SlideShare ist ein Scribd-Unternehmen logo
1 von 32
Downloaden Sie, um offline zu lesen
Can Cheshire Afford
NOT to Responsibly Fund
  Its School Budget?

 Protect Our Two Largest Investments:
Our Children & Our Real Estate Values
Cheshire

                       #3
      in Education
   Connecticut towns sized
    25,000-50,000 people
Harriman Real Estate on November 19, 2009 Connecticut Magazine
The Effect of a Good Cheshire School
        System on the Town
  A great school system is the foundation of
  Cheshire’s real-estate values
  Cheshire ranked in the top 100 in the best towns to
  live in the United States. (CNN Money, August 2009)
  A town resident said he paid $50,000 more for his
  house to live in Cheshire for the school system (Board
  of Education minutes, February 8, 2010)
How Successful Is Our K-12
              Program?
   SAT Scores       Cheshire    State Average   Difference


     MATH             549            504          +8%
                    (#26/166)
  READING             531            502          +5%
                    (#36/166)

   WRITING            527            503         +4.5%


CMT & CAPT Scores: Among the top 20 of 166 Statewide Districts
How Your Child’s Education
            Funding Compares
“ The state average for spending was $13,118 per student
  compared to Cheshire’s average of $11,553 per student”.            Dr. Florio
  BOE Minutes, 01/07/10


       Your child is allocated $1,565 Less than the State Average.
       Cheshire ranks 143th of 166 towns in Per Pupil Spending
       Cheshire ranks in the top 13% of towns in “Ability to Pay”


“ Cheshire schools are efficient and productive.
  It shows we are lean and effective. It also means there
  is little room to reduce without impacting quality…”
 Dr. Florio, BOE Minutes, 01/14/10
Your Child’s Education Funding
     is Already a Good Deal

With 4850 students (projected figure
for 2010-11) Cheshire spends about
$7.6 million per year less than
the State average.
What Does it Mean to
    Responsibly Fund Education?

“ It is our responsibility to make sure that the
  programs and services are in place to assure
  that every student will be successful …”
  Dr. Greg Florio, BOE minutes of 1/7/10
2009-2010 Teacher Salaries Impact
Town Council/Board of Education: Teachers receive a
4.4% increase.
 Reality:
       Near zero increase (+0. 4 %) in money spent on
    teacher salaries with the newly negotiated contract in place.
            1. When one teacher retires, there is a 50% decrease in salary
               when replaced with a new teacher.
            2. When one teacher retires, there is a 100% decrease in salary
               when NOT replaced with a new teacher.
            3. Increased expenses were offset by attrition, retirements,
               or un-replaced positions
2010-2011 Original Budget Proposal

“This budget recommendation does not restore
any of the almost seventeen teaching positions
that were reduced in the 2009/10 budget, any
support staff who were eliminated, or replenish
accounts for supplies, materials and equipment
that were cut”.

Dr. Greg Florio’s presentation to the BOE 1/7/10
2010-2011 Original Budget Proposal

“ …it was also evident that prudent management
 during the “best of times” has placed Cheshire
 in a stronger position than most municipalities
 to weather the fiscal storm we face… Cheshire is
 well positioned to provide sound levels of service
 to its students and residents”
  Dr. Greg Florio’s presentation to the BOE 1/7/10
2010-2011 Proposed Education Budget

…“The recommended budget requests funds
to support contracted increases for employees,
services and special education. The budget
maintains funding levels in most accounts at
current levels, but reduces funding in several,
such as supplies and textbooks.”

Dr. Greg Florio’s presentation to the BOE 1/7/10
Why Cut The
 Education
Budget in the
 First Place?
Why Cut $650,000?

