There was in interesting (but relatively benign) article in the CCT about recent School Spending. The humorous part of the article was the reference to the School Committee's "Finance Sub-committee". If you watch the meeting tape, it was one of the two "Finance Sub-committee" members that announced on-camera that "if anybody had questions, the School Business Manager could answer them".
(Past School Committees have purposely NOT formed Finance Sub Committees because it was widely felt that EVERY School Committee Member is responsible for understanding the budget -- as well as the payment requests they are required to review and approve each week. Financial oversight of public funds was always considered an obligation of every member. The idea that this responsibility has been delegated to the two people with probably the least amount of financial experience of anybody on the Committee is even more unsettling.)
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Equally unsettling is the fact that these two Finance Sub Committee members seem to feel that delegating their oversight function back to the Superintendent is also appropriate and reasonable – after all “he is a professional.”
In effect, since the Committee has delegated their duties to a subcommittee and the subcommittee has also delegated their duties, nobody on the School Committee is actually supervising anything.
That certainly makes being a Committee member a fairly easy job.
Is Rubber Stamp a title you would print on a business card or resume?
The Truth Maker would also ask where is the present leadership from the school committee. Are these finacial desicions being made in a vacumn,?
Where is the personal obligation of those whom we elected to represent the tax payers, who put up the money to operate the school district in this matter?
These desicions should be done as a team and not left to conflicted individuals with no knowledge and experience in financial matters.
In my opinion we the taxpayers elected 7 Sandwich residents to oversee how money gets expended, for the school district and all 7 should have a voice in how the money gets expended, not 2.
This does not sound to me, as being transparent nor the right way to run a school district.
I still do not buy the present reason as to why the DR. Canfield, did what he did in regards to the way the money was dispersed without informing the school committee prior to the money being expended.
Does anyone have a complete list of the last minute purchases they can post a link to or email?
Thanks,
Jane Logan
janelogan31@hotmail.com
In regards to last week’s article on the Sandwich pool, here are a few things that I found ridiculous.
I find it ridiculous that we are STILL talking about this issue. There are 12 people who attended a meeting to complain about wanting to swim in the pool during school hours. There is an Olympic size pool at the YMCA (and a bus system that will take them there) as well as an indoor pool at a local motel. It is appalling to realize the amount of time, money, and energy the town has spent on this issue.
I find it incredibly ridiculous that an elected town school board member went on public record saying that we should essentially hoodwink the New England Association of Schools and Colleges who told the town NINE years ago that it was wrong to have outside people using the pool during school hours. Her response was that the accreditation was a year away so why not let them use the pool for the next year. Really?
I find it even more ridiculous that this elected official’s reasoning was that the pool was empty so why not let them use it. By the same reasoning, our school’s libraries and cafeterias are often empty during the day so why not open those to the public too? This is the same woman who does not understand why the Community School is refunding the money to the swimmers when it is in need of money. Because if you cannot provide a service, you refund the money. What is ridiculous is that this official has not yet been recalled.
The school has an obligation to do their absolute best to keep our children safe during the school day. This means not allowing random people into the school. I am sorry for the people who like to swim during the day but that is not a right AND it can be accomplished by going somewhere else or swimming in the evening. It is time to put this issue to rest and move on for everyone’s sake.
I think the matter is closed at least for now. 3 to 3 the motion is dead.
Does this mean the task force will no longer be tasking?
If the pool will, in the near future, be used during the day by students it makes sense to close in during school time hours.
I did enjoy watching how the above referenced school board member's eyes widened as she continued to discuss the issue. She has some great facial expressions.
Just remember to vote for someone new when this committee member is up for election.
Accreditation a year away? Pay As You Throw was instituted 3 1/2 ahead of when I could throw my trash away based on a negotiated contract that was for all town residents. To not take advantage of that negotiated price to its' full contract was an absolute disservice to ALL town residents. The Community School can refund any and all pool enrollments....they are not paying for the pool!!!!!!!
Meanwhile the Facilities Dept is putting up signs at the Human Services Building instead of fixing the buildings they were tasked with
Omg is this groundhog day? Did they new fab 4 just vote to open the school pool to the Ladies from Mashpee and Marston's mills?
Off.....on.....off.....on. Automotive turn signals work similarly.
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