There’s a regular school board meeting tonight:
SAD 35 to discuss school budget tonight
School Administrative District 35 wants to spend more money in 2008-09, but it’s expecting to get less aid from the state…
Here’s a summary of tonight’s agenda:
-Public Input – 2008-2009 Budget
-Report of the Chairperson: Board Goals 2007-2008
-Report of the Superintendent:
Tami Schoff, Reading Coach, MMS, Presentation
Rich Buzzell, End of Season Athletic Report
Subsidy Update from DOE
Budget Update
Boys’ Varsity Lacrosse Coach
Board Workshop on Curriculum
Other
-Report of the Committees:
Finance and Facilities Committee
Educational Policy Committee
Report of the Community Relations Committee
-New Business:
Overnight trip for the Girls’ Lacrosse team to
Policy JFAB/JFAB-E – Admission of Nonresident Tuition Students, First Reading
Delete policy KHE – Political Candidates.
(go to SAD 35 web site for full agenda)
-April 2 (Wed) School Board Budget Workshop
-April 16 (Wed) School Board Public Input on Budget
-May 7 (Wed) School Board Public Input on Budget – S/B approve budget
-May 9 (Fri) School Board approve and sign warrant (Superintendent’s Office)
-May 12 (Mon) Warrant and Notice to Town Clerks
-May 14 (Wed) Budget mailed to voters
-May 28 (Wed) District Budget Meeting
-June 10 (Tue) Budget Referendum
My rant-
Last week I paid my property tax bill. At the top it lists the different rates that make up the total tax rate:
municipal: $ 4.18
SAD 35: $ 8.66
county: $ .51
total $ 13.35
The school hires way more people than the town. People cost money. Our children do need a solid education, but can we afford to continue to increase the rate of salaries and benefits to public employees, if we are not receiving the same increases in our pay at home? I do not want to see salary increases in administrations when the teachers who are in the classrooms actually teaching our kids do not see the same types of increases. I would rather retain good teachers with merit pay than upper administration. Especially, when we as a community can not afford those increases, they should not be extended to anyone else. The classroom is where the rubber hits the road in education. We offer programs to enhance education for gifted and talented at the expense of providing remedial help for students who need a little extra at critical times. What happened to the idea of expecting more from “gifted children” within the existing classroom structure. We want to homogenize classrooms, not segregating kids on their learning abilities, but then offer a special program for those already excelling, while those struggling to understand the basics may hold back an entire classroom. If they reeived a little help at opportune times- maybe the entire class could move along at a faster pace, better engaging those with gifted minds and keeping others from getting bored as well. Can I suggest?…
allowing teachers to teach at different levels in the elementary grades… let kids change classrooms for math/science and reading/writing based on their skill levels. Then when they get to the Middle school, changing classrooms will not be a tramatic experience.
offer tutorials during the day for kids who need extra help. A long time ago, there used to be a program called Chapter One which helped a lot of kids with reading. That was given up for a more intensive program which helped only a very few children. A lot of kids that needed a little extra help fell through the cracks after that.
offer gym as an elective to kids throughout their schooling, some kids just have energy to burn. Let them get it out of their systems in the gym instead of fidgeting in the classroom and distracting everyone around them.
having paid for one child to go to sylvan to learn basic math skills, I am astounded at how many other parents I have bumped into that have also ended up with their children there. That tells me something is broken. It is not our teachers. It is our limitations on teaching styles, our adherence to government programs or maybe our curriculum. The most important education we can give to our children are the tools of HOW to learn, WHERE to go to find information and WHAT questions they need to ask to find it. If they come out of school disengaged in learning, then we have done them a disservice. If we spend our time teaching for standardized testing, are we teaching our children to explore, engage and be curious about the world?
For the sake of comarison and to develop a sense of where we are with our schools and children, the readers may find the following articles interesting:
http://onlinewsj.com/public/article_print/SB120425355065601997.html
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyID=19212514
I went to the school board meeting last night in which they did the first read of the Admission of Non-resident Tuition Students to our district. Tonight the vote was 4-2 in favor of allowing tuition students into our district.
Susan Pular voted for
Ellen Breed voted for
Helene Cass voted against
William Gilbert voted for
Martha Leathe voted against
Ralph Stevens voted for
I personally am against allowing outside students into our district as this would be a change which could have significant consequences for our children. Classes sizes could be larger, academic classes that our children may want at the high school level could be filled with tuition students, as wells as sports teams, plays and clubs. They would have equal rights to everything!
