Monday, May 21, 2012

Who's in Charge?

The budget is due June 30th. The union presidents are criticizing the manner in which the budget is being cut and, according to The Norwalk Hour, Chiarmonte said...... "We're not quite ready for it yet. We're still working on the budget plan and we didn't want to go out there in a chaotic fashion, scaring the bejesus out of people for no reason," Chiaramonte said. "We'll have a well thought-out discussion. We don't want to rush through with a list to just say here's a list, then go back and figure it out later. We don't want to work it out that way." Chiaramonte said Superintendent Susan Marks has a list of cuts, as does Finance Committee Chairman Steve Colarossi, but the board needs to "compare notes and see where we could find common ground" before holding a public discussion. The budget meeting for Tuesday night was canceled. Is there chaos in the school system? Should the bejesus be scared out of us? Is there anyone in charge?

17 comments:

  1. How about respecting parents enough to let us know what's going on?
    When I read that the board "needs to compare notes and see where we could find common ground", all I heard was "TIME FOR BACKROOM DEALS". Sorry, ladies and gentlemen, but you should be looking for common ground with us, not with political cronies.

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  2. When you've had kids who go through the system, you learn all the budget games. I'm a triple threat- I've had kids in elementary strings, who have gone to Columbus and who are swimmers. So for the past 5 years (I guess), I know some budget scare tactic is coming our family's way.
    I don't know if I like not knowing. I guess it's good that Supt. Marks doesn't want to rush a plan. But I don't think it's a sign of leadership that NOTHING has come from her office all budget season.
    Can any other school budget veterans remember a time when there was NO PLAN by April?

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    1. Chiarmonte doesn't want to rush a plan. We haven't heard anything from Marks.

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  3. I have no doubt they are working a plan and been working it. All one has to do is go back over the past 4 years of circus like atmosphere budget meetings to know what is likely on the chopping block. No one wants this to happen...but it's not like Mellion or Ditrio have offered anything short of screaming "FIRE" in a crowded theater with their blame everybody but us attitude. When a budget is 90% salaries and benefits...and you are the second highest paid staff in the state with the best benefits the only thing left to cut is the people. I guess we could get rid of the books or paper...oh yeah we already got rid of the paper!

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  4. Does anyone else think that Supt Marks should have had a plan in the works weeks ago?

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  5. So if the Board is working out a "plan" that means is basically a done deal. Which again, leaves the important stakeholders out of the discussion. I hope that by the time the board comes to the comunity to discuss their plan - it better be more than just one plan - if not, I see no point in coming to the community.

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  6. Transparency was promised. Secrecy is what we got.....or a better description might be chickens running around without their heads!

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  7. if the assistant prncipals are not cut and the 12month employees cut back to 11 months where will the cuts be? How about cutting the benefits for all the columbus school aides that would add alot to the budget They think they are better then the rest of the aides who do the same job they do and do it very well with no benefits and less hours Whats fair is fair

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  8. Why is it always the "little" guys getting the brunt of things? Talk about "nickel and dimeing" it. How about the "big guns" downtown taking a pay freeze for a change. Will NPS be prepared in September if all these cuts/resignations/retirements take place. Replacements can certainly be made, but will employees to new positions know how to operate in the classroom or office. Sure hope somebody is thinking about all of this!!!!

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  9. It is not just the little guys who will be affected. Everyone will be affected, big guns, little guns and everything in between. There is no way around it. Ten million will affect anything you can think of.

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  10. Waiting for the ax to fall is not pleasant. How is everyone else doing?

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    1. Not good!! Many are scared out of their minds. So many rumors. Hope a final decision is not given on June 30th!!! Would like something sooner.

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  11. Its sad but the higher ups all have their jobs. ITs the support staff noncertified that has to worry. Why cant the teachers give back something or take no raise for one year. The aides did it a few years ago they were without contract for over a year and no pay increase they did not even get their retro backpay. Again why is it they have to suffer and the teachers get what they want. Its time Bruce M. stopped complaining about what the teachers did and what they gave back it did not effect their raises and he does not even live in Norwalk.

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  12. Aides took a zero as part of their contract negotiation.
    The administrators took their zero as part of their deal for a contract extension.
    So what is the stellar BoE negotiation team doing to make the same type of deal happen?

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  13. Does the Board of Education even take into account that people might be out of a job and therefore have to look for a new job? The longer it takes the Board to come up with cuts, the more people who will have no chance at all to get a job as a teacher or aide somewhere else. How inconsiderate can you get? Even those teachers who get bumped into a different grade level will not have time to prepare for their new position. Thanks, Susan Marks and Board for NOT doing your jobs. I guess teachers and aides mean very very little to you.

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