Hebron Dollars & Sense

As expected, the Board did exactly what they wanted: they laid off or reduced the hours of a number of non-certified staff, and authorized the hiring of a new Assistant Vice Principal, a woman from Preston who no one knew if she even has the 092 certification required for the position. The Superintendent brushed away the concerns with a comment, "Pam Sawyer will help us move that along if the certification gets held up." Really?

Mrs. Shea asked if Amy from Prescott had been advised regarding the community climate on adding another administrator. The Superintendent replied that she had been advised, and was prepared to deal with it. There will be a reception for the new AVP at the next BOE meeting; in hindsight, I wish I had suggested some "Welcome to Hebron" gifts like buckets, mops and toilet brushes, because someone's going to have to do a little cleaning around there and as low man on the totem pole, this will be a good opportunity to let her know what she's "really" walking into -- a community filled with resentment.

So they sacrificed real people earning almost minimum wage for someone that apparently does not even meet the requirements of the job -- at least not today.

There were several who spoke out. The non-certified union representative was in attendance, as were many non-certified staff.

There was a poignant speech by the para who has been laid off, who concluded his remarks by asking the union to consider a vote of No Confidence in the Central Office leadership. That needs to be pursued!!! A similar vote of No Confidence should also be considered by the teachers union. Remember: next year is going to be worse. Who are they going to hang out to dry in order to keep all their administrators? They've decimated the non-certified staff at HES.

Another enlightening speech was made by a custodian who talked about another time when there were only two custodians to keep an entire school clean, and the injuries he suffered as a result of all the work.

A member of the public pointedly asked the administrative team if they had called in one of the non-certified staff and changed their evaluation from very good to "not as good" in order to justify the layoff. He was a bulldog on asking the question a number of times. Of course there was no answer from anyone, but as we all know, good litigators never ask a question for which they do not already know the answer, the names, the dates, the times and the places that form the basis of the question. And we do know that information....

The union will be filing grievances, and we need to get behind the non-certified staff as these are legitimate actions. That has been confirmed by every Tom, Dick and Harry in Connecticut -- except the Superintendent, it appears. Time for Shipman & Goodwin to go as legal counsel to the board. They're obviously giving WRONG advice.

It was revealed that the Board ended up the year with $51,220 in surplus money, of which $31,563 just came last week as a result of new legislation that restored some transportation money. Hard numbers weren't used, but the jist was that the town of Hebron had expected a state reimbursement for student transportation for $120,000. Instead, they got $48,000. Meaning there's one of the revenue problems the town was facing for FY 2010-11 as it was deficit revenue for the FY 2009-10 fiscal year.

So then these people -- our elected BOE officials -- start sitting around talking about how they don't even know if the town knows they got this $31,563, and should they tell the town, or just keep the money?!

You can't make this stuff up, folks, unless you're a writer for "As The World Turns." You just had to have been there. DYSFUNCTIONAL is actually a polite term.

Fortunately, there are these little gizmos called "Blackberries" and after everyone quit laughing when, after typing furiously, I said (quietly, I hope) "Oops, I just hit 'Send'", the Superintendent stated that she felt "morally obligated" to return the money to the town as it was rightfully theirs since the town got shafted in the first place on the transportation revenue. The Board then decided that was the "ethical" thing to do.

Where were those "ethics" on the decision to hit the non-certified staff at HES only???

And the remaining $20K+ in surplus?? The Superintendent said she wanted to reserve that money to rehire laid off staff, but asked for "latitude", so the Board voted to keep the surplus in the Technology account rather than putting the money in the Salary account. If she decides she re-hire staff, they can always transfer the money from Technology to Salary. Let's see if that happens, or if the Technology account becomes just another taxpayer-funded slush fund.

One thing that bothered me personally was the HES Principal, who kept turning -- repeatedly -- to face the audience, none of whom were happy, there was not one happy camper in attendance, with this really stupid grin, boarding on a smile, boarding on laughing. Was he nervous, or was he just being the epitome of arrogance? As the night wore on, it became more and more bothersome, and more and more agitating. If he can't control his merriment at so many affected lives so that he gets an Assistant Vice Principal, then someone buy the guy a mask or something to cover up that irritating smirk.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Mrs. Shea presented the Board with a petition begun by her daughter, and signed by many HES students, begging the Board not to lay off the one special education para who is very popular with the children and has years of teaching experience in grades K-6. It was accepted without comment. Of course.

Here is my speech to the Board, for what it's worth. But since the meetings aren't televised, and the minutes are totally worthless for trying to find out what really happens at these meetings, I thought I should post it. I wish I had all the speeches made tonight. There were some real eyeopeners in terms of comments from the audience.

