about budgets and buildings
November 21, 2007
[Q]Preliminary discussions have been reported in the newspaper(s) that the B-R School Committee and the Raynham BOS (Board of Selectmen) are seeking an opinion from DOE (Dept of Education) if it is possible to present separate K-8 budgets...At this time is it possible to enlighten us from what you know if this would be beneficial for Bridgewater?
[A] Beneficial to Bridgewater... hard to quantify. In some ways, it would allow Bridgewater to simply say they will short-fund K-8, or fund to any level. The extra breakdown of dollars will come at a cost - someone must calculate the distribution of costs. Also, methods for sharing costs must be set. So, think of it this way... Bridgewater and Raynham will each see two budgets - own town K-8 and HS - but at the cost of one accountant to manage the further assignments for every single dollar. So, spending money to shut up the Bridgewater Selectmen - not necessarily a good thing for education. How does an accountant help the educational product?
[Q] Also, is the sudden mention of $$ owed to Raynham for the existing high school stemmed from frustration and anger brought on by the actions of our BOS? And if so, would Raynham be more willing to accommodate Bridgewater if our BOS demonstrated a willingness to embrace collaborative leadership by discussing real solutions with the School Committee?
[A] This has always been an issue - the old HS. The stupidity of our Selectmen has stirred this hornet's nest.
[Q] Or is it too little too late for Bridgewater to convince Raynham officials to hold off from addressing the existing (former) High School.?
[A] I do not believe there is any way of addressing this - putting it back to sleep - right now short of Bridgewater writing the check to Raynham for the estimated $2M-$3M as previously forecast. If a relationship is strong, then things like this can be temporarily set aside. However, when Bridgewater Selectmen intentionally do things to cause pain, how can you expect a friendly reaction from Raynham?
[Q] It appears that Raynham is rightfully seeking an alternative funding plan that would provide supplemental $$ (monies owed from the existing H.S.) to fund K-8 Raynham schools alone.
[A] Not sure what Raynham would do with sudden revenue from Bridgewater for the old HS. If history is any indication, I would not figure one-time revenue to be used by Raynham to handle operational budgets. I would bet Raynham puts the money into their own Stabilization Account.
To summarize, Bridgewater Selectmen through their stupidity and arrogance, have set this process in motion. Perhaps Mark and Stan will write checks themselves (isn't that what they do to assist the Sr Ctr, etc..?) to pay this issue of money owed to a partner. However, Mark & Stan are normally smart guys, so perhaps their intention all along was to make sure Bridgewater paid Raynham the millions of dollars owed in this upcoming budget cycle.
Ask the Selectmen about this - making a payment in the upcoming budget cycle of millions of dollars to Raynham - at the next Selectmen's Meeting during Public Forum!
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Joseph Gillis Jr.
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