Hebron Dollars & Sense
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- Created on Friday, 01 June 2012 14:16
For Immediate Release
We, the Board of Trustees of the Douglas Library of Hebron, strongly feel that our town’s library has been unfairly targeted in the latest rounds of budget cuts. We feel it is necessary to inform the residents of the Town of Hebron of certain facts regarding the library, which has been seriously underfunded for many years.
At the request of the Board of Selectmen we undertook a survey of the town residents. This survey indicated that the residents wanted the library open additional hours, wanted more materials (books, etc.) and programming among other items.
During the budget process this year we presented the survey results and requested some small additional requests: $2000 for Library materials and $1980 to open on Saturdays in July and August.
The book budget was cut immediately leaving it at the level it has been at for the last several years even though the cost of materials has increased. The Saturday hours were cut at the Special Selectmen Meeting on Thursday, May 24.
The Selectmen noted that $100,000 would be eliminated overall from the Town’s latest proposed budget.
The biggest blow to the well-being and functioning of the Library, however, was that the Board took approximately half of that amount from the library alone, which includes the cuts already mentioned, coupled with the elimination of the full time staff position for the Adult Services Librarian. This position is essential to the functioning of the library, yet it has been cut. The current occupant of the position is retiring in June and the Board of Selectmen decided to use this position to aid in the cuts they made in the budget. Serious reductions in services to the public will occur as the two remaining full time staff attempt to pick up the duties of that position. Story Hour for young children and the book discussions for adults are in serious jeopardy.
We, the Board, believe that the residents of Hebron should be aware that the Library contributes money to the General Fund of the Town of Hebron – the Library does not just take funds from the town. The Library Association is the beneficiary of a trust established by Dr. Douglas and each year about $18,000 in interest has been given to the town and deposited in the General Fund. The library also contributes about $500-$800 per month in monies collected in fines, fax, copy fees, etc. which again goes to the General Fund.
We urge all residents to express their outrage about this unfair lopsided cut to the library. The life of our library is at stake. The library, an institution valued by the town residents, is being unfairly targeted.
Please voice your displeasure before it is too late. You may phone the Town Office Building and speak with the Interim Town Manager, Andy Tierney at 860-228-5971 X122. Ask him to pass your concerns on to the Board of Selectmen, or phone the Selectmen directly. You may also sign our petition asking the Selectmen to reconsider their stance on these financial issues.
Respectfully,
Board of Trustees
Douglas Library Association
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- Created on Monday, 06 February 2012 07:10
What is listed on the Hebron School site (the percentages of schools offering ADK) appears to be correct. My figures are a little higher and I pulled the current year information. What she is NOT saying is:
ONLY 20% offer only the ADK form of Kindergarten .. there are no other choices. Hebron currently offers Full and half day -- the plan is to have everyone in All day Kindergarten in Hebron. Enrollment is less in those schools too ... Andover (42 kids), Bethany (53), Columbia (61). In 2010-2011. Hebron had 36 in Full day program and 76 in half day for a total of 112 kids .. more than the other districts with FULL all-day.
Here is the rolled up sheet for what I pulled off the DOE site for forms of Kindergarten in 2010-2011 school year. You can check these yourself on the CEDAR site of the CT DOE.
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- Created on Tuesday, 22 May 2012 21:05
Regional School District No. 8 and
Hebron Budget REFERENDUM
Hebron, Connecticut
May 22, 2012
1. "SHALL THE TOWN OF HEBRON APPROVE A FY 2012-2013 BUDGET OF $33,876,251 AS RECOMMENDED BY THE BOARD OF FINANCE?''
Yes 745 No _ 982
2. "SHALL THE TOWN OF HEBRON APPROVE A FY 2012-2013 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM BUDGET OF $752,533 AS RECOMMENDED BY THE BOARD OF FINANCE?"
Yes 908 No _818_______
3. "SHALL THE BUDGET OF $25,062,451 FOR THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 8 PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM (RHAM) FOR THE FTSCAL YEAR JULY 1,2012 TO JUNE 30, 2013 BE APPROVED?"
Yes 796 No _ 930
TOTAL NUMBER OF VOTERS: __1729_ (approximately a 27.5% voter turnout)
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- Created on Monday, 06 February 2012 06:54
- Written by David Huck - Journal Inquirer
By David Huck
Journal Inquirer
Published: Wednesday, February 1, 2012 11:56 AM EST
HEBRON — The Board of Education has adopted a $12.01 million budget for 2012-13 that includes an expansion of all-day kindergarten.
The spending plan represents a 1.85 percent increase, or $218,373, over the current year’s $11.79 million budget. In December, Superintendent Eleanor Cruz presented a $12.25 million budget proposal that sought $458,473 more in spending but recently revised the recommendation to make it more “palatable to the community,” she said.
Voting against the plan were Republicans Amy Lynch-Gracias and Dominic Marino.
Health insurance costs are up 22 percent or $265,000, and teachers will get 4.43 percent raises next year. The budget also accounts for a loss of $176,000 in federal education jobs money. There are no staff layoffs under the proposal.
Enrollment in the town’s two schools is expected to drop by 8.5 percent, or 89 students, from 1,047 students to 958 next school year.
Eight early retirements — of which only one will be filled — and a reduction of the director of special education’s position from full-time to three days a week will bring some of the savings to carry out the kindergarten expansion. Cruz said she would assume the responsibilities of the special education director for the other two days of the week.
“There’s nothing being sacrificed for all-day kindergarten,” Cruz said. Current staff will teach the added sections, she said, and the school system already has materials, supplies, and furniture to support the program.
Read more: Hebron school budget expands all-day kindergarten