“…Mr. Sobol said he would not support this
Motion [$650,000 cut] because it will
eviscerate the school system and in addition,
he would like to know where the $650,000
comes from. He said he cannot support this
process any longer either and thinks the
budget process is broken”
Minutes of BOE February 4, 2010
Why Cut $650,000?
“Mr. Massey reviewed the Board’s duties per
state statute, noting that the Board shall
maintain ‘good’ public elementary and
secondary schools…He doesn’t know if we
are ‘good’ with that many staff
reductions…He feels it would put the Board
in a place where they are not doing their legal
job.”
Minutes from BOE meeting, 02/08/2010
Why Cut $650,000?

 “Mr. Mrowka already said that this is a bare-
  boned budget without further reductions.”
Minutes from BOE meeting, 02/08/2010
Why Cut $650,000?

“That motion proposed a $650,000 reduction
to Florio's budget, …was based on the
assumption of union concessions.”
Cheshire Herald, February 15, 2010
Impact of Budget Cuts
“Further staffing reductions would or require
wholesale changes, and / devastate class sizes or
the elimination of programs. Options would have to
include programmatic reduction such as:
 Academically Gifted program
 reductions in the instrumental music program
 elimination of electives at Cheshire High School in
departments such as Business or Technology
Education
 reductions to support service areas including
guidance or other counseling services. (continued)
Dr. Greg Florio’s Budget Proposal to B.O.E. 1/07/10
Impact of the Budget Cuts

“…None of these options are good ones, nor
does a community that has high expectations
for its school and its students desire them.”

Dr. Greg Florio’s Budget Proposal to B.O.E. 1/07/10
What Happened?

On a 4-3 vote,
 the BOE
cut $950,000.
Shared Sacrifice
Teachers agreed to:
   the Board of Education’s 3 year contract
  term
   an increased percent share of health
  insurance premiums
   increased co-pays
   higher deductibles
   higher prescription drug costs
Neither the teachers nor the Board
pursued binding arbitration
Shared Sacrifice

“The BOE has done a good diligence to get
this negotiated number [insurance premium]
up high. Cheshire teachers are paying the
highest percentage across the State.”

Town Council minutes, 02/24/2009
Shared Sacrifice

Shelton’s teacher union offered a full day and a
half of pay as a “loan”.
  “Walsh (BOE chair for Shelton) expressed
  deep gratitude to all the unions who worked
  with the board in helping resolve the current
  deficit, without slashing people’s jobs.”-New
  Haven Register, December 22, 2009
Shared Sacrifice
Cheshire teachers offered three days of pay as an
interest -free “loan” to the Board of Education.
  “This isn’t shared sacrifice,” he [Brittingham]
  said “Deferments? That’s not sacrifice. That’s
  an insult to taxpayers.”- Meriden Record Journal,
  March 10, 2010
Cheshire teachers are also considering an
alternative healthcare benefit plan to reduce
costs
As the Budget Stands Now
“Milone said last year’s budget increase was
 the lowest in the past 20 years, and this
 year’s increase represents the second
 lowest increase.” Cheshire Herald, March 11, 2010

 “Milone explained that there would be between
 *$5.9 and $6.4 million in reserve accounts, as well
 as **$8.6 million in the Rainy Day Fund”.
 *Cheshire Herald, December 17, 2009, ** Cheshire Herald, March 11, 2010
What Now?
Council budget Committee Chairman David Schrumm,
…said he anticipates reducing the final education budget”.
Record Journal 03/15/10

[BOE Chairman] “Brittingham said he had been told by
Councilman David Schrumm…that the board would get a
zero increase or close to it”…In a worst case scenario
“Brittingham said school officials will be forced to consider
a series of drastic budget cuts…Among the options…are:
      Closing of Chapman elementary school
      Elimination of department heads
      25% reduction in positions with a stipend (e.g. coaching, club & class advisors)
      20% budget cut for all extra-curricular activities (e.g. athletics, band)
New Haven Register 03/15/10
As the Budget Stands Now
Using Mr. Milone’s figures (Cheshire Herald, March
11, 2010), if the BOE’S budget proposal were to
be adopted, the average tax increase/household
would be:
                  $158 a year
               HOWEVER IF
The Town Council restored $475K of the BOE’s
$950K reduction they could use 5.5% of the money
from the Rainy Day Fund. This would mean the
average tax increase/household would be about:
                 $4 more/month
What Now?
“In ten years, never once has a budget come
back from the Town Council uncut.”
Kathy Hellreich, former BOE member, Minutes from BOE meeting,
02/08/2010

