Hebron Dollars & Sense

The first BOE budget public forum was last night, and I was the ONLY Hebron resident there. The ONLY one! There was one other couple, but they were from Marlborough. They said that their own BOE is considering reaching out to the public, and they wanted to gather info. How embarrasing! Guess what message residents sent to them, and to our own BOE? Hebron residents DON'T care enough to get involved. Last year, there was plenty of whining and moaning about how residents can't interact with the board--they won't answer questions, etc. I was right there with everyone else. But then the board goes to the trouble of setting up these forums. They were advertised adequately. All of our administrators were there--they managed to make it in from other towns--Vonda Tencza is from Berlin! They come all the way to town to try to appease the public, and the public doesn't show. I was disgusted. I asked as many questions as I could think of. They attempted to answer them. This was your chance, people. Where were you?

Last year I was right there on the bandwagon with the rest of the residents who were complaining about the lack of transparency of the BOE, lack of communication, etc. I still have my doubts regarding the honesty of some of the info presented. But last night certainly opened my eyes. There is another public forum on 1/27, though last night they were thinking of bumping it up to the week prior. In either case, it will be clearly posted on the schools website. I certainly hope they have a bigger showing than they did last night. Who looks apathetic and non-communicative now?

Oh, and for those who couldn't physically be there--how about email? Someone questioned whether the supt. had received written questions--TWO were sent before the forum.

Ya Gotta Remember One Small thing Taxpayer.

These So Called "Listening Sessions" Are A Creation Of The HBOE'S Media Creature Ann Baldwin & we The Informed Taxpayers Can see Straight Through Their BULLSHAPOOPY & will Not Buy their Shine on to the public That They purvey To the Public as "Listening"

Simply Put.

The HBOE Duz Not want To HONESTLY Listen To The Public

They Only want To Listen to their Own Insular Selfs/Beliefs

That's What Ellie Wants

That's What EYE KNOW FOR SURE

As much as I have my reservations regarding the motives of administration, having witnessed the forum last night I have to believe it was an honest attempt to be more interactive with the public, and nothing more. There was no agenda. They made an introduction, and asked if anyone (I) had questions. Questions were answered by either the supt. or the HBOE chair. While the chair seems to have a difficult time listening and directing discussion specifically to the topic at hand, the supt. seemed to be making an honest attempt to answer questions clearly and in detail. It was not a "listening session"--it was a questioning session. One of the chief complaints of people last year--and a common excuse for not attending meetings--was that the BOE/admin. doesn't allow residents to interact during meetings. "What's the point in going if we can't have our questions answered?" was something I heard/read more than once. This was intended to be an opportunity to provide people with an opportunity to get questions answered.

I wonder what you would propose we do about the BOE and the administration? I prefer to at least do my best to know what is going on. Getting involved and being informed makes a difference. We got a 0 percent budget last year. We won, for the first time in ages, in arbitration with the teachers. Those things wouldn't have happened if folks hadn't gotten involved and made some noise.

If you truly believe that Ellie doesn't want what's best for the town/schools/kids, isn't that all the more reason to keep an eye on what's going on, ask the tough questions, etc?

Kudos for your support of the public input, Taxpayer. I assumed since school was canceled this activity was also. I won't make that mistake again! Luckily I will have two more opportunities to participate. January 25th 9-10:15am at GHS room 29 and January 27th from 6-7pm before the regular HBOE meeting at GHS music room.

It has become increasingly apparent in this economy that dialogue between all the stakeholders in a town is an imperative. We share one "purse" for school and municipal (town functions) budgets - to pass equitable healthy budgets we have to communicate!

Fair Enough Taxpayer

Actions speak Louder than words,So I will Cast a Skeptical Eye Towards The HBOE Until I See What they do with Our Words

If they ain't Aware Of The Taxpayers Concerns By Now Hmmm

What Planet Are They Living On Might you ask

"Spot On" Observation Of the Hboe Chair Taxpayer, Duz Not surprise Me at all

Great post taxpayer, I agree that the BOE is working to get public input. I would be wicked frustrated if I were the BOE at the level of participation. I too didn't attempt to go Thursday night as I incorrectly assumed that all school functions are cancelled if school is canceled..As far as the negative posts, its time to get past that and provide constructive input, not destructive input....Hmmmmm