***

Last Thursday, emotions were running high, and I decided it best not to participate in closing Public Comments. I don’t know if that was the right thing or the wrong thing to do.

The attack made against Mrs. Shea were completed misdirected. I have a copy of her letter to the editor in the Rivereast, referenced by a board member. In it, she clearly states “Am I happy with a 0% increase? No.” [My editorial note for explanation: Mrs. Shea was accused by Mr. Allaben of being responsible for the budget passing, and the Board "only" getting a 0% increase at the 6/10 BOE meeting.]

Instead of blaming Mrs. Shea, why not blame the real culprit – the economy? If you’re going to pick on people, why not blame Hebron’s unemployed, underemployed, and self-employed who have reduced or no work?

Why not blame the woman who shamelessly wore a “Vote No” sign duct-taped to her behind and marched the entire Memorial Day parade, when a Connecticut soldier killed in action was on his way home for burial?

Why not blame a PAC formed by one of your members who stuffed newstubes with a flyer that said “The 0% budget will require the Board of Education to eliminate or reduce some or all of the following programs: music, Spanish, Reading Consultant, Challenge and Enrichment, Technology and/or Library-Media Services.”

Did you as a board vote on that? It was bullying and it was perceived as bullying. Did not the RHAM wars of 2001-2005 – and yes, it was not just one year of budget wars, it was five years – teach you that bullying does NOT work in our community?

And why not blame yourselves? If you took a few lessons from Bob Siminski in open dialogue and transparency, your budget (minus ADK) would have passed on the first try. If you had openly told the public of the cuts you plan to make tonight – in order to hire another administrator – you would have most likely gotten the No vote you wanted on the third referendum.

My second point to make to you tonight is simple. I clearly advised the board last Thursday that I had taken the liberty of contacting the top labor attorney in the state of Connecticut, and I told you that your proposed actions would lead to EPLI claims. And they will, and the wheels are in motion for just that.

Where in your budget are the expenses for unemployment? For legal expenses? For back wages when these claims are settled?

You’re proposing to SACRIFICE REAL PEOPLE who have served the schools and the community well, some for over two decades, in favor of an unfilled administrative position. This community does not forget deeds like this.

I, and other members of the community, will continue to urge the Board of Finance to NOT grant you any supplemental appropriation for legal fees because you are deliberately setting yourselves up for actionable lawsuits that I fully believe will prevail.

How are you going to pay for that?

You had not one, but TWO, EPLI lawsuits filed against you last year. That’s right – I’m assuming you didn’t know I knew about the first one. We’re not going to keep giving you our tax dollars to throw away on legal fees for your deliberate actions.

One of your own members has called you a dysfunctional board, and that is the term commonly associated with your Board today.

You have one – and only one – chance to reverse public opinion, and set a course towards a positive budget season next year.

Reinstate the non-certified staff and do not fill a vacant administrative position.

I guarantee that if you take this brave action, you will gain a lot of street credibility, respect, and will earn the public’s confidence. If you don’t do this, the gauntlet will be laid for next year.

People in Hebron do not tolerate injustice, and they do not forget injustice. Please do the right thing tonight.

DSAdmin wrote:




WOW!!!!



WELL PUT


OBVIOUSLY They Did Not Listen, They are TONE DEAF To Reality & ARROGANT, ANSWERABLE To Only Themselves

HIRING Uncertfied Admin????. Hope The "Paperwork Gets Lost Sew They Get More Egg On Their Face

The Only People That are Gonna Make Out In This Sordid Soap Opera Are The Perry Masons

They Got A Strong Case, Let's Sea Were This Goes

This makes me ill. Is there anyway to remove board members? They are clearly running the school and town into the ground. To the young lady who posted the sarcastic thread saying thank you for getting my friends laidoff. These people are the ones to point the finger at. I've lived in town for all of my many years. I was born here and I've retired here. What gives these people the right to tax me out of my hometown? Selfish and broken describes the politics of Hebron.

Well-put, Concerned. This is definitely where the blame lies, and I think more and more people are beginning to realize this.

concerned wrote:


Never forget that it is your friends and neighbors who are taxing you out of your hometown.

You might have noticed your hometown has grown a bit in your years here. These are the consequences of population growth without similar growth in our tax base.

I am certain I will not be able to retire in the town I've made my home for most of my adult life.

I don't appreciate your sarcasm young lady. My friends are not taxing me out of anywhere. I suspect its YOUR friends and neighbors.