Hebron Dollars & Sense

I just wanted to start the thread. Both the BOF and BOE meetings were well-attended.

The BOF believe the Super's statement that ADK cost is only $48,500 (WOW), and reduced their budget increase request by that amount. I guess they didn't see the Super's post about the cost difference between full half-day Kindergarten and all day Kindergarten was over $197,000.

So let's see how the HBOE cuts ADK with only $48,500... it's not going to happen. They'll cut a teacher instead. Or another poor janitor and para making bare minimum wage...

The HBOE, in the final seconds of the BOF meeting, and at the BOF members' urging, agreed to call a Special Meeting for this coming Monday, May 10 at Gilead School. I did not catch the time of the meeting, and I'm not sure a time was actually announced. It will have to be noticed tomorrow in order to hold a Special Meeting Monday. So keep your ears open for the official start time

The BOF discussed adding a recommendation that the BOE take a hard look at the ADK program, but then decided by law it was not within their jurisdiction to do that. But hopefully there was plenty of discussion to get their message across.

There was MUCH discussion at BOF meeting that the Tuesday referendum vote and Advisory Ballot results reflected "policy issues with the BOE" rather than the actual budget dollars. There's no doubt that there's an element of truth to that.

Bifurcation was discussed in detail at both meetings, but most especially at the Selectmen's meeting. The Selectmen agreed to call a new Charter Revision Commission to deal with the bifurcation issue and a few other issues -- after the budget passes. There was much discussion that the Charter Revision Commission needs to meet and make their recommendations in time so that the issue can be on the November ballot, which will have high voter turnout. I think the town attorney said the minimum number of days required by law from the time the CRC is called until a vote can be taken is 57 days. The BOS will be soliciting the community as a whole to be part of the CRC; previous members of the CRC can apply to become members of the new CRC again.

A member of the BOE was in attendance and noted that maybe people will vote Yes on the next referendum so that they can have Charter Revision and get bifurcation in place for next year's budget season (sure to be worse; we learned at BOF meeting of several new revenue losses -- ON TOP of the already projected revenue losses for next year).

I took issue with the levity of that comment -- I see this as a carrot dangling in front of a hungry donkey. With all due respect (and I mean that), I think that is a wrong approach. People who want bifurcation in time for next year's budget season may feel "forced" to vote for a budget that includes ADK -- JUST TO GET BIFURCATION on the books! That's not right.

No carrots for me... not yet... NO ADK. OR: an acceptable alternative for me personally is ADK for identified Special Education students, NO MORE LOTTERY, and half-day kindergarten for everyone else. That's fair, that's reasonable, that's a program that I'll support with my tax dollars. It was also revealed at the BOF meeting that only 17 of the less than 100 incoming Kindergarten children had been identified as "special needs." Sounds to me like that should be only ONE full day session, not the current two.

And yes, more zingers my way. What those folks don't realize is that I've grown a very thick skin. So keep 'em coming! It just brings a little laughter in my life that offsets the stress of doing the right thing by continuing to speak out for ALL Hebron residents and ALL Hebron school children.

Thank you for your summary - I am sure it is more detailed than whatever meeting minutes we will get.

As for special needs identified students - I think with 17 kids they would need to be in at least 2 classes (since class size for kindergarten is around 20 kids anyway, right? I don't think putting all of them in one classroom would hold up to the state standards that they get "equivalent" education compared to everyone else. Just like there has to be a "peer" student in pre-K for every identified pre-K student.

The lottery might have to continue for the peer kindergarten students - but if parents know that they are for peer students only they might be less anxious to get their peer kid in those classes.

Thanks, I appreciate your thoughts. It's good to dialogue about these kinds of important decisions.

But on the lottery system, I'm going to have to respectfully disagree. From talking to so many parents, the lottery system is causing some real issues. The way it works now is: you say prayers, light candles, and hope your child -- who may very well have special needs -- gets the long straw. And when that parent sees another child who really doesn't need All Day Kindergarten getting the long straw, and their child gets the short straw, there's understandable resentment.

We can't gamble (which is what a lottery is) with the process by which we educate our future generation. The whole concept of a "lottery", especially a "lottery" in which special needs children aren't first in line, reeks of illegality to me. If not illegal, it's at best unethical.

Just two clarifications from me...

The special BOE meeting was announced for Monday, 7:30, at Gilead Hill School, I believe. I'm fairly certain that the number of incoming special needs K kids was 14 rather than 17. Don't know if that makes a difference? Does there need to be a 1:1 ratio between "special needs" and peer kids? I believe that's the way it's done at the pre-K level. How does Glastonbury handle the peer situation? They must have some way of selecting the "average" children. Or do they have full classes made up of special needs? In any case, I think that only providing ADK for those identified with special needs is a marvelous solution--the children who need the extra attention are getting it, people will be less likely to say that Hebron is providing "free childcare," and we already have two full-day sessions in place--no need to increase costs for K at all.

Taxpayer, ADMIN & Auntie, All Your Comments Are "SPOT ON"

No One(Including Me)Would Call It Taxpayer Funded Daycare If It Was For Our Special Needs Kids.

Keeping Special Needs Education "In House" As Much As Possible, Would Be A Cost Savings Right??

The $48,000 Number Is Smoke & Mirrors For Sure

The $197,000 Is The REAL NUMBER By What I've Been Told

BOF Is Taking a Chance With This, A Losing Proposition IMHO,But The Electorate will Not Drink The Ellie/Hboe Koolaid On This One If ADK Is Still Included

It was A Overwhelming Number AGAINST ADK & Unle$$ The Ringmaster(Ellie) & The Circus Known as The HBOE Minus 1 Flunked Their Literacy Test AGAIN & Include ADK In Any Form In The Budget, It Will Go Down In Flame$ at The Ballot Box Again

Remember What I Said In A Previous Post.

They Were Gonna Cut More Teachers If The Budget Went down, NOT ADK

Stay Tuned & Let's see What The 3 Ring Circus Duz At Their special MTG

I'm just wondering what happened to all of those parents who, two-plus years ago, were convinced that their children were better off staying home for half the day rather than attending ADK? I attended quite a few of those meetings discussing the "pilot" program. There were quite a number of parents who didn't want their kids attending ADK--they were too young and still needed a nap, their parents were providing more "instruction" at home than the teachers could give, etc. Most of those parents seem to have disappeared.