Plan to attend the meeting and hopefully, someone will get straight answers to a couple of questions:
(1) Did anyone notice line item BOE-Legal under #3009 in the proposed BOE budget? Why do we pay so much for legal fees in this small school community? This item in the old budget (2009-2010) was approved for $28,000. Have no idea what was actually expended because I can locate the information. The new request is for $59,838 (such a specific number).
WHY was the request doubled??
(2) Aside from kindergarten furniture which was in the proposed budget last year and NOT approved ... where is the
total expense for all-day kindergarten listed. The following two vague answers were given to public questions on the new school web-site "blog". Here is the first answer and the second was supposedly a clarification:
Answer 1:The cost of increasing the current program we have now, two (2) All-Day Kindergarten classes and five (5) sections of half-day, to a full implementation of six (6) All-Day Kindergarten classes and one (1) section of a 1/2 day class is $66,539 which includes the cost of a teacher, the benefits and classroom [/size]furniture. It is a very small portion of the total increase.
The $197,000 you are referring to represents the difference in cost from reducing all kindergarten classes to half-time. In essence, the pilot would be discontinued after two years of demonstrated success for children.
Answer 2:To increase the program, as was recommended by the Task Force, from two (2) All-Day Kindergarten classes to six (6) All-Day Kindergarten classes plus one section of 1/2 day (total 6.5), I would move a pre-k teacher and paraprofessional to All-Day Kindergarten, and hire one teacher which would increase the budget by $66,539 (salary, benefits and furniture).
The difference between a full implementation (6.5 - six All-Day K classes and one 1/2 day section) and reverting to all 1/2 day sections ( no All-Day K classes at all) is approximately $197,000.
(3)How accurate are the comments about returning surplus funds? Again on the public blog is this statement:
We have returned surplus money each year since I have been superintendent, with the exception of last year when we ended the year with a balance of $114. We usually have a discussion as a board, and then with the Board of Selectmen regarding surplus. We have in the past spent some of the surplus on one time only purchases such as security cameras. The balance is then returned to the General Fund.
YET, the June 11, 2009 the BOE approved meeting minutes stated under (11.1): Discussion and Possible Action for Spending/Returning 2008-2009 Surplus Motion by Mark Allaben and seconded by Brian O’Reilly to authorize the superintendent to spend up to $37,000. [I cut vote text] Purchases made will be database modifications to be provided by EASTCONN for $8,500, parking lot & sign lighting repair for $1,375, re-lamping GHS & HES for $10,000, tone generator for GHS for $775 and to the extent that there are any funds remaining the superintendent may purchase furniture.
