Apparently, at last night’s School Committee meeting Mrs. Linehan suggested that the answer to many questions, even legal issues, is a matter of opinion or personal preference. That’s certainly an interesting life philosophy.
I never thought of posted speed limits and fire arm discharge ordinances or laws governing state and municipal contracting procedures as merely suggestions, but Mrs. Linehan’s is a most liberating perspective.
In addition to sharing her ad hoc life philosophy lesson at the School Committee meeting, Mrs. Linehan and Mrs. Marshal and special guest Jim Lehane undertook to revisit the Community School saga. In keeping with her “Its all a matter of opinion or personal preference” theme, Linehan, Marshal and Lehane rewrote a bit of the historic record and skipped over a few facts worth noting.
Fact: An Independent Audit firm, hired by the Town of Sandwich, has criticized the Community School bookkeeping and accounting procedures and said that they are not standard practice. A criticism noted by other Audit firms in previous audit reports delivered to the Town. Allocating pool expenses to Drivers Ed and Surround Care accounts for example is wrong no matter what your opinion or personal preference.
Fact: An Independent Audit firm, hired by the Town of Sandwich, has criticized the Community School purchasing procedures and said that they violate state law. A criticism noted by other Audit firms in previous audit reports delivered to the Town. Not following State procurement law is wrong and is not a matter of opinion or personal preference.
Fact: An Independent Audit firm, hired by the Town of Sandwich, has confirmed that the Community School operates at an annual deficit and that certain Community School expenses (major expenses), including pool heat and electric bills, have been and are being charged to the School Operating budget. That the School operating budget is supplementing the Community Schools’ operation (and has for years) is not a matter of opinion, it’s a fact.
Fact: For years the Community School collected tens-of-thousands of dollars in “rent” from sports leagues, dance studios, church groups and clubs for the use of school buildings’ and fields and did not ever pass the rent revenue back to the schools to offset utility cost, custodial costs or any other expense associated with building and field upkeep and usage. This too is a fact and is not a matter of opinion.
While I don’t really know him, I am pretty sure that Mr. Lehane is a nice, intelligent, well meaning guy. I am pretty sure that he ran the Community School as it had always been run; perhaps even better. I haven’t heard anyone suggest that he did anything corrupt or with mal intent. Mrs. Marshall and other long-time Community School Executive Board overseers also ran the Community School as it had always been run. Likewise, I don’t think anybody is saying she did anything corrupt or with mal intent. I just don’t think that is or should be anybody's point of focus. What’s done is done. Its time to look ahead. On this point, I am pretty sure Mrs. Marshal, Mrs. Linehan and I are in complete agreement.
The issue is: Knowing what we know today, knowing the facts, knowing the Town's and School's difficult financial situation, what needs to change? How will it change? When will it change? And, who will over see it? In other words, and parents and taxpayers have been asking this for a while, Dear School Committee: WHAT'S THE PLAN?
3 comments:
The Truth Maker would agree with you Bob . When one looks back into revisionary history it becomes apparent that the process failed and some people liked it that way.
The truth of the matter has been exposed, but some still will continue to save face as they attempt to wash there hands from what they did.
Yes we need to go forward, but some members do not know how, as was evident at last nights meeting. So many inaccurate comments and plain ignorance of the laws, will never ever be reconciled as long as the only focus point is on replacing the super. This seems to be the motivating topic of discussion. How can we help make the super look bad. The formulation of this contrivance, seems to have taken the place of common sense and integrity.
They have a plan, but it only serves the master of this plot and not the school educational process for our children.
Perhaps after the New Year, they will come to there senses and realize that there actions have resulted in dollars they do not have in the budget from being even less then what has been spoken about at some of the budget meetings allready held by the super. What a mistake, for the taxpayers here in Sandwich
this will be, when the teachers do not take a zero.
I see Bus fees, higher sports fees, community school paying its share of the heating and lighting bill. The pool even might be closed.
Oh well another day in the long drawn out saga of how we got ourselves in the conditions we are. This soap opera will continue at the next school committee meeting and we can do nothing except watch, wait for the next chapter of events.
WELL SAID BOB.....YOU ARENT GONNA BE ON LINEHANS CHRISTMAS CARD LIST THIS YEAR!!!!!
Ahhhh, ignorance is bliss. Unfortunately, it is also harmful.
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