I received a few very similar comments/questions to Brother Guerin's Winston Churchill post -- so, to avoid repetition, here's my own summary answer:
Yes -- the Superintendent normally puts the budget draft together based on her discussions with Administrators and the school committee and based on the projected funds available. That budget appears in late December, gets discussed in January, turned over the BOS on 2/1, re-discussed and turned-over to FinCom on 3/1 before being re-re-discussed and turned over to Town Meeting on the first Monday in May.
Over the past few years, there were always Committee members with a variety of skills and backgrounds, including some with experience in financial/business/budget issues, that could ask relevant questions and discuss options that would have an impact on the construction of the budget. These members worked very closely with the Superintendent to try to optimize the blend of the academic, financial, and political components of the budget.
I find it humorous that people talk about prior committees serving as "rubber stamps" when, in reality, many members were in contact with the Superintendent on an almost daily basis to discuss programs and concerns, and to ask questions. The objective was always to share/gain information -- not play "gotcha!" on local cable. The goal was to be collaborative -- not confrontational. The harshest critics of the "old" school committee were almost always people who made accusations, rather than asked questions. They had no understanding of what they were talking about and had no interest in getting one before they started making speeches.
Enough of the past. Now what?
The School Department needs to trim at least $2.5 million from its budget for FY '12. This will require deep cuts and will affect everyone in the district in some fashion. There needs to be a solid consensus between the SC, BOS & FinCom over what our Town's priorities are going to be.
- What do the schools plan to eliminate?
- What will the Town eliminate?
- Do we need a shellfish warden more than a basketball coach?
- Is it more important to teach French than provide Town nursing services?
These are "political" questions. The Committee needs to start discussing priorities with the Superintendent in the early stages of the budget -- not at the end. The Committee also needs to start meeting immediately with the BOS & FinCom to make sure they are on-board with the priorities now --- NOT in April.
This will not be a normal "bad" budget. This will be a budgetary Tsunami. Instead of concentrating on picking up seashells, this Committee needs to start evacuating the low-lying areas!
4 comments:
It would actually be more productive for the entire Town if the current SC would simply sit quietly in the low-lying areas and be washed away by the Tsunami! Just one woman's opinion! :)
Okay Bob, this is the second time that you have brought up French. While it may be only useful to you for ordering wine, I hope that you would not dismiss the merits of this language choice without doing some research. The following information can be found at http://www.fll.vt.edu/French/whyfrench.html
"While any language will be useful for some jobs or for some regions, French is the only foreign language that can be useful throughout the world as well as in the United States. French as a foreign language is the second most frequently taught language in the world after English. The International Organization of Francophonie has 56 member states and governments. Of these, 28 countries have French as an official language. French is the only language other than English spoken on five continents. French and English are the only two global languages.
When deciding on a foreign language for work or school, consider that French is the language that will give you the most choices later on in your studies or your career.
French, along with English, is the official working language of
the United Nations
UNESCO
NATO
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
the International Labor Bureau
the International Olympic Committee
the 31-member Council of Europe
the European Community
the Universal Postal Union
the International Red Cross
Union of International Associations (UIA)
French is the dominant working language at
the European Court of Justice
the European Tribunal of First Instance
the Press Room at the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium
One example of the importance of French can be seen in a recent listing of international jobs (12/1/09) distributed by the US State Department: 92 required or preferred French, 36 Spanish, 11 a UN language (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish), 7 Arabic, 5 Russian, 1 Japanese, 1 Hindi, 1 German, and 1 Chinese. "
1:12,
Spoken like a true French Teacher!!
My intent is not to argue the merits of one language over another --- but I would certainly prefer my employees focussed on the growing consumer sector markets in China, Russia, and Latin America --- rather than the public sector bureaucracy of the UN-related groups! (I also order my adult beverages using the universal language -- "Bud Light, please!")
But the point is that we need to make Big Picture choices. We're talking about cutting at least $2.5 million from the budget -- we may end up with NO foreign languages.
How on Earth can you get more people to be involved? They may not agree, and that is ok, but most of this town thinks denial is a river in Egypt.
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