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Monday's Town Council Meeting will begin at 7:00 PM in the New Gym at the High School. This is a continuation of the meeting of the 15th, a hearing, to review the School Department's budget. We do not expect any public comment at this hearing; but, it is important to have parents there in force! I hope to see everyone there.
Prior to the Town Council Hearing, the School Committee will host a Financial Sub-Committee Hearing in the Library at 6:00 PM.
I encourage everyone to make two phone calls so we keep our numbers strong!
Monday, June 21, 2010
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
6/15 Town Council Meeting
Thank you everyone for attending tonight's Town Council Meeting, it really did matter. The outcome, the Town Council voted to take the information from tonight and have another budget workshop on Monday, June 21st in the New Gym. We will plan a rally prior to the 7:00 PM meeting, so stay tuned. We need to keep pressure on the Town Council. We need to keep attending. Even though the process seems slow, the presence of parents and students changes the debate. WE NEED YOU! And, we appreciate your time and energy!
Monday, June 14, 2010
Venue Change
Tuesday's Town Council meeting has been changed to the Portsmouth Middle School Little Theater. Let's fill the place!
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Response to Team Plumb Letter
Email to Team Plumb, (Letter below)
I would ask as teammates if you believe we are better communicating then posturing, the time is now to speak to Mr. Plumb. I see no benefit in Portsmouth going back to Court for full funding of the school budget, and I would expect both sides to dig-in over the next two weeks. As I stated in my blog www.sosportsmouth.com, “this is insane.” Join with me in calling for a compromise before we waste $100ks on legal fees and reports, for the same outcome. Portsmouth schools face $2.07 million in cuts to State Education Aid over the next ten years, $207,000 annually. We need to get through this year to position our future forward with administration, unions, and operations. We believe an investment for the average citizen of $10/month is prudent and necessary. See more at www.sosportsmouth.com.
In response to Mr. Plumb’s letter:
Mr. Plumb fails to recognize is the School Committee budget is 2.51% higher than last year, in line with most every department in town. The exception is the Fire Department who masterfully rewrote their health contract. The School Committee is the only other department that receives income from the State, that State Aid was also cut causing the structural deficit. Mr. Plumb fails to recognize the actions taken by unions and administration to bring the FY 2011 budget in at a 2.51%: closing Elmhurst, freezing salaries, controlling costs, and laying off teachers. While Mr. Plumb naively assumes that the FY 2011 contract can be negotiated over a fortnight, he also is misleading residents by only using selective facts. Yes, teachers between the 9th step and the 10nth step receive a large increase, but it is the last contractual increase they will receive through the step process (required by State Law). Mr. Plumb fails to state that college educated teachers, some with Master Degrees, begin their teaching careers in the high $30K, maximizing in the low $70K - these are not ridiculous amounts; and, the last time I was in the classroom incredibly well deserved (see below for Steps 8, 9 & 10). As I stated above, our teachers have frozen salary increases these past years. As to health benefits, clearly this is a negotiation point, but Portsmouth teachers were the original leaders in paying cost-share before any other District. It is simply too easy to make the teachers the fault of the lack of support from the State. It is simply too easy to use macro-economic conditions to abdicate leadership. We have a School District that needs a budget on July 1, 2010.
I wrote previously on the SOS Facebook page, "My fear is our leaders stand on politics and we abdicate our leadership to the Courts." This in fact will be the final outcome because we lack communication and the will, no, the strength, to compromise. Please, as Mr. Plumb’s teammates, let’s call a different play this time. I will stand and honor Jeff for the strength in stating his conviction and compromising for our community. That is leadership!
Dave Croston
I would ask as teammates if you believe we are better communicating then posturing, the time is now to speak to Mr. Plumb. I see no benefit in Portsmouth going back to Court for full funding of the school budget, and I would expect both sides to dig-in over the next two weeks. As I stated in my blog www.sosportsmouth.com, “this is insane.” Join with me in calling for a compromise before we waste $100ks on legal fees and reports, for the same outcome. Portsmouth schools face $2.07 million in cuts to State Education Aid over the next ten years, $207,000 annually. We need to get through this year to position our future forward with administration, unions, and operations. We believe an investment for the average citizen of $10/month is prudent and necessary. See more at www.sosportsmouth.com.
In response to Mr. Plumb’s letter:
Mr. Plumb fails to recognize is the School Committee budget is 2.51% higher than last year, in line with most every department in town. The exception is the Fire Department who masterfully rewrote their health contract. The School Committee is the only other department that receives income from the State, that State Aid was also cut causing the structural deficit. Mr. Plumb fails to recognize the actions taken by unions and administration to bring the FY 2011 budget in at a 2.51%: closing Elmhurst, freezing salaries, controlling costs, and laying off teachers. While Mr. Plumb naively assumes that the FY 2011 contract can be negotiated over a fortnight, he also is misleading residents by only using selective facts. Yes, teachers between the 9th step and the 10nth step receive a large increase, but it is the last contractual increase they will receive through the step process (required by State Law). Mr. Plumb fails to state that college educated teachers, some with Master Degrees, begin their teaching careers in the high $30K, maximizing in the low $70K - these are not ridiculous amounts; and, the last time I was in the classroom incredibly well deserved (see below for Steps 8, 9 & 10). As I stated above, our teachers have frozen salary increases these past years. As to health benefits, clearly this is a negotiation point, but Portsmouth teachers were the original leaders in paying cost-share before any other District. It is simply too easy to make the teachers the fault of the lack of support from the State. It is simply too easy to use macro-economic conditions to abdicate leadership. We have a School District that needs a budget on July 1, 2010.
