September 13, 2004
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Joseph Gillis Jr.
You can do something!
As far as what are my plans for moving the School System forward, I do have some ideas. Some of which follow, and a few are still being worked out. Certain issues I believe I can bring forward on my own, while others (since I am a member of a Committee), should go through a more formal analysis process.
No matter how this current school year proceeds, there will inevitably be another ballot over-ride question next spring. The question was soundly defeated in Bridgewater because of two critical factors: money and accountability.
MONEY --> While the budget packets released on March 31st went into more detail than ever before (or at least in recent memory), what was missing from the budget forecasts was more important than what was included:
a) No prior year comparisons for categories
b) No actuals for each category to validate the budget
c) No information on Income, budget or actual
d) Separation of the various expense types; for example: directly related to student education, facilities management, 'pass-thru' contruction (or other) costs
Without these numbers, the decision not to authorize more spending was easy for many to make.
ACCOUNTABILITY --> The packet released this spring was a good 'start' in the process of restoring confidence in the School Administration and how it handles annual budgets. However, there is a long way to go in order to convince many in the community that the money and the AMOUNT of money needs to be spent. If the following were available for internet download, they would continue the process:
a) Publishing prior year financial reports, inlcuding audited reports
b) On a quarterly basis, publish year-to-date analyses of spending and income trends
c) Publish reports on enrollment trends, number of teachers
Most of all, publish the data as a School District and not rely on the reporting of others. The newspapers may get a fact wrong, or an incorrect number may appear on a website. It is important to have control and ownership of the data - for the citizens and for all to see.
Some in Bridgewater and Raynham believe that I am the cause of the current financial situation, and have told me to resign. If I did, and I do not intend to, how will that act make the money any different? Would it restore confidnce in the Administration?
I have said this before, and I will repeat it here again. "If the School Administration had provided me with all my requested financial reports in early July, then I could have been put in the position of agreeing with the plan of the School Administration and backing the Over-ride, or coming up with my own alternative." However, I was not provided with any information, and still have not received anything since an April 30th Expense Summary and Balance Sheet. To many, the fact that I am an elected member of the School Committee and on the Budget Sub-Committee, and still unable to determine anything of substance with regards to finance, means that they will not support increased spending. These voters - your neighbors, both with and without children - have told me that they put their faith in me to ask questions, to find out about the finances, to provide accountability.
I said "NO" to the over-ride on July 31st, but I never said "NO" to all over-rides. I said that I could be convinced of the need for funds, but that I would need facts. Before I get inundated with emails about this or that discontinued program, I have no knowledge of the financial juggling done by the Administration - I have not seen any revised Expense Budgets since the one published March 31st. These choices (and I chose that word carefully) put in place have been done so without any interaction with the School Committee or the Budget Sub-Committee. Perhaps I would have made some of the same choices, but we may never know since I am still without any current financial reporting.
To all who elected me, my intentions were always clear. My goal is to improve education, treat the students of Bridgewater and Raynham equally and without favoritism, and not to expect increased funds through taxation. We need to make sure that intelligent decisions and choices are made with the funds available today, and that plans are made to fund the education for tomorrow's children.