“…According to CABE, the Board’s role is
‘adopting, advocating for, and overseeing a
school budget which is responsive to the
district goals and meets the needs of all
students.’”
Tom Scarice [Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction,
Weston Public Schools] and resident of Cheshire, Minutes from BOE meeting,
02/08/2010
What Now?
“…People should be told about the budget, the
  mill rate, and be honest about what services will
  be cut…This should be done outside of the budget
  process, and on an ongoing basis…”.
   Justin Adinolfi, Town Councilor & Member of the Board of Directors
  for Cheshire Education Fund, Town Council minutes March 18th, 2010
“ …the CRRA contract expires in June 2010, and
  Cheshire will receive its distribution of $3.5 to
  4.5 million from the reserve account. The Town
  Council will decide on how to use these funds when
   it comes in next fiscal year”.
 Michael Milone, Town Council minutes March 18th, 2010
#3
                 in Education
            Connecticut towns sized
             25,000-50,000 people
Harriman Real Estate on November 19, 2009 Connecticut Magazine




Where will we rank
   next year?
What Now?
“ It solves no problems to exclude parents and the
  public from important decisions about
  education policy or to disregard the educators
  who work with students daily. Public education
   is a vital institution in our democratic society,
   and its governance must be democratic, open to
   public discussion and public participation”

Diane Ravitch, The Death and Life of the Great American School System
Questions to Ask Your Elected Officials
1. What are the legitimate and ethical reasons for reducing
   Dr. Florio’s proposed 2010-2011 Budget proposal?

2. How can we balance budgetary demands with the
  needs of responsibly funding our educational programs?

3. What are the long term effects of our town’s
   present philosophy & rationale for funding education?

4. What are the long-term effects of the proposed
   budget cut to our two greatest investments:
   our children’s future & the value of our real estate?
What Can We Do?
 This is YOUR town, YOUR School system,
            YOUR tax dollars

YOU deserve ANSWERS not rhetoric and hyperbole

   Please join us in requesting our elected officials to
               DO THE RIGHT THING

          Tell Our Elected Officials to
     Responsibly Fund Our School Programs

Weitere ähnliche Inhalte

Andere mochten auch

On the path from Open Access to Open Education
On the path from Open Access to Open EducationOn the path from Open Access to Open Education
On the path from Open Access to Open EducationSvetlana Hrabinova
 
Using Picturebooks to Expand Perception
Using Picturebooks to Expand PerceptionUsing Picturebooks to Expand Perception
Using Picturebooks to Expand PerceptionMissHayleyMac
 
Selected Projects
Selected ProjectsSelected Projects
Selected Projectssweig
 
Youth Villages: 15 years of in-home success
Youth Villages: 15 years of in-home successYouth Villages: 15 years of in-home success
Youth Villages: 15 years of in-home successYouth Villages
 
Uno sguardo a CQRS ed EventSourcing
Uno sguardo a CQRS ed EventSourcingUno sguardo a CQRS ed EventSourcing
Uno sguardo a CQRS ed EventSourcingAlessandro Melchiori
 
Come ti "pusho" il web con WebSockets: da 0 a SignalR
Come ti "pusho" il web con WebSockets: da 0 a SignalR Come ti "pusho" il web con WebSockets: da 0 a SignalR
Come ti "pusho" il web con WebSockets: da 0 a SignalR Alessandro Melchiori
 

Andere mochten auch (9)

On the path from Open Access to Open Education
On the path from Open Access to Open EducationOn the path from Open Access to Open Education
On the path from Open Access to Open Education
 
Using Picturebooks to Expand Perception
Using Picturebooks to Expand PerceptionUsing Picturebooks to Expand Perception
Using Picturebooks to Expand Perception
 
