Thanks to Brad Moulton for forwarding his notes from tonights meeting:
The Board meeting tonight (12-18-06) Dr. Lesky, Mr. Keller and Mr. Butz were absent due to attending the negotiation session with NAEA. Mr. Maher chaired the meeting in Mr. Keller's absence.
In brief community corner there was two comments/statements. The first was by Mr. Iaccone who suggested the lights in the borough were the best he's seen in 40 years and he suggested that council members who live outside the borough come to see it for themselves.
The second comment was from Mr. Chris Miller of Bushkill Township. He mentioned an Express Time article about state pension shortfalls and suggested an 'avalanche was coming in our direction'. The article states that the state faces a $3.4B shortfall in public pensions over the next 5 years. He also stated that the Board is spending money so fast, it is 'making drunken sailors look good'. He stated that development will not go on and on and that perhaps instead of spending '$5M on a pool for 40 people' and $$MM on a new MS, perhaps 'we should be buying desks instead'. He stated that the 'Taj Mahals' need to be stopped. He continued that the board has made a generous offer to the teachers and he suggested to the teachers that 'education is changing'. Finally, he stated that as a real estate agent, someone came to him to inquire about a $300K house in Washington Township (Bangor School District) and asked how much taxes would be. He stated that this was a 'modest' - 2000 ft2 house on 1.5+ acres and that the taxes would be approximately $7500/year. He finished by warning the board to 'be alot more careful when trying to spend my $'.
A couple notable things during the meeting. Ms. Dautrich's report stated that our special education budgets are increasing rapidly due to new students with IEPs coming to the district. Our new students (coming to the district) with autism was 4.2% and emotional support needs 9.4%. Apparently, two student with autism enrolled in the district in 06-07 and two additional students with autism are expected in 07-08.
New busing software that will cost $26K was discussed with questions from the community. One community member wondered why the district was paying for the software and not Jennings. It was stated by Mr. Maher that the district has responsibility for 'first run' bus routes and that the current software is very old. This brought another question from Mr. Miller (Bushkill Twnp) about why are the buses only 1/2 full every morning at Bushkill. It was mentioned by Ms. Callie that state law requires the district to have seating/busing for all students regardless of whether they use it or not, except in the case of seniors who have parking permits.
Green certification of the new MS questioned. Ms. Swigart stated that there are a lot of details to be finalized at a future meeting and that the new building could achieve a "silver certificate". It was also mentioned that the green certification costs were in the original building plans.
A copy of the new budget was presented with some changes from the last (Nov) presented budget. It was stated that this would be posted on-line in the (near) future. Also, at the Jan 22nd board meeting the summary results of each committee would be presented stating 'essential' and 'value added' programs and the costs and justifications of each. Some highlights of the 'new' proposed budget are:
Increase in spending down from +10% to 8.8%. This is mainly accomplished by no new hires and that building and grounds made some cuts.
Debt service numbers 2006-07 projected $7,491,824 and 2007-08 projected $8,536,590 (an increase of 13.9%).
Finally, a motion at the end of the meeting was made and passed to impose a hiring freeze until the budget details are worked out.
Thanks again to Brad and on another note it was posted elsewhere here that as of 10:10 p.m. there was no agreement between the NASD and NAEA.
13 comments:
I forgot to mention that the Tax Commission Study proposal (increasing EIT by 0.9%) recommendation was passed by the board.
Morning Call has the story. Tentative deal reached at 12:30 am!!!
Finally.
http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-5webnazdec19,0,3783878.story
Scott
I wanted to attend the meeting but could not get their. Thanks for the postings, more than in the newspapers. Wonderful... someone is speaking out with concerns about the budget in public with all the spending and proposed future spending. I did not hear anything about Leh stadium until Ross's post.
An example of something one would think would be made public before the go ahead. Guess I was sleeper mode.
Saw some interesting quotes in the Express-Times article (read the article here.
Specifically in regard to the increased expenditures in the 2007-2008 budget:
The spending increase was decreased from 10 percent to 8.8 percent, Rishcoff said.
A hiring freeze made up the majority of the decrease, Rishcoff said. Other decreases were in curriculum and buildings and grounds.
"The bottom line really is how much of a tax increase is the board willing to support," Rishcoff said.
Based on the admin perspective there is no way to reduce taxes except to cut curriculum and freeze hiring (with a little reduction in building and grounds) and the board has to figure out how much of a tax increase it is comfortable with?
I've addressed some areas of the budget with big increases that are not direct instructional in posts on this site, there is also the growing debt service, and we need to look at some of the spending on technology and programs to see if we really are getting a return on the investment.
In this case, I think the board needs to hold as firm with the admin as it had with the teachers.
While moving forward with building projects that are going to result in future spending increases, the administration has made no effort to identify non-instructional areas to reduce spending.
One would think non instructional spending such as building and grounds would be the first place to reduce or look to reduce spending. Before you know it the board will want to cut student programs. Too bad they cannot cut back on their so called needed appearances for visitors and community. Surely there are ares to cut back. Maybe an accounting fact finder would be the answer.
Anon 8:39
You could not have put it better. Why cut the trimings when we can cut the meat.
They freeze staff hiring while they push ahead with a fancy building exterior, pool and stadium. Why?
If a person ran their business this way, they would be on the unemployment line.
Bring in external auditors with no ties to the district and Nazareth area. Only then can we start to get a handle on spending.
We elected the board to represent us. If that is truly the case, then they should put ALL of these projects up for referendum on the next ballot. My guess is there won't be as much support for them once the taxpaying citizens see the bill we will have to pay.
I totally agree with 10:15 am...please let the taxpayers know all. Funny the new plans for the ms. Here we go: announced at one Nov school board, pick up plans and cost to review in office than you need to get on the agenda for the meeting yes this Jan if you want to speak up. If you were not at the meeting last month, you know nothing of this. And if you are not on the agenda sit tight. Public informed???...I do not think so
I confused - are you saying that because you did not attend a public board meeting or a public committee meeting -- you are not informed -- and you are blaming who?
This was not a publicly addressed outside the board meeting, which we attended. The viewing of ms plans and meeting for public comment to take place this Jan. As far as stating anything for public comment, maybe that should be made more public wide than just the invite only if you went to the school board meeting last month. Building new school cost taxpayers lots of $$$$$. So if you want to speak on this issue, you better call the district offices and requested your name be added to the agenda, I think it was said not more than a 2 minute comment.
Can one only ask a question or make a comment at a school board meeting if they get on the agenda??? If so, how does one do it?
you can comment on the agenda items at the beginning of the meeting and then there is a "brief" community corner. This is where you can bring up almost anything.
At the end of the meeting is another community corner, where most people typically comment on issues which came up during the meeting.
You do not have to get on the agenda ahead of time.
there are also public committee meetings that anyone can attend - not sure how many people go to them, but dates are made public and they are announced at the board meetings when they are going to be held. Anyone one can go to those meetings - that is where most of the info is developed that is reported at the board meetings
NOTE: At the Act 34 meeting discussing the new MS project, you MUST inform the admin of your intention to comment/speak before hand to get on the agenda.
At all other meetings, there will a public comment period (unless of course you're at a Nazareth Borough committee meeting (J/K)!)
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