withdrawn sabbatical request, $43,691; federal IDEA grant for one tuition student, $42,275; Springfield High School capital projects, $20,000; and Gateway program tuition reductions, $84,350.
Consolidation of school programs were also factored into the reductions. The Early Essential Education program will move from 109 Park St. to Elm Hill Primary School and the Gateway Program will move from its Summer Street location to five first-floor classrooms at Riverside Middle School, saving the district $65,300.
The $168,325 that was added back into the budget included a Union Street Elementary School behavioral interventionist, $30,070; two out-of-district placements, $132,575; and a superintendent mentor, $5,000.
Can anyone please tell me why they had a half day today when they JUST had a week off? This is pathetic. I had to pay for a babysitter for half of the day to go pick my daughter up and watch her until I got home from work.
ReplyDeleteI am sure if you called and asked the administration they would be able to tell you...here I will even give you the phone number: 885-5141
Deleteor you could just complain about it on a blog, because that will help.
4 36 They have 1 Wed. off a month all year... Do you even know your child's name or are you that uninvolved..... its professional development and they use that time to help your kid be smart enough that later on in life they know what the hell their kids schedule consists of.
DeleteIt's only April. Give 4:36 a couple more months and they will catch on....
DeleteOur teachers need an additional Day a week of "Professional Development"? I thought they were already educated?
DeleteThe staff and faculty must have been exhausted from babysitting your daughter throughout the rest of the week, so they elected to take some well deserved time off. Gosh, I'll bet they never even considered that in doing so, childrens' parental units would actually have to assume responsibility for the care and feeding of their own children!
ReplyDeleteI think what he or she is asking is why do the educators need more time off when they just had a week off? My child told me it was a "day off" because they didn't do anything at school.
DeleteI love this blog, it is so entertaining. Get your facts together before throwing all the BS out please. If you had looked at the schedule given out to your child at the beginning of the year, you would see that this 1/2 day was already planned. I did call my child's school and they told me that the teachers didn't have "off", they all went to training that was required by the state. It's called professional development which is required for every teacher in VT by the AOE. Every district in the state has these days, so it's just not Springfield.
DeleteSpringfield has more. There are only two required by the state. These half days are not. They are union negotiated so teachers fit in their own pd time on tax dime. Pd is the teachers responsibility to keep their license. Rarely is their any other profession where you are paid to further yourself and can be moved up in pay at the end of it all, immediately and already negotiated.They only do as much pd as they do to fatten their pay, at least most. I supporter the vote, but the time off J do not.
Delete9 18 i understand you support the schools but don't type and comment, if you can't make it logical, it makes us all look bad
Delete9:24 I have a cracked keyboard and it likes to grab letters wrong and I usually type too fast to worry about fixing it. Also, just because you do not like the truth does not mean it isn't logical. It is truth. If I wish to better myself it happens on my own dime and time and I can ask for a raise when done. There is not much they can do on half days for pd as well as my children get shortened learning on these days. For what little these trainings bring back to the classroom, I feel my children are going to reap more reward from the full day in class.
DeleteWhat little the training brings back to the classroom? Your kidding right? You deserve no more response, I am done with you 9 33 go away little minion, you are boring me with numbness
DeleteMinion? Hmmm I would think so if I followed the leader maybe. Cute. You are very entertaining. I assure you, half day trainings are a joke and a union pull. They count as full days to the state so they get away with it under the 175 day calendar. You may not write anymore but I am sure I am getting a response out of you. Have a pleasant evening.
DeleteNope, actually I will respond.. Do you really thing that teacher's who spent 4+ years in school and have thousands of dollars in debt would prefer a half day of boring training vs. a full day with students they love and doing what they love, that being TEACHING.... c'mon now....
DeleteThere are some that love what they are doing. There are MANY that lost the drive and MANY that did it for a guaranteed paycheck and retirement. I know some and they have no issues publicly stating it. So I am sorry, but yes there are some that would take the training. I know many that look for the trainings and take time off for them when school is in session. Then we have sub pay and more wasted educational time. My children are fortunate. My husband and I do not merely rely on the school. We teach, we read, and we listen. For those who do not have that, these times out of class are highly detrimental.
DeleteWell, let's see for those naysayers I have seen their 1/2 day pd time they are bringing back to the classroom. One time it consisted of a pizza party for the staff. On MY DIME! But keep eluding yourself that your tax dollars are working for your kids. Hmmm I think the list of top high schools in the US just came out. I don't believe that we made that one this year. As a matter of fact NOT EVEN REMOTELY CLOSE. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/22/the-best-high-schools-2013_n_3133857.html#slide=2367422
DeleteIf you want to educate yourselves as to what your school should be preparing itself and the students for. Look and educate yourself on S.T.E.M Programs and STEM certification. Then and only then can you talk intelligently about good schools.