Selected Projects
Selected ProjectsSelected Projects
Selected Projects
 
Roslyn un compiltaore per amico
Roslyn   un compiltaore per amicoRoslyn   un compiltaore per amico
Roslyn un compiltaore per amico
 
Youth Villages: 15 years of in-home success
Youth Villages: 15 years of in-home successYouth Villages: 15 years of in-home success
Youth Villages: 15 years of in-home success
 
Uno sguardo a CQRS ed EventSourcing
Uno sguardo a CQRS ed EventSourcingUno sguardo a CQRS ed EventSourcing
Uno sguardo a CQRS ed EventSourcing
 
MongoDb and Windows Azure
MongoDb and Windows AzureMongoDb and Windows Azure
MongoDb and Windows Azure
 
Docker & azure
Docker & azureDocker & azure
Docker & azure
 
Come ti "pusho" il web con WebSockets: da 0 a SignalR
Come ti "pusho" il web con WebSockets: da 0 a SignalR Come ti "pusho" il web con WebSockets: da 0 a SignalR
Come ti "pusho" il web con WebSockets: da 0 a SignalR
 

Ähnlich wie Citizens Alliance For Responsible Education

F L A G S Presentation 2 24 10
F L A G S  Presentation 2 24 10F L A G S  Presentation 2 24 10
F L A G S Presentation 2 24 10Fairfax Flags
 
Budget Cutbacks You are the budget director for small school d.docx
Budget Cutbacks You are the budget director for small school d.docxBudget Cutbacks You are the budget director for small school d.docx
Budget Cutbacks You are the budget director for small school d.docxcurwenmichaela
 
College Costs
College CostsCollege Costs
College Costsjlanphere
 
State Budget Cuts
State Budget CutsState Budget Cuts
State Budget Cutskjhatzi
 
1. You are the budget director for small school district that has a
1. You are the budget director for small school district that has a 1. You are the budget director for small school district that has a
1. You are the budget director for small school district that has a careyshaunda
 
Advocating for Resources to Support Youth Mentoring
Advocating for Resources to Support Youth MentoringAdvocating for Resources to Support Youth Mentoring
Advocating for Resources to Support Youth MentoringMass Mentoring
 
Finance And Budget Text Questions Essay
Finance And Budget Text Questions EssayFinance And Budget Text Questions Essay
Finance And Budget Text Questions EssayKate Subramanian
 
2010-2011 Budget Presentation
2010-2011 Budget Presentation2010-2011 Budget Presentation
2010-2011 Budget PresentationDoug
 
Beyond The Numbers
Beyond The NumbersBeyond The Numbers
Beyond The NumbersGROTONCS
 
What Are The Divisions In The City Of Bend, Oregon Government
What Are The Divisions In The City Of Bend, Oregon GovernmentWhat Are The Divisions In The City Of Bend, Oregon Government
What Are The Divisions In The City Of Bend, Oregon GovernmentTammy Lacy
 
32910 Budget
32910 Budget32910 Budget
32910 Budgetaldtucker
 
Vote Yes for Tipp City Schools 2012
Vote Yes for Tipp City Schools 2012Vote Yes for Tipp City Schools 2012
Vote Yes for Tipp City Schools 2012Michael McDermott
 

Ähnlich wie Citizens Alliance For Responsible Education (20)

F L A G S Presentation 2 24 10
F L A G S  Presentation 2 24 10F L A G S  Presentation 2 24 10
F L A G S Presentation 2 24 10
 
Legislative Session 81
Legislative Session 81Legislative Session 81
Legislative Session 81
 
Budget Cutbacks You are the budget director for small school d.docx
Budget Cutbacks You are the budget director for small school d.docxBudget Cutbacks You are the budget director for small school d.docx
Budget Cutbacks You are the budget director for small school d.docx
 
Blog budget presentation
Blog budget presentationBlog budget presentation
Blog budget presentation
 
