The following are the results from today's Springfield School District Budget vote, May 8th, 2012.
800 voted YES
515 voted NO
Voter turnout was lighter than the March vote, with the weather likely being a factor. (Light to moderate rain all day with temperatures in the 50s.) On Town Meeting Day, 2,009 voted on the first 2012 School Budget, defeating it by just 31 votes.
Voter turnout has been light..put your money where your mouth is. Every vote counts. Let's get out there and VOTE NO and get these schools on a path to reform! We need those NO VOTES.
ReplyDeleteRemember your neighbor, your friend and all those teachers are not going to pay your tax bill as much as we like them the bottom line is YOU will pay the bill! Remember that...and nobody needs to know what your vote was. You won't face public harassment or scorn. VOTE WITH YOUR WALLET!
It passed.
ReplyDeleteI told you it gets passed evey year, with just a little resistance.
DeleteGuess this useless ANONYMOUS-VILLE rag is asleep at the wheel with results. Probably throwing a few back at the HOLE as usual.
ReplyDeleteThe MAIN person that needs to be held accountable is the administrator of this VILE blog - nothing but negativity and anti-Springfield sputum!
If you want to do some GOOD Mr Blogerator.....MAKE PEOPLE REGISTER THEIR EMAIL ADDRESSES AS ALL LEGITIMATE NEWS BLOGS DO!
Let's see how long it takes this post to disappear!
Anonymous writes: "If you want to do some GOOD Mr Blogerator.....MAKE PEOPLE REGISTER THEIR EMAIL ADDRESSES AS ALL LEGITIMATE NEWS BLOGS DO!"
DeleteYour hypocrisy is astounding!
so says anonymous...
ReplyDeleteI ASSURE you now that the budget has been passed Dr. Perotti will be put back into office. Mark my words. They did the bait and switch tactic. They said that he will not be asked to come back or however they worded it to get people that didn't like him to vote yes. I guarantee that by the end of the year he will be back.
ReplyDeleteI ASSURE you now that the budget has been passed Dr. Perotti will not be put back into office. Mark my words.
DeleteMark my words? Hahaha. You crack me up!!! Perotti is gone. I must admit it is a nice conspiracy theory. Do you know who the 2nd shooter on the grassy knoll was?
DeleteI can hear it now, after a lengthy search for Mr. Perotti's replacement we were unable to find a suitable candidate. At this time the board has decided to extend Mr. Perotti's contract until a suitable replacement can be found.
DeleteIt's time people come together. We could argue until the end of time....
DeleteThe next big move is people who are interested in finding someone, someone who is; innovative, young, and has a vision to help this school district and help this town. Please look into the future and not the past, we all need to dream big and live the dream!
I agree with Nicholas Matush, now that we have a budget passed, its time to start working on meaningful innovative reform in order to bring down the drop-out rate and increase the number of students going on to either technical school or college upon graduation. This will not only require some innovative thinking, but a need for more of a post-secondary presence in Springfield and better and more aggressive efforts of the weak post-secondary presence we currently have. But passage of the budget was a necessary first step -- congratulations to all those who worked and fought to get it passed!!
DeleteYour post reminds me of Custer a few years before the Little Big Horn. He went buffalo hunting by himself, and while chasing a buffalo with his pistol in hand, managed to shoot his horse behind her ear. He was alone on the prarie without a horse for three days. He knew it was time for innovative thinking!
DeleteWe have lost 14 of our teaching staff and the cheerleaders on this blog are talking about innovative thinking to improve our drop out rate etc.. You people would cut a leg off a horse and expect him to compete in the Kentucky Derby! Springfield has a high dropout rate and low test scores. I am waiting to hear how anyone thinks getting rid of 14 teaching staff will do anything but lower test scores etc..
Springfield will do what it has done for years: drift inexorbly downstream, steaming like the social sewer of Southern Vermont. It is a tragedy, a betrayal of the generations who built this community.
We welcome people from the interstate with a correctional center and a sewage treatment plant. In a little while we will offer the exhaust of a large wood fired generator plant in North Springfield. We have no money in our town budget for paving. We have little respect for teachers and fail to support adequate school budgets. What family in its right mind would settle here? What do you think would attract young dynamic people to Springfield? It's school system? It's night life?