If other outside students want to go to our schools they should have to share in the same taxes the rest of us have to pay and move to our communities. A tuition student will pay under $9,000 per student at the high school level.
I realize that our tax rates will be increasing and some are looking at this as creative financing to offset taxes, but this would be a permanent change and I’m not certain that the small amount of revenue that we would generate would offset the negative.
In two weeks they will do the final vote at the school board meeting. If you feel strongly one way or another please contact the school board members above and voice your opinion
Dear School Board Members,
It has been brought to my attention that a preliminary vote was recently passed in regards to allowing “tuition” students into our high school. This vote is to be readdressed this week, Wednesday April 2nd, 7:00 at the High School. Though this hasn’t been highly publicized with all the other current town events, I do believe that this is an issue that shouldn’t be overlooked and just passed through. I have heard a few rumors as to the reasons behind this proposed change, and would like to take a moment to discuss those same issues. I am very agreeable to change especially if it will benefit our children in the Eliot, South Berwick family, but do not see how allowing a larger student body can help anyone, in anyway.
From my recent discussions with community members, it is a consensus that most folks were not even aware of this pending change. That concerns me as well. I do not understand the reasoning of passing this change without the involvement of who it will affect. I do not believe that a change of this caliber should be approved without our community having a say. I understand if this is passed, this coming week, that it will not then go to a ballot, but will be an approved change. Therefore, I am sharing my view with as many folks as I can. In the attempts of at least getting the communication out there so those who agree with my view can at least let you know as well.
The reasons for this change, as I understand it, is as follows:
The first reason that I understand is that it was allowed and passed was for tax purposes. The thought being that this change could possibly lower our taxes or at least relieve some of the burden. I may not have all of the facts and figures, but I do not see how this will relieve any of the burden. I’m not sure what your idea of the tuition would be, but lets use round numbers. The tuition for St Thomas is $10,000 a year. Lets say that the cost needed per child is 1/2 of that, and the other 1/2 is profit. That is $5000. That $5000 split between a community of 7000 people, so lets guess 3500 families roughly, is a savings of $1.43 per family. That is not going to allow for any tax relief.
Now I don’t know how many kids you are anticipating, but to even allow for a tax relief of a $100 a family, you would have to allow for 70 kids. At that juncture, you are going to be increasing the class sizes. If we have 12 classes per period or class block, with an average student body of 20 kids per class, this additional 70 would increase the size from 20 to 26 kids.
In that event, the burden then will be on our teachers and our children. There have been a number of studies, which are documented, that have indeed shown that smaller class sizes result in higher academic achievement. The focus and concentration is significantly affected as the class size increases. The feedback and individual attention is decreased. A child that is having a difficult time will be lost in the shuffle. At what cost are we willing to take this chance and affect our own kids.
I have also heard that this revised plan is intended for providing an opportunity for the Kittery 10-12th grade students. Now that is an additional student body of roughly 300 kids. That would be an additional 8 kids per class. That significantly decreases the odds of our children receiving the benefits, that we as tax payers, have allowed for them. This would increase the school population and decrease the chance for choice of classes, scholarships, class events, leads in a play, being on a sports team, never mind just the best education environment that we have all paid for.
I also attended the High School orientation that reviewed all of the options and classes available. A point was stressed that the availability of the classes did depend on the number of kids signed up. The classes were limited. Many classes weren’t available to the lower classman because the classes were filled by Jr’s and Sr’s. If we have a larger student body, some kids are going to be pushed from these classes due to availability no matter the year in school. It will be a wrong doing if one of our kids from tax paying families is pushed aside by a child outside the community.
How are we going to decide who is allowed to come or who is not?
Are all kids that their parents that can afford the tuition going to be allowed?
Are there any regulations?
How do we make that determination or what should the criteria be?
Are we putting cash in front of our kids welfare ?
What is our cut off?
What is the number of kids we will allow?
Who will decide this?
Is it going to cost us to review and discuss all of this?
Who will manage that?
All of this is indeed going to add cost to administrative duties…for someone. Are the administrative duties going to cost more than our savings?