College Costs
College CostsCollege Costs
College Costs
 
State Budget Cuts
State Budget CutsState Budget Cuts
State Budget Cuts
 
1. You are the budget director for small school district that has a
1. You are the budget director for small school district that has a 1. You are the budget director for small school district that has a
1. You are the budget director for small school district that has a
 
Advocating for Resources to Support Youth Mentoring
Advocating for Resources to Support Youth MentoringAdvocating for Resources to Support Youth Mentoring
Advocating for Resources to Support Youth Mentoring
 
Finance And Budget Text Questions Essay
Finance And Budget Text Questions EssayFinance And Budget Text Questions Essay
Finance And Budget Text Questions Essay
 
2010-2011 Budget Presentation
2010-2011 Budget Presentation2010-2011 Budget Presentation
2010-2011 Budget Presentation
 
Beyond The Numbers
Beyond The NumbersBeyond The Numbers
Beyond The Numbers
 
Superintendent's Bulletin 10 09 09
Superintendent's Bulletin 10 09 09Superintendent's Bulletin 10 09 09
Superintendent's Bulletin 10 09 09
 
What Are The Divisions In The City Of Bend, Oregon Government
What Are The Divisions In The City Of Bend, Oregon GovernmentWhat Are The Divisions In The City Of Bend, Oregon Government
What Are The Divisions In The City Of Bend, Oregon Government
 
Texas education
Texas educationTexas education
Texas education
 
Richard Pembroke Testimony 012315
Richard Pembroke Testimony 012315Richard Pembroke Testimony 012315
Richard Pembroke Testimony 012315
 
Budget Cuts In Schools
Budget Cuts In SchoolsBudget Cuts In Schools
Budget Cuts In Schools
 
Town Hall-Jan 12, 2011
Town Hall-Jan 12, 2011Town Hall-Jan 12, 2011
Town Hall-Jan 12, 2011
 
32910
3291032910
32910
 
32910 Budget
32910 Budget32910 Budget
32910 Budget
 
Vote Yes for Tipp City Schools 2012
Vote Yes for Tipp City Schools 2012Vote Yes for Tipp City Schools 2012
Vote Yes for Tipp City Schools 2012
 

