Hebron Dollars & Sense

At last night's HBOE meeting, Ms. Shea presented Superintendent with the BOE's decision to approve a 1.5% pay raise (since it is unfair to ask her to go another year without a raise, even though she makes $150K+/yr with perks) *and* extended Cruz's contract one year to 2013 (although her contract was not up until 2012, we had to do this now) - all this despite the fact that this past year's bidget was a mess, the public has shown dissatisfcation with Cruz, and the school district almost gave her a vote of "no confidence" - we now have Cruz for another year and will be giving her raises because her performance "exceeds expectations" -

Unfortunately, I did not drink any of the Kool-Aid that the HBOE obviously did.

I will repeat my thoughts here: Wow ... !! Unbelievable. The super makes too much money now. I cannot believe in this economy she should receive a raise...for what? I cannot stress the "laughter and disbelief" I hear from teacher friends in other communities about this super, her salary.. her perks, the number of schools, kids etc under "her umbrella". They all want positions in this town. Such a joke!!

This woman has the title but she has surrounded herself with so many "specialists, support office staff" -- I am not quite sure what she does to earn this salary. Our entire school board is "non-functioning" and I will campaign against any/all who decide to throw their hat in the ring again. I am disappointed in all of them!

In the long term, it would have been cheaper to take the hit and buy her out before rewarding her with a contract (can you imagine how many more administrators can be acquired during her tenure, can you imagine the request for a new school -- believe me this is coming! and last but not least the pathetic "declared" bare bone budgets presented by the administration and the BOE. We all know those budgets are so inflated it is ridiculous - after "threatening to cut staff" they miraculously located funds to hire, hire, hire.

Yes, administrators were hired against town protests, part of the controversial ADK program was kept intact and now ... our super is rewarded with a salary increase because no one is expected to have 2 or more years without a raise (who would make such a statement? ... anyone working is lucky to have a job in this economy)??

Our "super" (with all due respect) doesn't have an advanced degree and at the rate she is going, the time limit on her thesis will soon be over. Remember we even pay her 4800 a year for transportation - plus an annuity and insurance perks. WHY can't this board think outside a conventional box? Since three schools feed the middle school-- get ONE superintendent for Hebron, Marlborough and Andover. If this path was followed .. all the kids feeding into the middle school would be on the "same track", exposed to the same, similar curriculum and BEST OF ALL -- the salary WOULD BE SHARED.

This individual should be ashamed to accept any pay increase. Anyone feeling that it was not fair for the super to have 2 years without a raise, or that a non-raise year again would be inappropriate, let their "household contribute" to the super's salary. Don't ask me to contribute.

Hopefully, the teachers in the trenches ... the ones who have to schedule rest-room breaks ... will continue collecting signatures for a "vote of no-confidence". I certainly have no confidence in her ability to lead. What good are test scores and the "blue ribbon" school designation IF they apparently teach to the test?? Are the students learning to be critical thinkers? I think not.

The young father who stated in the paper that ADK would be fair if it was offered to everyone or offered to no one was correct. Why should there be a lottery system to fill openings in a tax funded program in our town. He has every right to file a lawsuit! She should have eliminated ALL OF ADK.

Typical Low Brow Underhanded Buracratic Manuver/Shennanagins by Doobie & The HBOE AGAIN.

Thought They could slip it By In The Heat Of the Summer Eye sea

NOT!!

Read The Other 2 Comments Above & What Duz It lead You 2 beleive??

That "Slick Billy With Heels", Doobie & The HBOE Regard Themselves As Above It all And Are Tone deaf & IGNORANT To the Wishes Of The People That Pay/Elected Them To their little fiefdom/Kingdom I would think

That The Soviet Republic Of Ellie's Dictatorship Was Exstended Against The wishes Of The Majority Of The Public Just Shows The Complete & Utter Disdain that Doobie & the HBOE Regard The Majority Public Opinion

In Closing

It's Time To vote Out Doobie & the Rest Of The Koolaid Drinking Rubberstampers On the HBOE & Send Ellie On Her Way Out at The 1st opportunity.

1 good thing outta this Maybe

If This Most recent disregard Of The Public's wishes Duz Not Get The Hboe Budget Bifircated

NOTHING WILL

Townie wrote:




The Arrogance, Ethics & Morality Of Doobie & The WHOLE HBOE On this I$$ue Is Certainly Showing it's True Colors AGAIN ain't It :ohmy :

Ellie's Performace Exceeds Expectations The HBOE Sezs



Yep It sure Duz


It Exceeds In Incompetance


It Exceeds In Arrogance Towards The Public

It Exceeds in Legal bills

It Exceeds In Unneeded 5/6 Figure Administrative Positions( Hi Vonda & AVP AMY) For starters

In Closing

What Flavor Of Koolaid are They Drinking at The HBOE??

Any Suggestions Anyone??

Well NP, since you asked, I do have two suggestions.

I suggest we start the new budget season off right now by working to collaborate with the HBOE in a respectful manner. We can role model for the HBOE how to value others opinion, and work toward consensus in our community. Maybe if the HBOE is treated in this way, the members of the HBOE will be more mindful of how to be respectful and tolerant of each other and the community. We are all working toward the common good of the Town of Hebron and its schools - no one group has cornered the market on virtue.

I suggest people attend the Hebron Town board meetings to observe and hear for themselves the decisions being made by our elected and employed. Participation is key to the democratic process. Grousing on a blog using a pen name is one way to promote fiscal responsibility. Another very effective way is getting more people to stand up at meetings and share desire for efficient use of our funds – BEFORE the budgets are set.

After the increase to the superintendents salary was "announced" -- I am totally convinced that the majority of the town boards (HBOE, BOS, BOF etc) have discussed issues privately before discussing them at public meetings.

When I heard that Ms Shea explained the reasons behind Ms. Cruz's raise, all I could think of was the fact that Ms Shea held her ground with the difficult decisions and was subjected to verbal abuse during most of the HBOE public meetings. I almost felt she was chosen to make the announcement as a show of agreement with the board's decision. I may have been the only individual who questioned the many, many executive sessions used by the BOE at the end of this year. Those executive session are "private" sessions and it is legal to use this venue to discuss personnel issues. WHY SO MANY??

This superintendent caused more problems this year than solutions. I personally do not believe she should have been rewarded with a raise. Some examples:

filling the curriculum position against public opinion,

keeping 2 principals and vice principals in this small community rather than having just one principal and one vice principal rotate between the schools,

keeping the 2 sessions of ADK when the majority in town wanted none,

using a "lottery system" for student participants in the ADK although town taxes are paid by everyone,

hiring a state trooper to attend a "press conference" in our small community (funds that could be used for the students),

using creative math to explain the expenses and/or savings of programs,

using power point presentations with hypothetical cuts and then later stating that the community started rumors of cuts (although the rumors reflected the hypothetical cuts listed on the superintendent's handout),

frightening parents by threatening to cut favorite programs and

replying to very specific questions by the BOF with no-explanation but phrases like "we will have to wait and see!"

You know something is not quite right when rumors surfaced (during this current school year) that school employees wanted to gather names for a "vote of no-confidence". You are right ... we had better be prepared this year for more of the same. Hopefully, our superintendent will be more prepared to answer the hard, difficult questions. I can think of no instances were voters have been disrespectful to this individual through emails, letters to the editor, letters to the school or comments made at the public forum.