What Springfield needs to do is build more low income and subsidized housing units, to prepare to house the dropouts and poor achievers our schools will generate. You don't think they are going to leave town, just blow away like smoke from a chip plant, do you?
The District might be able to sell both Park Street School and East School to a developer for construction of subsidized housing units. The Town could throw in the old Bryant factory, and perhaps a hundred new families will move here!
Mr. Coughlin,
DeleteI appreciate your input and observations of Town matters as a whole. Some I agree with....other not so much. But regardless, thanks for offering your opinions. I just wish (hope) others do as you have done and attend School Board meetings and ask the questions. Maybe then we can end the 'Rumor Mill' that this Town has become.
Again, thank you.
Now......why would Custer be hunting buffalo with a pistol? Maybe because he ranked DEAD LAST in his class at West Point. :)
Well put Chris, I just wish that there was someone out there to hear you.
DeleteI guess I don't have to ask what 'DB' stands for. :)
ReplyDeletelol....
DeleteI don't get it. What does DB stand for?
Deletedouche bag you stupid douche bag
DeleteIt passed by nearly 300 votes out of 1300.
ReplyDeleteNice Job Springfield, this is a good start.
Virtual landslide for Springfield kids and their futures.
ReplyDeleteProud to live in Springfield where citizens LOOK FORWARD!
So glad it passed!
ReplyDeleteVery strange to me that people still think that voting "no" will lower our taxes. The state foots most of the bill!
Any reduction in our tax rate amounts to pennies at best, while the budget cuts cost human beings their jobs.
The state does not foot most of the bill, there is no such thing as free money. If the State is footing the bill then they are getting it through lotteries, state income tax and other taxes.
DeleteIt won't lower the taxes but voting "yes" will raise them.
DeleteAre you even serious?
True there is no such thing as free money, however, the income tax is a more progressive tax than the real estate tax so it is a fairer tax. Since Springfield is not as affluent as other parts of the State, it means that we are receiving out of District funds. Which is fair because the educational cost of educating children from below the poverty line homes is, on average, much more expensive than educating children from middle-class homes.
DeleteI had an eye-opening experience at the voting polls yesterday. I was standing behind 2 individuals and here was their conversation: "What are we voting for today? The school budget. Oh. How should I vote? Just vote yes." Just goes to show how people really don't think before they cast that vote. Regardless, the outcome is what it is and it will continue like this forever. They'll submit a budget, the town's folk will vote it down, and then they'll keep coming back until it is passed. I wish politics was like this. "Hey, I didn't want that candidate to win. Let's have a re-vote until I get what I want." Pathetic!
ReplyDeleteHear hear!!
Deleteonly 1315 total votes???? another sad day in springfield......
ReplyDeleteDebbie downer aren't ya, finding the negativity in everything. For once let's try this... celebrate a victory for the town and act positively towards our future, come on people...
DeletePersonally, I think the only reason the first budget failed was that the budget vote was on the same day as the GOP Primary. Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that would be bad news for education or any other community minded proposition.
DeletePropaganda Aethelred.
DeleteNo Roger, just simple facts. There was a huge Republican turnout because of the Republican primary, the Democrats had no similar draw to the election. Result, budget failed by a slim margin. Second try, nothing to inspire the Tea Party types out to vote -- budget passes by substantial margin.
DeleteAethelred, that first vote on the budget might indicate a lot of Springfield Republicans were in favor of it! Just not enough of them...
DeleteYeah, Chuck, possibly, but not likely. Although most Vermont Republicans are moderates, but the primary also brought out the Republican wingnuts in a dispropotionate numbers and the TeaParty types are pretty much known for this "no" voting stuff and illogical positions...like defeating the budget improves the educational experience, etc.
DeleteI agree with Anonymous 7:21, 1300 votes decide the future of a town of 9000+
ReplyDeleteThat is probably more than the actual people who decide the future of such a town.
DeleteA vast majority of those votes were school and aux. staff. However-Do a search for the Brattleboro District vote. I think it is something like 2 percent of the entire population votes. It was a staggeringly low number primarily made up of the school staff. I was blown away at their lack of voting. So at least we have people coming out which is a far cry from other years and other towns.