Got the "W" tonight behing Mr. Lester though
Delete10 06 is #indenial Why would you think a public school would make that list anyway? #wickedsmart and not worth our time
DeletePD is done during the work week because such training works better if the whole district is synced up. If teachers had to do all training on their own time (and rest assured, they do a lot of work on their own time toward relicensure) then coherence of the education received by students would suffer. Lately, there have been even greater than usual efforts to ensure that teachers are working together, not just teaching in isolation in their own classrooms but developing lesson plans and approach in cahoots with their colleagues. This can only be a good thing.
DeletePlease, if you're going to complain about babysitting, tot up the amount you'd have to spend per kid, per day - for the number of students in each classroom, parents are getting a heck of a deal on childcare that comes with a bonus education component. If you're going to compare teaching to babysitting, do the math, don't just complain about a one-off where you failed to plan for a scheduled half day.
Why couldn't this so-called "training" occur during a vacation week? And many wonder why us working stiffs that fund this rat hole have no respect for the school system.
ReplyDeleteDo they trainings at your job take place during your vacations?
DeleteI have had to go in multiple times on my day off for a training.
DeleteMachinist, really? next time you take a vacation I would be glad to take 4 hours out of your well deserved time off and train you on not being an idiot.
DeleteMost people don't have summers off, then 2 weeks for Christmas, a week off during the month of February then another week in April and every holiday on the calender. In total they only work 175 days a year. If you take 2 weeks a year for vacation (like most people) you still work 250 days a year! Why the hell don't they schedule these 'In service' days during all that time off they have??? This is redick! Then they complain they are not getting paid enough... Thanks Union!
Delete11:01 most people choose not to be teachers.
DeleteI would love the schedule of a teacher, but I can't stand kids and want to make more than a teacher will make, so instead I work 40 hours a week for 50 weeks a year making considerably more money than a teacher.
Teachers do have a great schedule, when it comes to summers off... Yet imagine working, no not just working, but dedicating your life to a profession, for 30 years, after going to college for over 6 years to earn a Bachelor's and Master's degree, (and taking classes consistently over the years after that), and never making more than $60,000 before you retire. For the amount of education, and time, and dedication to children and higher learning a teacher puts into their "job," they deserve the summers off.
Delete$60,000 might sound like a whole lot to people who didn't go to college, or have menial labor jobs because they chose that line of work, but other professionals make far above $60,000 by the end of their career, and possibly hit that by year 5-10 in their job.
Maybe look at how much we pay the administrators in our town, and look at their credentials and education and experience and then start asking questions about what is deserved and how 'easy' classroom teachers have it. Please.
If the teachers work an extra day outside of the 185 school days required by law, they must get paid extra. And since there is no extra money, they have half day in-service at no extra cost. So they are actually saving money by not working during vacations.
ReplyDeleteTheir pd should not be paid for by anyone but themselves like any other profession. Also the law does not require that pay above 185 days must occur. The union enacts that crap.
Deleteare you related to comma?
DeleteOnce again the residents of Springfield have laid down on their bellies, elevated their anuses and begged to be abused. That is about 50 years in a row without resisting the attacks.
ReplyDeleteEverybody, I dare you.... Let's all talk about something completely off topic from now on, on this blog and make it irrelevant as people who move to town google search Springfield and this blog pops up on the search engine inquiry list and makes us all look moronic. The less controversy, the less complaining and fighting on here the more positive our town looks for people taking a quick look on "what's going on". I know it may take a while but no negativity is good press. Let's be positive and highlight the goods (not many goods now, but they will come!), we all know Springfield needs it these days and if you live here you are doing yourself a disservice by not agreeing with me. So, on that note for every thing mr. blogger puts on here that will breed negativity talk about something random and off topic,so, HOW ABOUT THEM SOX?!?
ReplyDeleteI think they were in first even after the spanking they took.
DeleteBig "w" tonight though!
DeletePlease retitle this story "Teachers on the Defensive". You certainly can count on the teachers jumping on and defending themselves, not that they shouldn't. I just wish they would see both sides of a argument. Keep in mind that most folks (that work) are on the job 250 days plus every year so they tend to have a hard time understanding or even accepting a teachers schedule. Let's compare my two weeks of vacation to, how many a teacher has. By the way I have a MBA so don't even begin to tell me about how valuable and the cost of your education. But then again this is what our country has come to over the past 12 years, pretty said.
ReplyDeleteNed and his psychic skills has everyone pegged. Maybe he got that with his mighty MBA so he knows better than the rest of us.
DeleteNed, it sounds like you wasted your time and money pursuing an MBA, if what you were after were days off, you should have become a teacher.
ReplyDeletePeople have the free will to pursue any profession they would like, some offer benefits that others professions don't. Some jobs offer salaries higher than others, some have perks like health insurance, bonuses, use of a company car, etc.
If you are jealous of a teacher's "vacation" time, benefits, or salary, why not become a teacher?
What people forget is that they are free to pursue anything they would like. It is much easier to say I hate what you have than to say, if I want that I should go get it.
