DanvilleDelivery.com

If you watched or participated in Thursday’s TRSD Deliberative Session, you heard a bunch of numbers.  Before the meeting, I calculated  $56,760,387.62 as a reasonable budget — actual spend from 2008 adjusted for inflation minus funds for teacher raises on the ballot under a separate warrant article…

actual spend for 2008 was $53,816,390.62 (per La Salle)

3.8% inflation rate for 2008 (per http://www.usinflationcalculator.com/)
2.7% inflation rate for 2009 (per http://www.usinflationcalculator.com/)

If you apply inflation for 2008 to the 2008 actual spend, you get: $55,861,413.46
If you apply inflation for 2009 to the 2009 calculated spend, you get: $57,369,671.62 for a 2010 budget.

Assuming all money spent in 2008 was money well spent, $57,369,671.62 strikes me as a reasonable budget for 2010.

Since the raises in the teacher contract would be part of the inflation, you’d want to subtract those from the budget: $57,369,671.62 – $609,284 = $56,760,387.62

$61,764,677 – $56,760,388 = $5,004,289 correction which is about 8%

When this number was presented as an amendment, the chair of the school board invited superintendent La Salle to describe the doom that would fall upon the school system if the budget were only allowed to grow at the rate of inflation.  La Salle immediately listed a bunch of cuts that included sixty educators.  A few members of the audience challenged his math.  After the meeting Mark Acciard checked his math and found that La Salle exagerated.  Here is Mark’s list…

REGULAR PROGRAMS

1.)40 teaching positions at $50,000/yr. TOTAL: $2,000,000
1.A.)FICA, MEDI, Retirement costs of those positions. TOTAL $500,000
2.) 20 assist. educators @ $15,000 ea. TOTAL $300,000
2.A.)FICA, MEDI, Retirement costs of those positions. TOTAL $57,000
3.)50% repair/maint. line item is $26,496. 50%= $13,248
4.) 50% Supplies. line item is $519,459. 50%= $259,730.
5.) 50% books. line item is $283,477. 50%= $141,739
6.)Software $100,000 cut.
7.) ALL new equip. TOTAL: $102,189
8.)$200,000 out of new computers
9.)ALL RAISES. TOTAL ???? never mentioned

SPECIAL PROGRAMS

10.)7 special needs educators @ $50,000/yr. TOTAL $350,000
10.A.)FICA, MEDI, Retirement costs of those positions. TOTAL $66,000
11.)20 assist.@$15,000/yr. TOTAL: $300,000
11.A.) FICA, MEDI, Retirement costs of those positions. TOTAL $57,000
12.)ALL replacement computers. TOTAL: $2,850

ATHLETICS

13.) $100,000 cut
14.)Cut 1 guidance position. TOTAL: $52,000
15.) Cut 1 psychologist position. TOTAL:$80,000
15.A.)FICA, MEDI, Retirement costs of those positions. TOTAL $22,500
16.)50% Supplies. TOTAL:$5,098
17.)100%Books. TOTAL:$4,145
18.)50% Library supplies. TOTAL: $6,984
19.)100%Library books. TOTAL: $78,055
20.)ALL A/V. TOTAL $38,002
21.)100% travel. TOTAL: $62,795
22.)2 Admin positions. TOTAL: $150,000
23.)2 office/secretary positions. TOTAL: $70,000
23.A.)FICA, MEDI, Retirement costs of those positions. TOTAL $41,000

OFFICE OF PRINCIPAL

24.)50% supplies. Line item is $75,300 50%= $37,650
25.)100% Equipment. TOTAL: $11,114
26.)50% Replacement equipment. Line item is $86,760. 50%= $43,380

