February 16, 2005
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Joseph Gillis Jr.
You can do something!
Last night's (2/15/05) Bridgewater-Raynham School Committee meeting featured the release of the Proposed FY06 School Budget for the Appropriation Fund. Bottom line... $54,098,754 in total.
To refresh everyone's memory, last year at this time (March 31, 2004), the proposal was initially for $48,242,430 for the FY05 school year (the current year). Raynham Selectmen Gordon Luciano spoke at that Public Hearing, and the B-R School Committee then upped their request to $50,042,430. That initial $48M proposal was before the Tier 1-4 cuts; elimination of positions, high school athletics, extracurricular activities, and more.
In the spring of 2004, Raynham approved funding at about the $48M level at their Town Meeting; Bridgewater's Town Meeting funded around the $45M level. A number of GIFT's were offered from the Town's from their Free Cash, ultimately resulting in a budget of about $45.3M for this year. But, not shown is the more than $2M in GIFT money that is not recorded or shown on the Appropriation Fund Budget. So, this would mean that B-R is operating with about a $47.4M budget right now.
Once again, the School Administration is keying on their premise that B-R is spending 19% less per student than the state-wide average. Coincidentally (is it?), the proposal is for a "requested increase of 19.3% over the current $45,329,039 Fiscal Year 2005 School Budget" [February 15, 2005 memo Presentation of Preliminary School Budget for Fiscal Year 2006 from Dr. Robert O. McIntyre.]
Some points to ponder:
(a) Where else in society would the goal be to be spending more money? At a recent School Committee Meeting, a presentation was made by one of our outside vendors that provide special education service for some of the students of B-R. He made a point to tell us that their services cost the district about $20,000 per student, where many of the other local service providers have average costs to school systems of $35,000 per student.
Therefore, B-R should fire our current provider, and contract for services with one of the more expensive providers since we are paying less than the local average or 'going-rate' for service. Right?
(b) "Substantial budget Increases include $1,600,000 in insurance and fixed costs, and a County Retirement Assessment of $794,649." This whole statement is misleading as the $1.6M includes the $218,743 increase in County Retirement Assessments for retired school administrators. Insurance costs are increasing by $1,202,709 for current employees and by $408,485 for retirees insurance. If these are truly budget-busting categories, than perhaps the School Committee should have been more steadfast in altering the financial structure of the healthcare choices.
(c) If B-R wants to get to the State average, if that is truly the goal, then will that be the goal across all areas? For FY03 and FY04 (years statistics available), the average salary for School Superintendents was $111,871 and $115,577. Our Superintendent makes $130,000 per year (per a story in the Enterprise last year - I have still never received a copy of his contract, even after many requests.) Should we make sure that we are only paying at the State Average? After some adjustment was made at the Dept. of Ed, B-R teacher average salary was published as $56,390 vs. a statewide average of $51,803.
Bringing forward a proposal of over $54M is just foolish. It is the same as your 16 year old child telling you that they are requesting an excellent car, and it just so happens to cost more than a quarter-million dollars as their choice is a Bentley. And, how do you argue with the argument that the vehicle is the best since when was the last time you heard of one breaking down, or saw a disabled Bentley on the side of the road. However, not providing your child with a car costing a quarter-million dollars does not mean you do not care, it only means that you are willing to make sure they drive an excellent car within the confines of family finances.
For that matter, why not propose a $94M budget? Who could argue with the potential for a better education with twice as much staff (admin and teachers)? But, that is the crux of the issue, and it is being talked about today because of the MA Supreme Judicial Court decision on Hancock vs. Dept of Ed. Does more money automatically guarantee a better education? What do residents of Cambridge think about the education there, as they spend more than twice what we spend here at B-R? I bet most (if not all) of those parents would trade for the education provided at B-R. So, does more spending mean a better education?