That's it? Only two teachers replied! Come on now you can get more of your friends to try and be clever, can't you? Of course you managed to miss the point, what a surprise. I guess my "mighty" MBA is well above your teaching degree, which then makes me a target also. Gosh, seems you can't be smart or stupid in this town. Would it help if I told you I was a liberal? How many people forgot that they are free to pursue anything they would like? Raise of hands please. Hopefully they were or are taught that. Keep in mind that some things you are "free" to pursue can land you in jail. So let us add pursue legally.
ReplyDeleteTeachers don't get paid for their "vacation" like you do Ned. Teachers only get paid for 185 days, all you have to do is read the budget report!
ReplyDeleteI dont think a teacher wants to open the days worked for the salary paid arguement.I also dont want to hear what they spend out of their pocket for supplies.
DeleteI also dont want to hear about extra time spent after school.Those are personal choices they make.
No different than the rest of who volunteer.
If they start whining I say go get a job in the private sector .
By the way , notice Chuck has quit commenting under his name and is commenting under anonymous now?
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha. Percentages and averages. IF you make 40,000 dollars per year, it's 40,000 per year no matter how you pay it out. I own my own business so I don't get paid vacations like you do or my employees. (Side note I'm not in Springfield either but close enough) So should we understand that you did not get paid for Spring Break, Christmas Week, Winter Break, etc? Or would that all fall under your benefit package? FYI, I support teachers but love a good debate. I have to support teachers, my Mother taught for 30 years, my two sister both teach now (in another State) and I have a nephew that is a college professor. We just love family Holiday gatherings! As I say to them, don't cry the blues to me when the public is asking questions, you work for the public! Glad you have time during class to monitor this blog.
ReplyDeleteTeachers should work 250 plus days a year for their salary(like the rest of the world) and receive the same amount of vacation most people receive (2 - 3 weeks a year). When school isn't in session, they can do what ever development tainings they feel.
ReplyDeleteCEOs should cap there pay at 100k per year (like the rest of the world) and receive the same retirement packages most people get .
DeleteIt's pretty sad that our educators are actually acknowledging these posts and trying to respond to them,,, like they think they are going to make a difference...teachers of Springfield, come on really???,,,have some pride and societal/internet comprehension. Be the educated ones....I shake my head is disgust just wondering how many of our teachers are responding in this unjust, entertaining, inaccurate and ignorant blog...
ReplyDeleteAt best,,,this site is pure entertainment. Like the news. It's a cover, a form of entertainment to keep the truth from the people who can't handle it.
Are these really teachers responding, I would bet not!
ReplyDeleteum ok in response to:
ReplyDeleteAnonymous4/24/13, 10:10 PM
10 06 is #indenial Why would you think a public school would make that list anyway? #wickedsmart and not worth our time
In case you couldn't read the article lists the TOP PUBLIC schools. WOW no wonder the system around here works the way it does. These people are two bricks shy of a full load geesh!
For those interested in the relationship between academic achievement and community income, I researched the median income of the cities in the HuffPo article and came up with this:
ReplyDeleteSchool/ City/ Median Income (half the population earns less than that)/ per pupil cost (all average for state, except Springfield)
I did not bother with average pupil cost for most of the cities with a median income higher than Springfield's.
High Tech High School, Lincroft, NJ $122,680
International School, Bellevue, Washington $82,408
thomas Jefferson, Alexandria, Virginia $77,095
Scottsdale Arizona $71,658
Osprey, Florida $64,467
Biotech High, Freehold, New Jersey $55,877
Pacific Collegiate, Santa Cruz, CA $54,508
Lawrenceville, Georgia $43,744
Loveless Academic Magnet, Montgomery, Alabama $40,568
Ima Lemma Rangel, Dallas-- $39,829
School for the Talented and Gifted, Dallas Texas-- $39,829
Academic Magnet, N. Charleston, SC $36,942
BASIS,Tucson, Arizona $35,565 / $6,170-- Charter School
SPRINGFIELD VERMONT $32,892 / $13,879-- not a magnet school
International Studies Charter School, Miami $28,999 / $8,195 -- formed by Italian, French and Spanish embassies-- limited enrollment
School of Science and Math, Limestone, Maine $28,552/ $7557-- magnet school
Notice that of the two communities with lower median income than Springfield's, one school is truly international and the other is a magnet school.
I would also point out that only Springfield's per pupil cost is particular; the others are state averages. I have not bothered to research educational rankings by state.
I dont think a teacher wants to open the days worked for the salary paid arguement.I also dont want to hear what they spend out of their pocket for supplies.
ReplyDeleteI also dont want to hear about extra time spent after school.Those are personal choices they make.
No different than the rest of who volunteer.
If they start whining I say go get a job in the private sector .
(Above copied from earlier post above)
I think what Chuck is trying to say is that with proper guidance our schools could be a LOT better with less money spent?