(If anybody remembers what a record was!) ....
Before the School Department asks for more money -- or triples my K-8 sports fee -- I would like assurances that the money that I already give them is not being used to entertain people who are not enrolled in grades K-12.
Specifically, is the Community School reimbursing the District for all of its operating costs yet?
How much did the Community Pool reimburse the District for utility usage this year? Where are those funds recognized in the Budget?
How was construction of the "cabanas" funded? (I'm going to skip any jokes about what the cabanas have been used for -- or the quality of the supervision in either the locker room or the pool area!)
If the Pool continues to run at a major loss (as the last audit showed that it did), does the School Committee plan to continue to allow the parents paying for Drivers Ed & Pre-School, as well as those taking night courses, to subsidize pool costs ? Does the fact that such a large percentage of pool users benefiting from this generosity don't even live (or pay taxes) in Sandwich concern anyone?
And, what about that audit? Are the auditors coming back to see if the issues raised in their report have been addressed or ignored (again)?
(OK -- Here's the standard Community Pool Discussion Disclaimer: I think the Community School, including the Pool, provide great programs that benefit people of all ages from Sandwich and surrounding Towns. If the Town wants to take over the pool, and try to fund it through a Town meeting appropriation, good luck. But, do not use the tax dollars appropriated to support our kids' education to reduce the cost of swim time for the nice people in Barnstable, Mashpee, Falmouth etc. They can pay for their own recreation.)
3 comments:
The Truth Maker would add to the same questions, that our host has asked. We continue to get stonewalled, in regards to where and how some of the money being used in the Community school is comming from.
To think that folks whom do not even live in our town and any support taxes are getting a free ride on the backs of the Sandwich taxpayers, needs to be addressed and reconsiled within the present budget proposal. This would provide more transparency to every one and that is the whole truth of the ongoing saga of this delimna we are all facing.
Bob I think we need to get a little super glue and stick all the pieces back together.
The community school is a huge concern. How can this town continue to cut funding for core services when there are parts of town government not pulling their weight? Operationaln budgets for non critical services have done enough damage. Where the Community School is concerned, how can the superintendent and the school committee continue to ignore the serious financial issues raised by the audit? It is irresponsible to say the least. Too bad there is no agency devoted to protecting taxpayers from the impact of mismanagement in our schools. The community School is and has been an enormous deterrent to the success factor for our schools. It is no wonder, the cottage industry mentality in school districts and it's negative effect continues to be studied. Bob, you are right!
Sandwich Schools...from an asset to a liability in a few easy steps.
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