Hebron Dollars & Sense

Does someone have an answer to my previous post ..."We have been talking about the ADK costs. It is difficult to identify/locate costs for this program in the budget. We all can view the $5K for furniture. Is it possible that the slots for the "5 retirements" (3 confirmed and 2 other possible) will be used for "teaching slots" for the ADK?

How will we even know IF the ADK is removed from the program when we cannot identify it through a simplistic line item??"

We might have to rely upon the supt's word, which is a scary thought indeed. Since the costs are spread out throughout the budget, is there any way to know definitively? Does anyone else feel like they are being manipulated and blackmailed by the BOE?

Thank you -- I believe I will email the boards.

Taxpayer wrote:
We might have to rely upon the supt's word, which is a scary thought indeed. Since the costs are spread out throughout the budget, is there any way to know definitively? Does anyone else feel like they are being manipulated and blackmailed by the BOE?



Well Said Taxpayer

They are Manipulating Themselves & their EGOS Nothing More, Not Us Well Informed Taxpayers & they Know it, Hensforth The Bull they Put Forth Is Just VAPOR & the Majority Of The INFORMED Electorate Knows They Are Shoveling It To The Electorate BIG TIME

ADK NO WAY NO BUDGET

ALL THE WAY WITH HDK FOR ALL

Mombert wrote:
DSAmin stated: It's an empty scare tactic due to the "laws of attrition." There are 3 confirmed retirements, and at least 2 more non-confirmed retirements. Unless the music teacher is retiring (NOT), music will not go away.

We have been talking about the ADK costs. It is difficult to identify/locate costs for this program in the budget. We all can view the $5K for furniture. Is it possible that the slots for the "5 retirements" (3 confirmed and 2 other possible) will be used for "teaching slots" for the ADK?

How will we even know IF the ADK is removed from the program when we cannot identify it through a simplistic line item??

We'll know. Trust me on that one. Before taxpayers register their voice via referendum on Tuesday, May 4th, we'll know if ADK is or is not in the budget.

The agenda for Thursday's BOE meeting has been posted, and it shows 3 resignations - special ed, music, and school psychologist. It also shows a proposed motion to notify 18 additional teachers that their contracts are not being renewed.

Cutting 21 teachers would reduce the budget in a big way, and while it would make plenty of folks here happy, we can only imagine how upset it will make parents.

Also of interest is the plan to go into executive session to discuss this matter.

There is no detail on any potential savings from the resignations, nor any insurance adjustment (increase) noted in the agenda.

If the resignations are simply positions that will be re-filled by new hires, it is hard to predict the budget savings without knowing how long these teachers have been there. Retirements are somewhat easier to predict - if a teacher making $75K retires and is replaced by a new teacher earning $40K, we might expect to see $35K in budget reductions.

The other 18 teachers being cut are all non-tenured positions, so they haven't been there long enough to earn the comparatively high salaries. Additionally, the town might have to pay toward unemployment benefits for them, so a good chunk of the "savings" associated with them being cut is lost. If I recall correctly, the town is obligated to plan for unemployment benefits for cutting non-tenured staff, even though we might not incur these expenses if the teachers ultimately find employment elsewhere. I may be off, but I thought the net budget savings for cutting non-tenured staff was under $25K per position eliminated.