OTHER ADMIN

27.)50% supplies. Line item is $9,500. 50% = $4,750
28.)3 custodial positions. TOTAL: $130,000.
28.A.)FICA, MEDI, Retirement costs of those positions. TOTAL $20,000
29.)$40,000 cut in repairs
30.)25% supplies. Line item is $175,710. 25% = $43,928
31.)100% New Equipment. TOTAL: $11,000
32.)33% replacement equip. Line item is $75,000. 33% = $25,000
33.)Cut ALL Transportation + require parents to pay $200.00/yr. for transportation. TOTAL TRANS. Line= $2,503,704 + 200/yr.x 3,000 students= $600,000
34.)Cut Athletic Trans. 20%. Line item is $86,900. 20%= $17,380
35.)ALL field trips. TOTAL: $32,208
36.)50% Music Trans. Line item is $14,450. 50%= $7,225

DATA PROC. SERVICES

37.)20% cut in software. Line item is $99,896. 20%= $19,979
38.)100% New Computers. TOTAL: $16,800
39.)$146,000 out of Building Improvements.

Superintendent LaSalle sid this came to a total of “$5,673,000.00 NOT EVEN CLOSE TO BEING THERE.”

Let’s check his math…

GRAND TOTAL of cuts he stated would be needed to meet my proposed $5,004,760 cut in his proposed budget…. $ 8,845,453.00…”

If you accept that this is what he would do, how can you tolerate him as superintendent of schools? He cut forty teachers, seven special needs educators, and twenty other educators while only cutting three nonteaching positions. How does the school board sit by nodding as he spews this nonsense?

Clearly, there are opportunities for reductions that would not impact academics so dramatically — if at all. For starters, there is the completely redundant administrative staff for the two Sandown elementary schools. These were part of his savings for the consolidation. I think it would be reasonable to sit a principal in one school and a vice principal in the other.

I would outsource curriculum development and oversight to a school that does it well — Exeter comes to mind.

Kelli Killen Director of Elementary Education
Scott Strainge Director of Secondary Education
Mrs. Janet Gustafson Curriculum Coordinator
Ms. Janet Hart Curriculum Coordinatorr
Patrice Liff AP / Curriculum Coordinator
Kristen Pereira Curriculum Coordinator

Mr. La Salle says the budget for Pupil Personel Services is untouchable because it is, for the most part, driven by the state, the federal government, and the courts. Maybe we could get by with an Administrator of Pupil Personnel Services? Certainly we do not need two directors.

Edwina Lovett Director of Pupil Personnel Services
Beth Rincon Assistant Director of Pupil Personnel Services

Could we get along with one director of technology?

John Holland Director of Technology
Linda Heuer Technology Coordinator / Curriculum Integration

When I was on the USS Massachusetts for two hot meals, they got adults and kids through the meal process in 20 minutes. There was almost no food thrown away and most people were openly complimentary of the meals. They do this for less than $2 per meal with no staff. Even my kid could see why — there was only one hot choice (veg and meat sandwich options as well) and there were no cash registers. I say we outsource lunch 100% and pay for a hot meal for EVERY kid EVERY day…donate leftovers to a food pantry…and save a bundle.

Mike Lewis Food Service Director / Cafe Services
Mrs. Madelyn Drew Food Service / Cafeteria
Carmela Centeno Food Service / Cafeteria
Deborah Rose Food Service / Cafeteria
Debbi Waters Cafeteria Manager
Barbara Sargent Food Service / Cafeteria
Cathy Nickerson Food Service Manager

I see no reason why the high school needs an evening division director. In fact, I see no reason why we need an evening division at all. For kids who cannot attend during the day, I recommend we work with the Virtual Learning Academy Charter School to develop a curriculum or tuition to another town. I’d rather spend money teaching kids who want to be in school than handing out GEDs to kids who don’t.