Citizens Alliance For Responsible Education

  • 1. Can Cheshire Afford NOT to Responsibly Fund Its School Budget? Protect Our Two Largest Investments: Our Children & Our Real Estate Values
  • 2. Cheshire #3 in Education Connecticut towns sized 25,000-50,000 people Harriman Real Estate on November 19, 2009 Connecticut Magazine
  • 3. The Effect of a Good Cheshire School System on the Town A great school system is the foundation of Cheshire’s real-estate values Cheshire ranked in the top 100 in the best towns to live in the United States. (CNN Money, August 2009) A town resident said he paid $50,000 more for his house to live in Cheshire for the school system (Board of Education minutes, February 8, 2010)
  • 4. How Successful Is Our K-12 Program? SAT Scores Cheshire State Average Difference MATH 549 504 +8% (#26/166) READING 531 502 +5% (#36/166) WRITING 527 503 +4.5% CMT & CAPT Scores: Among the top 20 of 166 Statewide Districts
  • 5. How Your Child’s Education Funding Compares “ The state average for spending was $13,118 per student compared to Cheshire’s average of $11,553 per student”. Dr. Florio BOE Minutes, 01/07/10 Your child is allocated $1,565 Less than the State Average. Cheshire ranks 143th of 166 towns in Per Pupil Spending Cheshire ranks in the top 13% of towns in “Ability to Pay” “ Cheshire schools are efficient and productive. It shows we are lean and effective. It also means there is little room to reduce without impacting quality…” Dr. Florio, BOE Minutes, 01/14/10
  • 6. Your Child’s Education Funding is Already a Good Deal With 4850 students (projected figure for 2010-11) Cheshire spends about $7.6 million per year less than the State average.
  • 7. What Does it Mean to Responsibly Fund Education? “ It is our responsibility to make sure that the programs and services are in place to assure that every student will be successful …” Dr. Greg Florio, BOE minutes of 1/7/10
  • 8. 2009-2010 Teacher Salaries Impact Town Council/Board of Education: Teachers receive a 4.4% increase. Reality: Near zero increase (+0. 4 %) in money spent on teacher salaries with the newly negotiated contract in place. 1. When one teacher retires, there is a 50% decrease in salary when replaced with a new teacher. 2. When one teacher retires, there is a 100% decrease in salary when NOT replaced with a new teacher. 3. Increased expenses were offset by attrition, retirements, or un-replaced positions
  • 9. 2010-2011 Original Budget Proposal “This budget recommendation does not restore any of the almost seventeen teaching positions that were reduced in the 2009/10 budget, any support staff who were eliminated, or replenish accounts for supplies, materials and equipment that were cut”. Dr. Greg Florio’s presentation to the BOE 1/7/10
  • 10. 2010-2011 Original Budget Proposal “ …it was also evident that prudent management during the “best of times” has placed Cheshire in a stronger position than most municipalities to weather the fiscal storm we face… Cheshire is well positioned to provide sound levels of service to its students and residents” Dr. Greg Florio’s presentation to the BOE 1/7/10
  • 11. 2010-2011 Proposed Education Budget …“The recommended budget requests funds to support contracted increases for employees, services and special education. The budget maintains funding levels in most accounts at current levels, but reduces funding in several, such as supplies and textbooks.” Dr. Greg Florio’s presentation to the BOE 1/7/10
  • 12. Why Cut The Education Budget in the First Place?
  • 13. Why Cut $650,000? “…Mr. Sobol said he would not support this Motion [$650,000 cut] because it will eviscerate the school system and in addition, he would like to know where the $650,000 comes from. He said he cannot support this process any longer either and thinks the budget process is broken” Minutes of BOE February 4, 2010
  • 14. Why Cut $650,000? “Mr. Massey reviewed the Board’s duties per state statute, noting that the Board shall maintain ‘good’ public elementary and secondary schools…He doesn’t know if we are ‘good’ with that many staff reductions…He feels it would put the Board in a place where they are not doing their legal job.” Minutes from BOE meeting, 02/08/2010
  • 15. Why Cut $650,000? “Mr. Mrowka already said that this is a bare- boned budget without further reductions.” Minutes from BOE meeting, 02/08/2010
  • 16. Why Cut $650,000? “That motion proposed a $650,000 reduction to Florio's budget, …was based on the assumption of union concessions.” Cheshire Herald, February 15, 2010
  • 17. Impact of Budget Cuts “Further staffing reductions would or require wholesale changes, and / devastate class sizes or the elimination of programs. Options would have to include programmatic reduction such as: Academically Gifted program reductions in the instrumental music program elimination of electives at Cheshire High School in departments such as Business or Technology Education reductions to support service areas including guidance or other counseling services. (continued) Dr. Greg Florio’s Budget Proposal to B.O.E. 1/07/10
  • 18. Impact of the Budget Cuts “…None of these options are good ones, nor does a community that has high expectations for its school and its students desire them.” Dr. Greg Florio’s Budget Proposal to B.O.E. 1/07/10