ReplyDeleteBut I also noticed that Bratts budget is 27 mil and they have like a dozen schools to fund which was also interesting but I digress.
Anyone who doesn't pay taxes should not be allowed to vote.
ReplyDeleteNow you are just talking silly talk! People really should say the words they type out loud before typing them to see how ridiculous they actually sound!
DeleteLOL! get it!.....anyone?....Bueller....
Deleteto Anon 3:54pm.
DeleteI whole heartedly agree with you. People who don't pay taxes get to vote on how the very same taxes are used. Really?
That is like my neighbors having a vote on where my family goes on vacation or what kind of car we should buy. My money, their choice on how I have to spend it.
DB, let's face it, you are unhappy with your current local, state, and national government. What I would suggest is that you pack up, move, to somewhere such as Norway, Denmark, or Sweden. No wait that won't work for you. Hmmm, Cuba, China, or Russia, nope, that wont satisfy you either.
DeleteI got it, you should really move to Afghanistan or Iraq, I am fairly confident you can do whatever you want with your money there.
So you don't care how your hard earned money is spent? Ohh wait...you are probably a non tax paying parasite like most of this town.
DeleteI want what is best for my family and I, just like you should. I EARN my money, pay my taxes keep my mortage (not rent) paid in full. All I ask in return is that the town does something good with MY money.
I don't like that someone who doesn't even pay taxes have a say in what my money does.
Think about it like this, your family is thinking about buying a new car, your neighbor, (who won't pay for it) picks the car out for you. They choose the color, the brand, the model and even if you should lease of finance it. How is that fair? Seriously I'd like to know what your thoughts are on this..
I pay income taxes and sales tax does that count dbag
DeleteDB, here is a scenario for you...A marine returns from serving in afghanistan and has completed his service to our country. He begins to look for a job in Springfield, but is unable to find work to afford the purchase of a home. So instead he rents an apartment, because he does not want to live with his parents.
DeleteAccording to your beliefs:
Town meeting day comes. Our young marine, having served three tours in Afghanistan and one in Iraq is unable to vote, because he does not own property.
Wicked cool man, wicked cool.
I dont think stay at home moms should vote, they pay no income taxes...
DB has a point, why should people who don't pay taxes have a say?
DeleteI don't think he/she is talking about property taxes. I believe they are saying taxes in general. People who refuse to work, people who choose not to earn money.
I live in an apartment because I can't afford to buy a house...yet. I am EARNING money to buy a home.
Keep drinking that kool aid.
DeleteDid I say property taxes? I said taxes in general. I am former military and I was in that VERY situation.
I am talking about people who refuse to work because they have chronic hang nails.
People who think that it is a good idea to have another kid for the tax credit but won't work to support that very kid.
People who leach the system and walk around with their hands out asking "what can you do for me because I wont do it for myself"
Before you put any more words in my mouth, my wife IS a stay at home mom, however she watches other kids to earn money, she pays taxes on what she earns. I work 2 jobs to make ends meet. I do what I have to for myself and my family so they have a roof over their heads and food in their stomachs.
It pi$$es me off to see people who are perfectly capable of working, however, refuse to because they make more money staying at home. Those are the kind of people that shouldn't have a vote. They should also pass a urine test before getting that monthly check.
People who send there children to private school should not have to pay for public schools.
ReplyDeleteActually, if the government was truly serious about improving public schools, they would require all parents to send their kids to public schools and it would be amazing how fast the schools would improve.
DeleteI think both suggestions would quickly improve the public school system.
DeleteOne is more capitalism, the other more socialism/communism.
No don't think so, if you in essence give the middle class a tax exemption for sending their children to private schools, and if they have access to a good private school then who remains in the public school are a higher percentage of children from less enriched backgrounds, special ed children, and ODP, so the public school go into an accelerated downward spiral.
DeleteWhy would you send your kid to private schools, half the time by need more classes just to get in college because they don't go to awesome private schools good enough to make a dofference
ReplyDeleteWell, there's a good example ^^^^^^^^^^
DeleteAnonymous 7:53 PM. Do you actually read what you write before you hit the publish button? or was that written to be intentionally illiterate?
Deletelooks like auto correct/cell phone typing to me
ReplyDeleteHoly crap!!!
ReplyDelete