Robert Dawson Evening Division Director (I’d rather have him in a classroom)

Here is a list of SAU employees who are not educators. La Salle axed 67 educators before looking for fat here…

Principals — including two for Sandown Elementary
Don Woodworth Principal
Mr. Michael Hogan Principal
Douglas Rolph Principal
Jo-Ann Georgian Principal
Michelle Auger Principal
Kathy McKechnie Director – Preschool
Nancy Hart Principal Office
Kathie Dayotis Principal

Assistent Principals used to teach when I was a kid
Mrs. Marilyn Hutnick Assistant Principal / Grade 6
Maria Di Nola A.P. / Academic Affairs
Sean Kiley A.P. / Administrative Student Affairs
John Leary A.P. / Student Services
Robert Dawson A.P. / Evening Division
Mrs. Carol Mrowka Assistant Principal / Grade 7
Mrs. Jackie Oros Assistant Principal / Grade 8
Sharon Joyce Assistant Principal
Nancy Barcelos Asst. Principal Office
Chris Snyder Assistant Principal

Secretaries are for executives where I work
Krista Snell Principal’s Secretary
Linda Fagan Assistant Principals’ Secretary
Brenda Laycock Assistant Principals’ Secretary, Notary
Anne Ingalls Front Office Secretary
Vivian Lukas Front Office Secretary
Mrs. Lisa Hamilton Principal’s Secretary
Mrs. Susan Rosenberg Attendance / Receptionist
Mrs. Sue Ingham Assistant Principal and Guidance Secretary
Mrs. Sharon Skinner Assistant Principal and Curriculum Secretary
Mrs. Debra Taylor Special Education Secretary
Mrs. Patricia Williams Guidance Department Secretary
Marie Buckley Administrative Assistant
Sharon Hasfjord Secretary
Debra Ray Secretary
Fran Allen Secretary
Deb Stokinger Secretary
Janice Locore Secretary
Sandy McKay Secretary
Sandra Master Guidance Dept. Secretary / Notary / Registrar

Other nonteaching positions
Barbara Hopkins SIF – Math, Science, Technology
Scott Strainge SIF – Humanities
Joan Marsilia, SRO School Resource Officer / Plaistow P.D.
Doreen Vasta Bookkeeper
Steve Scanlon Excel Study Coordinator
Tim Lena Student Assistance Program
Elizabeth Gustavson TRSD Mentoring Program
Mrs. Lorin Caffelle TRMS Special Education Administrator
Mrs. Dianna Elwell Bookkeeper
Mrs. Kelly Binette Student Adjustment Coordinator
Lucy Landry
Cathy Keehan
John DeFeo Head Custodian

Guidance Counselors can’t be shared across schools?
Barry Chooljian Guidance Dept Head
Donna Reardon Guidance Dept. Secretary
Jamie Fish Guidance Counselor
Maura Maher Guidance Counselor
Robyn Mahoney Guidance Counselor
Heather Roy Guidance Counselor
William Tilton Guidance Counselor
Mrs. Joanne Anderson Guidance Counselor / Grade 6
Mrs. Linda Chase Guidance Counselor / Special Education
Mrs. Susan Culver Guidance Counselor / Grade 87
Mrs. Pat Fanning Guidance Counselor / Grade 7
Diane LaRose Guidance
Nancy Stafford Guidance
Marcia Blutstein Guidance
Elissa DiSalvo Guidance
Louise Janelle Guidance Counselor
Mary Beth Ditoro School Counselor

I never met a psychologist in all my years as a student
Mr. Hank Murphy School Psychologist
Dr. John Secor School Psychologist
Ms. Elizabeth Wohler-Berry School Psychologist
John Secor Psychologist
John Hayes Psychologist
Elizabeth Wohler-Berry Psychologist
Shana McTague Psychologist

I never went to a school with more than one nurse
Paula Amante Nurse
Rosemary Thorne Nurse
Sue Fichera Nurse
Carla Taylor Nurse
Beth Vitas Nurse
Candace Lee Nurse
Linda Morse Nurse
Barbara Campbell Nurse
Ms. Jen Bodenrader Nurse
Tracy Antczak Nurse’s Secretary
Kathleen Sherman-DeRoche Nurse
Ellen Zimmerman Nurse

We also have a doctor on staff.

Had enough?  Change begins March 9th!