Board of Education Options – 9/23/2009

Posted by Bob on September 23, 2009 under Daily Blogs | Be the First to Comment

Last night’s Board of Education meeting brought close to fifty teachers, paraprofessionals, administrators and parents to the Tuttle Building to listen to plans to address the 2009-2010 budget shortfall.  After determining that certain staffing line items should be reduced due to pending grant reimbursements, options were discussed to address the 2009-2010 budget shortfall in excess of  ONE MILLION and 00/100THS ($1,000,000.00) DOLLARS.  Some of the following attached documents contain hand-written notes as the same were scanned.  Please see the current 2009-2010 budget situation here.  Some of the figures have changed due to grant funding, but the overall shortfall is relatively the same due to increased costs in other areas.

Many of the potential solutions involve possible concessions from the different bargaining units representing educational employees.  I believe such discussions should have already begun.  As frustrated as many of us are with regard to this situation, we need to remember that teachers, paraprofessionals, custodians, cafeteria workers, secretaries and administrators are not the cause of the failure to account for education dollars from the previous fiscal year or the failure to adopt a current, balanced budget three (3) months into this fiscal year.  Any attempt to place the blame on the employees of the Board of Education is shortsighted and not a way to begin negotiating concessions.

Much has been made of the raises contained in the recent teacher’s contract.  The teachers did nothing other than negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement with the Board of Education, one which was approved by both sides.  After agreement was reached with regard to the new contract but before ratification by the Borough Board, the stock market collapsed and the global economic climate changed dramatically.  While the contract contained significant concessions by the union, most sources indicate a willingness on a part of the Naugatuck Teacher’s League (”NTL”) to discuss ways to lessen the burden on taxpayers.  Rather than beginning that dialogue, the following months resulted in two (2)  futile arbitration hearings, lots of rhetoric and unnecessary attorney’s fees and arbitration costs.  Despite this sequence of events, NTL remains willing to discuss ways to help.

The itemization of potential cuts presented last night was described by the Superintendent as not a proposal, but a starting point for discussion.  While I applaud Tuttle administration for exploring different options, it would have been a better idea to begin discussion with the bargaining units before “discussing” specific cuts.  Many perceive the “discussion” of cuts as an attempt to intimidate the NTL.  One principal I articulated during the mayoral campaign was that contract negotiations should not be done through the press.  Once such proposals are presented at public meetings, this concept is destroyed.

Other administrative proposals presented were a furlough program and an early retirement proposal.  Such proposals will also require negotiations.  Board of Education and municipal figures differ slightly.

I have compiled a summary of potential savings with assistance from the Borough business office.  The document lists all options that have been identified with potential costs and offsets included to the best of our ability.  Certainly other options could be identified as discussions continue and should be considered.  Although I have a conflict of interest due to my wife’s employment and will not take part in any decisions regarding principals, I maintain my long-standing position that we should analyze the need for all administrative positions before removing teachers or paraprofessionals from the classroom.  A summary of district-wide furlough savings and a sample layoff cost is included.

No decision that will be made will be without pain or cost.  We must remember, however, that we are ultimately dealing with people’s lives.  Taxpayers, many experiencing their own individual economic struggles, will feel an impact in one way or another; in this fiscal year or in future years.  Teachers, paraprofessionals, custodians, cafeteria workers, secretaries and administrators; many of whom have planned their lives in accordance with their employment; are exposed to loss of job and income.  Most importantly students, our children, face the prospect of losing  educational services that our vital to their success.  Any decision we make should be creative, well-thought and have the least impact on those who have done nothing to deserve being put in jeapordy.