This was the last Budget Meeting of the Newburgh School District BOE, before voting on a budget proposal for the 2010-11 school year.
The bullet point version:
- One hour executive session to discuss employment history of an individual.
- Maintenance position added to budget, $56k.
- Violence prevention funding added to budget, $250k.
- No percentage cut to ahletics budget.
Notes from the meeting are available here.
Athletics
Oh heaven forbid athletics should be touched!
Tired of underwriting city's responsibilities
Over the past two years the school district taxpayers in the surrounding towns, outside the city have beeen taxed to pay a major share for the city's responsibilities -
$440K for city busing because the city does not repair its streets and provide safety.
$1,000,000 for social workers; let's face it, even the supporters pretty much acknowledge this is for those kids who live in poorly maintained housing and unsafe neighborhods due to the failures of the city
add on the 200K for police in NFA to keep a eye on city gangs
and now $250K for after school programs to keep kids safe from the streets of the city
Recall the mean spirited words of one Newburgh city counsilwoman who threaten to embarras town officials into funding NFA police protection. She should be embarrassed for the dysfunctionon of the council she is a member of, the failure of the city police to identify and shut down the gang activity early, the growing drug problem, the mismanagement of millions of our tax dollars that have been given to the city from many outside state and federal sources, the ineptness of any city sponsored improvement program to actually produce long lasting improvements and the overall decay year after year of the city infrastructure.
This is a city that sends a greater percentage of students than either town to the NECSD and continues to expect the town residents to underwrite what is the city's responsiblities. The towns outside the city are not here to foot the bill for anyone's baby sitting problems, crime problems or local street and sidewalk maintenance issues. The city residents need to get out to their council and embarrass them into getting their own house in order otherwise replace them with real leaders with real backbone to address the city's problems.
What we need
As a town resident I agree that the city needs to fix it streets, bettert lighting and visibilty, etc. They also need long term solutions and better quality programs that are sustainable.
However, let's not think that because we live in a house, and have a front and backyard that some of us don't need social workers. The police are also keeping an eye on more than gang activity - while that is a major issue right now, there are other incidents that happen that the police can spearhead while in the building. Our town students also sometimes steal and sometimes dabble in drugs. Those after school programs are open to all students that fit the criteria making it a win win for the students who need a positive outlet and the ones who need extra time.
Overall, our children are better off going to a school with a divers population and program choices.
It is unfortunate that board members and council members seem to speak first and think later - especially when it effects our pocketbooks. We need more transparency and accountability, but we also need some reality checks.
We Need to Cut Expenses & Taxes & Subsidizing the City
Enough already with pouring millions into the city's problems. There is no reason to beleive that more money is going to help improve the city; no matter how many people they squeeze around the table. It has had many opportunities in the past and simply misused, wasted and possibly worse. The school district is now being roped into using the town residents to siphone more money from our pockets to be politically correct at best. VOTE NO on this budget and send a message to the board - no more programs for what is the city's job and its residents' responsibility.
Is this the best the BOE can do? VOTE NO
Athletics budget was an additional topic that we await Board's direction on.
Vesely: don't see where additional cuts can be made.
McAfee: thought we were interested in a 2.5% cut.
Pacella: board didn't have a consensus on that.
Bowles: supports 2.5% cut.
DeMarco: any suggestions from Athletic Director.
Pacella: never asked.
Poppiti: no big items to reduce, you'd have to pick a sport to cut to accomplish this kind of cut. When follow through on reorg may be ways to save, bu[t] percentage doesn't work.
So there is NO 2.5% CUT because the Athletic Director was NEVER ASKED? Is this true and will the sports program not be cut because"no big items to reduce, you'd have to pick a sport to cut to accomplish this kind of cut" ?
Again this is typical NECSD managerial irresponsibility. Just who was "responsible" for asking the Athletic Director after months of budget planning? Anyone? Where does the buck stop...Hello.... Superintendant!
First, the BOE doesn't come to meetings prepared to make a decision whether people or programs are in or out. Now we learn they don't hold anyone (Athletic Director) accountable for coming back with needed facts and NEEDED CUTS, but they go ahead and pass the cost onto the taxpayer anyway and basiclly say, oh well maybe next time.
VOTE NO and go back and make the athletic cuts needed.