  • 19. What Happened? On a 4-3 vote, the BOE cut $950,000.
  • 20. Shared Sacrifice Teachers agreed to: the Board of Education’s 3 year contract term an increased percent share of health insurance premiums increased co-pays higher deductibles higher prescription drug costs Neither the teachers nor the Board pursued binding arbitration
  • 21. Shared Sacrifice “The BOE has done a good diligence to get this negotiated number [insurance premium] up high. Cheshire teachers are paying the highest percentage across the State.” Town Council minutes, 02/24/2009
  • 22. Shared Sacrifice Shelton’s teacher union offered a full day and a half of pay as a “loan”. “Walsh (BOE chair for Shelton) expressed deep gratitude to all the unions who worked with the board in helping resolve the current deficit, without slashing people’s jobs.”-New Haven Register, December 22, 2009
  • 23. Shared Sacrifice Cheshire teachers offered three days of pay as an interest -free “loan” to the Board of Education. “This isn’t shared sacrifice,” he [Brittingham] said “Deferments? That’s not sacrifice. That’s an insult to taxpayers.”- Meriden Record Journal, March 10, 2010 Cheshire teachers are also considering an alternative healthcare benefit plan to reduce costs
  • 24. As the Budget Stands Now “Milone said last year’s budget increase was the lowest in the past 20 years, and this year’s increase represents the second lowest increase.” Cheshire Herald, March 11, 2010 “Milone explained that there would be between *$5.9 and $6.4 million in reserve accounts, as well as **$8.6 million in the Rainy Day Fund”. *Cheshire Herald, December 17, 2009, ** Cheshire Herald, March 11, 2010
  • 25. What Now? Council budget Committee Chairman David Schrumm, …said he anticipates reducing the final education budget”. Record Journal 03/15/10 [BOE Chairman] “Brittingham said he had been told by Councilman David Schrumm…that the board would get a zero increase or close to it”…In a worst case scenario “Brittingham said school officials will be forced to consider a series of drastic budget cuts…Among the options…are: Closing of Chapman elementary school Elimination of department heads 25% reduction in positions with a stipend (e.g. coaching, club & class advisors) 20% budget cut for all extra-curricular activities (e.g. athletics, band) New Haven Register 03/15/10
  • 26. As the Budget Stands Now Using Mr. Milone’s figures (Cheshire Herald, March 11, 2010), if the BOE’S budget proposal were to be adopted, the average tax increase/household would be: $158 a year HOWEVER IF The Town Council restored $475K of the BOE’s $950K reduction they could use 5.5% of the money from the Rainy Day Fund. This would mean the average tax increase/household would be about: $4 more/month
  • 27. What Now? “In ten years, never once has a budget come back from the Town Council uncut.” Kathy Hellreich, former BOE member, Minutes from BOE meeting, 02/08/2010 “…According to CABE, the Board’s role is ‘adopting, advocating for, and overseeing a school budget which is responsive to the district goals and meets the needs of all students.’” Tom Scarice [Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction, Weston Public Schools] and resident of Cheshire, Minutes from BOE meeting, 02/08/2010
  • 28. What Now? “…People should be told about the budget, the mill rate, and be honest about what services will be cut…This should be done outside of the budget process, and on an ongoing basis…”. Justin Adinolfi, Town Councilor & Member of the Board of Directors for Cheshire Education Fund, Town Council minutes March 18th, 2010 “ …the CRRA contract expires in June 2010, and Cheshire will receive its distribution of $3.5 to 4.5 million from the reserve account. The Town Council will decide on how to use these funds when it comes in next fiscal year”. Michael Milone, Town Council minutes March 18th, 2010
  • 29. #3 in Education Connecticut towns sized 25,000-50,000 people Harriman Real Estate on November 19, 2009 Connecticut Magazine Where will we rank next year?
  • 30. What Now? “ It solves no problems to exclude parents and the public from important decisions about education policy or to disregard the educators who work with students daily. Public education is a vital institution in our democratic society, and its governance must be democratic, open to public discussion and public participation” Diane Ravitch, The Death and Life of the Great American School System
  • 31. Questions to Ask Your Elected Officials 1. What are the legitimate and ethical reasons for reducing Dr. Florio’s proposed 2010-2011 Budget proposal? 2. How can we balance budgetary demands with the needs of responsibly funding our educational programs? 3. What are the long term effects of our town’s present philosophy & rationale for funding education? 4. What are the long-term effects of the proposed budget cut to our two greatest investments: our children’s future & the value of our real estate?
  • 32. What Can We Do? This is YOUR town, YOUR School system, YOUR tax dollars YOU deserve ANSWERS not rhetoric and hyperbole Please join us in requesting our elected officials to DO THE RIGHT THING Tell Our Elected Officials to Responsibly Fund Our School Programs