I wrote previously on the SOS Facebook page, "My fear is our leaders stand on politics and we abdicate our leadership to the Courts." This in fact will be the final outcome because we lack communication and the will, no, the strength, to compromise. Please, as Mr. Plumb’s teammates, let’s call a different play this time. I will stand and honor Jeff for the strength in stating his conviction and compromising for our community. That is leadership!
Dave Croston
Other Town Departments
I post the below budget details for information only. Our Fire, Police and DPW have been fighting for years for adequate funding. I do not question nor promote pitting one department against another. They are all deserving.
Percent Increases Requested by other Departments:
Fire 1.06 (w/ new health contract)
Police 3.92%
Public Works 5.73%
Employee Benefits 21.53%
Utilities and Town Hall 10.98%
Percent Increases Requested by other Departments:
Fire 1.06 (w/ new health contract)
Police 3.92%
Public Works 5.73%
Employee Benefits 21.53%
Utilities and Town Hall 10.98%
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Croston Newport Daily News Letter
I want to encourage every civic minded resident to attend the Portsmouth Town Council Hearing with the Portsmouth School Committee on Tuesday, June 15th; our collective voices need be heard. As Louis Brandeis said, "In the frank expression in conflicting opinions lies the greatest promise of wisdom in governmental action."
The Facts: #1) The Portsmouth School Committee has brought forth to the Town Council their FY2011 budget; it asks for an increase of 2.51% from last year. Were the Council to approve that budget, the levy or the Town's taxable obligation needs to increase greater than the 2.51% to cover a loss in State Education Aid – this places the increase at 4.5% or at the cap. #2) On June 11th the House and Senate passed a new funding formula for schools beginning on the FY2012 budget that calls for Portsmouth to lose $2.07 million in State Education Aid over ten years or $207,000 annually. #3) On June 2nd, the Town Council tentatively voted 5-2 to “Level Fund” the school system, a functional cut of $1.2 million from the Schools budget. #4) A final hearing on the Schools budget is scheduled for Tuesday, June 15th and a subsequent Financial Town Meeting with public comment will follow in late June.
The Portsmouth School Committee is funded by State Charter and has the obligation to uphold the State’s basic education plan, and the Council acts as the Schools taxing authority. RI Law provides recourse to the Schools to go to the Courts should it feel it cannot execute the State’s basic education plan with the funds provided. Portsmouth knows this process all too well. “Level Funding” will bring us right back to the Courts and a reasonable man would assume with the same outcome. The School Committee has closed the Elmhurst School, laid-off teachers, has cut its non-contractual budget to the bone, and our teachers will not receive a pay raise (irrespective of Step increases). The School budget increases 2.51%; in line with most other Town Departments. I believe the budget is reasonable. More importantly, I believe we need to face the larger issue of the loss of $2.1 million in future years today. I call for a one-time tax increase of $120 to bridge the present problem with the clear understanding that the School Committee work with administration, its unions, and in operations to find the $210,000 annually, if not more, immediately for FY 2012.
My fear on Tuesday is that our leaders will stand on politics and abdicate their leadership to the Courts. As someone said at the SOS Information Night, "$120 is one person's dinner out and another's weekly groceries." I understand that, but decimating our schools would also impact our home values – 1% devaluation on an average home is $3,500 or 29 years of $120 increases. Not to speak of the detrimental impact on our children and our community. We need true leadership in the present so that the structural deficit can be addressed long term.
Signed: David D. Croston
P.S. In Saturdays NDN paper Lisa Dickmann in a Letter to the Editor asked where I have been these past years: Ms. Dickmann my wife and I underwrite the Middle School fundraiser for late buses and extra curriculars; I donated over 300 hours of project management to the Gym; I served as the School Committee’s Vice Chairman, Chairman of the Gym Committee and its fundraising committee; I care enough to step forward – may I ask the question, and you?
The Facts: #1) The Portsmouth School Committee has brought forth to the Town Council their FY2011 budget; it asks for an increase of 2.51% from last year. Were the Council to approve that budget, the levy or the Town's taxable obligation needs to increase greater than the 2.51% to cover a loss in State Education Aid – this places the increase at 4.5% or at the cap. #2) On June 11th the House and Senate passed a new funding formula for schools beginning on the FY2012 budget that calls for Portsmouth to lose $2.07 million in State Education Aid over ten years or $207,000 annually. #3) On June 2nd, the Town Council tentatively voted 5-2 to “Level Fund” the school system, a functional cut of $1.2 million from the Schools budget. #4) A final hearing on the Schools budget is scheduled for Tuesday, June 15th and a subsequent Financial Town Meeting with public comment will follow in late June.