The second reason or rumor that I have heard is these kids are recruitments for sports. Now, I really want to believe that is totally fictitious. I have to believe that there isn’t a coach of any of our athletic teams that is out recruiting. I believe our coaches and faculty have integrity, and believe in the kids that are in our school system. I need to believe that our coaches, on our payroll, want to work with the kids that they currently have, giving them all an opportunity, making sure that they are given all the tools necessary to make them the best they can be. I have to believe that winning isn’t the most important focus. . They are in the position to bring out the best in our kids, and work to make them believe they can do their best and winning is always something extra. Believing in yourself distinguishes the difference between winners and losers in life, not solely on the field. If my assumptions aren’t true, and recruitment is indeed happening, then the message that they are sending to our kids is they are not good enough, they shouldn’t try and do not, and can not live up to the potential that is expected. The message being said that it is better to win by bringing in a ringer then to work hard, train longer, and do your best. . A coach, just like I believe a teacher ,is there to bring out the best in everyone, and I mean everyone. Bringing a child from Deering or Portsmouth to win a tournament or championship will not carry the same satisfaction as winning through hard work and dedication.
In addition to this, by allowing star athletes into our school system, you may win a game, a championship, but you may not. That is never a guarantee…For the kids that got pushed off the team because you replaced them with your recruitments, it is a guarantee that you have broken their spirit and you have pushed them aside. My concern is where they will turn ?
So with the above questions and concerns , I am asking you for a valid reason for approving tuition students. I can not think of a reason that will benefit our kids and you as the school board are in the position to do the best for our kids first and the community…
By quoting the school Board Philosophy
The board of Directors and staff of SAD #35 are committed to the development of an outstanding school system which will provide the opportunity for students to acquire the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to become productive members of an ever-changing society. We are committed to strive to prepare our students for a successful future by providing quality academic programs, social experiences and ethical guidance within our schools. Our foremost priority must be the welfare of the students in our system.
I am asking you to maintain your commitment and vote no to allowing tuition students into our South Berwick, Eliot…Marshwood family or at a minimum, table this vote until some valid reasons as to how this will benefit our community is addressed.
Joyce & Mike Lebel
Just some food for thought.
It took me quite a while to find this information on the State web site.
These links are for the 2006. 2007 school year.
http://www.maine.gov/education/data/budget/2007/ed248b07.htm
http://www.maine.gov/education/data/ppcosts/2006/ppc06.htm
I don’t know what formula they use to calculate the per pupil costs. but it doesn’t include the whole budget.
If I spend $2000 for my wife and I to go on vacation, with $1500 going towards the room, food, and entertainment, but $500 going towards airfare, I would not calculate the trip as costing $750 per person, but $1000 per person.
The total budget for the 2006, 2007 school year, including the loan payment, was 24,455,342.00.
The total number of students was 2,609.5
The former divided by the latter is 9371.66.
To me, that is the per student cost.
The state claims it was only 7,210.12 per student, which is using only the “instruction” cost. I guess that would mean teachers salaries, benefits, etc.
Why would the other costs be left out of this calculation?
We’re still paying that as part of the school budget.
The other question I have is this.
How much will the State further reduce funding if the district brings in these tuition students?
Is it now going to shift right back on us at the town level?
Instead of these scare tactics, of “oh we’ll have to cust special ed teachers”, how about we reduce the administration?
How many admins work in each school, AND the administrators office?
Is there a way to consolidate any of these postions?
The same holds true various other areas in the school.
Don’t throw the cutting the teaching position tactics at us, look at the real fat that can be cut.
The state needs to do the same thing with their budget.
If it takes 12 people to approve passing out money for a specific function, cut some of those postitions before you cut what you are passing out.
The idea behind alot of these programs is not to provide job security, but to educate the kids.
If a position that is not teaching related could be cut instead of a teacher, then that should be looked at first.
You don’t fire the mechanics and leave the cashier behind to fix cars, don’t cut the teachers until the other fat has been trimmed.
I am not nit-picking, but felt I had to correct some of the figures in Joyce Lebel’s thoughtful letter because my son will be attending St. Thomas next year. St. Thomas is a non-profit institution. Their tuition rate for next year has not been set yet due to budget issues. Their tuition this year is $8500, however, the COST of educating a student there runs $1200-$1400 HIGHER than that, leaving a budget shortfall that is bridged by development, fundraising and other income streams (school store, for example). I verified these figures with a representative of the school. Not sure where the ‘profit’ mentioned in Joyce’s letter was coming from. These gaps in funding are not covered by the state, the Dover residents or federal funding. They have to tighten their budget when the oil prices sky-rocket. They have to make difficult cuts, and they CAN’T pass on the increases to any taxpayers. I actually would like private students being able to attend SAD35 if it would bring ANY relief to my tax bill. Perhaps if the quality of education doesn’t meet everyone’s standards there will finally be a movement toward vouchers which will allow freedom for everyone. But, in the mean time, I hope anyone presenting facts and figures will take the time to verify them before publishing them.