The Portsmouth School Committee is funded by State Charter and has the obligation to uphold the State’s basic education plan, and the Council acts as the Schools taxing authority. RI Law provides recourse to the Schools to go to the Courts should it feel it cannot execute the State’s basic education plan with the funds provided. Portsmouth knows this process all too well. “Level Funding” will bring us right back to the Courts and a reasonable man would assume with the same outcome. The School Committee has closed the Elmhurst School, laid-off teachers, has cut its non-contractual budget to the bone, and our teachers will not receive a pay raise (irrespective of Step increases). The School budget increases 2.51%; in line with most other Town Departments. I believe the budget is reasonable. More importantly, I believe we need to face the larger issue of the loss of $2.1 million in future years today. I call for a one-time tax increase of $120 to bridge the present problem with the clear understanding that the School Committee work with administration, its unions, and in operations to find the $210,000 annually, if not more, immediately for FY 2012.
My fear on Tuesday is that our leaders will stand on politics and abdicate their leadership to the Courts. As someone said at the SOS Information Night, "$120 is one person's dinner out and another's weekly groceries." I understand that, but decimating our schools would also impact our home values – 1% devaluation on an average home is $3,500 or 29 years of $120 increases. Not to speak of the detrimental impact on our children and our community. We need true leadership in the present so that the structural deficit can be addressed long term.
Signed: David D. Croston
P.S. In Saturdays NDN paper Lisa Dickmann in a Letter to the Editor asked where I have been these past years: Ms. Dickmann my wife and I underwrite the Middle School fundraiser for late buses and extra curriculars; I donated over 300 hours of project management to the Gym; I served as the School Committee’s Vice Chairman, Chairman of the Gym Committee and its fundraising committee; I care enough to step forward – may I ask the question, and you?
Thursday, June 10, 2010
The Other Shoe
Funding Update courtesy of John McDaid
From www.Harddeadlines.com
Funding formula may be *slightly* less bad for Portsmouth
Fri, 06/11/2010 - 9:51am — jmcdaid
The state education funding formula which passed the general assembly last night includes a minor tweak to one of the multipliers, increasing the overall state share by .025 in 2011. When I rolled the numbers into the GoogleDocs spreadsheet (by changing the formula in column V) it reduces our loss in state aid from $2.6M to $2.1M, so our yearly hit would be $207K rather than $260K. It is not, contrary to the ProJo's breathless reporting, an "increase up to 50%," but it may be smaller decrease than anticipated.
Given the complexity of the formula, please take my numbers with appropriate grains of salt. I have a query in to the district to check.
Original Post
This evening the Rhode Island House and Senate voted in favor of the new Education Funding Formula. This will mean the loss of $2.6 million in State Education Aid for Portsmouth over the next ten years. We have spoken in previous posts of this cut, now it is a reality. The Portsmouth Schools have always been in the top quartile for performance and the bottom quartile for cost. We quite frankly deliver the best education value in Rhode Island; for that we can be proud. Unfortunately that same frugality hurts us in the funding formula. So, in the wisdom of RIDE, Portsmouth is penalized for our success.
These votes are a call to action for all of Portsmouth. How are we as a community going to maintain the quality of our schools while cutting $260,000 annually from our school budget? These votes are a clarion call to come together to address our present budget situation. We need to fund our system this year, and we need to quickly gather to address 2012 and beyond.
From www.Harddeadlines.com
Funding formula may be *slightly* less bad for Portsmouth
Fri, 06/11/2010 - 9:51am — jmcdaid
The state education funding formula which passed the general assembly last night includes a minor tweak to one of the multipliers, increasing the overall state share by .025 in 2011. When I rolled the numbers into the GoogleDocs spreadsheet (by changing the formula in column V) it reduces our loss in state aid from $2.6M to $2.1M, so our yearly hit would be $207K rather than $260K. It is not, contrary to the ProJo's breathless reporting, an "increase up to 50%," but it may be smaller decrease than anticipated.
Given the complexity of the formula, please take my numbers with appropriate grains of salt. I have a query in to the district to check.
Original Post
This evening the Rhode Island House and Senate voted in favor of the new Education Funding Formula. This will mean the loss of $2.6 million in State Education Aid for Portsmouth over the next ten years. We have spoken in previous posts of this cut, now it is a reality. The Portsmouth Schools have always been in the top quartile for performance and the bottom quartile for cost. We quite frankly deliver the best education value in Rhode Island; for that we can be proud. Unfortunately that same frugality hurts us in the funding formula. So, in the wisdom of RIDE, Portsmouth is penalized for our success.
These votes are a call to action for all of Portsmouth. How are we as a community going to maintain the quality of our schools while cutting $260,000 annually from our school budget? These votes are a clarion call to come together to address our present budget situation. We need to fund our system this year, and we need to quickly gather to address 2012 and beyond.
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