Great questions and comments. I, too ,hope that the board looks at administrative positions when making budget decisions and cuts. They need to find places that will have the least deleterious effect on our students (all students; special ed, typical and gifted) and I’m not convinced that cuts in the classroom are the best way to go. Nor do I feel bringing in tuition students will benefit our students academically, socially or economically. I also hope that the board decides to spend some time in the classrooms – talk with the teachers, talk with the students – they are the ones who really know what happens day to day. Numbers presented at meetings do not tell the whole story – they can be manipulated to make any option look like the best one.
First, I would like to commend Joyce on her wonderful letter. BRAVO!
One other point everyone needs to remember that by taking tuition students to our district the cap that can be charged (set by the State of Maine) is $8,900. If Dave’s figures are correct than we as a district would be loosing money for every child we took in. So, in lieu of your taxes going down they would go up.
Please anyone who has a passion on either side go to the School Board Meeting tomorrow at 7:00 p.m.
With regard to the concern over recruiting of athletes, that is against the Maine Principals Association regulations. A few years ago, the AD and a soccer coach at Chevrus were reprimanded for recruiting.
As far as the numbers I used, those come directly from the Maine State Board of Education web site, which I provided the links for.
It took me 2 hours to actually find the data.
May be against the MPA but the word on the street (even from a Kittery citizen) that there are students from Deering, Portsmouth and Rollinsford that are set to come here. I’m not sure how you could prove or disprove that it was happening. If the child’s family was willing to fork out the money.
Marshwood has had good sports teams. If we choose to go with a tuition system (to which I am not opposed) and Marshwood continues to have good teams, there will always be people who will spread rumors about recruiting.
If we are seeking to tuition students in for sports, I am sickened. All of us at MSAD35 need to get our priorities straight. Sports are important, but let us focus on the day to day issues. Can our students read, write, achieve in mathematics and think critically? In my experience, our students are not doing as well as they need to be. Given all the test mania of No Child Left Behind, I have been forced to dumb down my curriculum, especially as class sizes grow larger (and yes, I know how to differentiate curriculum!). How do we keep the rigor of academics going in a climate that does not support smaller classes. Direct teacher instruction is the number one indicator for student success.
Many classes at the middle level are 23 -26 students, including students with specific special needs. We have lost 6 language arts teacher in the last 5 years at MMS. Team structures have changed so that students receive 55 minutes of reading & writing instruction whereas before students received 90 minutes daily. Our test scores, of course, have suffered. And it will be the teachers who will be under scrutiny for these lower scores. There must be a way for our district to cut costs without cutting teachers.
I hope Eliot and So. Berwick citizens will be heard. Let us be smart and creative about saving money. Let us look at how many administrative positions we have gained and teachers we have lost in the last 10 years. Let us ask how our enrollment has changed in these 10 years.
It is difficult to be vocal when one is part of the system. I would not want to be providing the budget solutions; however, I will make my point once again – We must get our priorities straight – It’s about our children and their education, not winning state championships.
If the board votes to tuition students in, I hope The Lebel’s questions will be answered. This seems like far to big a decision to be made in such little time.
I don’t think that Joyce Lebel is trying to say that St. Thomas is making a profit on the tuition of the students, I think her point is if we were to charge what St. Thomas does and our costs are half, then the “profit” could be used to offset our taxes.
However, as Dave Webster pointed out, the state only allows us to charge $8500 per tuition student and our costs are higher. I don’t mind paying for the students in our district, but I don’t want to subsidize students from other districts. By the way, great job Dave in finding this information. Sounds like they are trying to hide something if it took you two hours to find it.
Before you think that I am against St. Thomas, I graduated from there (a long time ago mind you) and have children in private school now (not because of the school district, just a choice). We will have to make the decision whether they go to Marshwood High School or St. Thomas soon. Some of the decision will be due to money, but mostly it will be determined which school will give them a better chance. Both offer benefits over the other for certain areas and I don’t want to start a war over “this one is better than the other one” because each has their strengths.
We have a good school district and we should be proud of the work the teachers do. If we can find a way to reduce the costs then everyone benefits. There has been some work done with the busses and maintenance facility that is shared with SAD 60, so there should be other areas that we can find. As a community we should be able to come up with ideas that support the teachers and students AND reduce our taxes.
I will say it, maybe we need to look at reducing the sports team budgets and how we fund them. Maybe we could have businesses sponsor the teams and reduce the cost to the district. Just a thought.
Having just read Susan Chamberlain’s article that MSAD 35 has filed a request to remain intact as a school district because it has “determined that it currently achieves many of the efficiencies sought by consolidation”, I have to wonder, “where is our common sense?”
http://www.seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080331/NEWS/803310325/-1/PUBLICRECORDS05
Why would we considering adding tuition students when our friends and neighbors in Kittery are left without a school to join?
Are there not students from Kittery who would like to be educated at Marshwood, and students at Marshwood who might like to attend Traip Academy? Does Traip offer alternative programs that Marshwood doesn’t have?
There is an unmet need at Marshwood for vocational education, and we pay considerable sums transporting students to Sanford HS and Noble HS. The state is planning to add a vocational school to the Seacoast area.
Perhaps a partnership with Traip where Traip focused on alternative, vocational
education and Marshwood on the more traditional academic plan would be a
win, win for all concerned.
Rather than rejecting a partnership with Kittery, why can’t we embrace it or at least investigate it?
Consider the duplication of services for students requiring specialized programs. Can we achieve savings by partnering with Kittery for these students?
Consider the proximity to the shipyard, marine resources, and marketing resources that Kittery offers.
Consider new career opportunities in a green economy: sustainability, renewable energy, local food production. The Seacoast is WHERE it is happening. Why aren’t we working TOGETHER on the future of our schools?
Imagine a partnership that is forward thinking, not mired in US versus THEM.
The plan proposed by Baldacci (and rejected by MSAD) to consolidate to achieve
more efficient administration costs was soundly rejected. Propaganda was used to suggest that a partnership with Kittery was not in our best interest (undesirable students, higher per pupil costs in Kittery, and other vague monetary reasons).
Now, MSAD 35 is looking to ADD tuition students, but it rejected students from Kittery.
Think of the possibilities; think of the savings; think of the future.
While I support the idea behind Baldacci’s plan,(I’d love to see some tax relief) it came across as ‘every man for himself’ for the smaller school districts trying to find a larger district to partner with. I had never considered what A Pragmatic Taxpayer proposes, but I think it bears some thought. Are your ideas something you can take to the school board?
I believe the reason that SAD 35 rejected talking to Kittery is because of their existing tax base.
It would end up allowing the state to even further reduce the amount of money they provide.
From what I understand, State aid is somewhat based on existing property values and business taxes. and Kittery, due to it’s size, the cost of housing, and how much business it has get short shrift from the state, and our joining them would affect us the same way.
If that is not the case, then I would see no reason not to look in to joining with Kittery.
perhaps…
I am wishing for a some thoughtful dialogue on these topics. I was inspired by a talk by Don Tapscott on his book Wikinomics. “According to Tapscott, Wikinomics is based on four ideas: Openness, Peering, Sharing, and Acting Globally. ”
The towns of South Berwick, Eliot, and Kittery have citizens with many areas of expertise. Let’s tap these resources. Can we try the wiki model to address our concerns?
Pragmatic, tell me more. I have just built my first wiki and am just learning about how they work. I am interested in hearing more about what you have in mind.
Well, I have a very superficial understanding of “wiki”, but here goes:
I love the idea of collaborating; my idea is that we give the citizens of Kittery, Eliot, York and South Berwick (“The Keys”). an opportunity to come together and share ideas. Not in the traditional forum, but through the wiki.
Tapscott explained how people can share their ideas to solve problems, arrive at solutions. He gave examples of what Canada is doing, what businesses have done.
No one has all the answers- the old ways of doing things , top down, don’t work….
to be continued
This says it better than I can:
Throughout history corporations have organized themselves according to strict hierarchical lines of authority. Everyone was a subordinate to someone else—employees versus managers, marketers versus customers, producers versus supply chain subcontractors, companies versus the community.
There was always someone or some company in charge, controlling things, at the “top” of the food chain. While hierarchies are not vanishing, profound changes in the nature of technology, demographics, and the global economy are giving rise to powerful new models of production based on community, collaboration, and self-organization rather than on hierarchy and control.
Billions of connected individuals can now actively participate in innovation, wealth creation, and social development in ways we once only dreamed of. And when these masses of people collaborate they can collectively advance the arts, culture, science, education, government, and the economy in surprising but ultimately profitable ways. Companies that engage with these exploding Web-enabled communities are already discovering the true dividends of collective capability and genius.
http://www.wikinomics.com/book/