Tom, thank you for the clarification. And yes, I have read the article to the
end. It seems from the last paragraph that no positive changes was proposed so
far and the discussion on the matter is not started yet. At least no ideas had
been shared or even mentioned. And this is really sad since a year is not a lot
of time to invent and implement major policy changes for such a big
institution. Sincerely hope the discussion on “future positive changes in a
constructive and inclusive way” will start soon and will be productive!
Gregory Brodski
gbrodski@xxxxxxxxx
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From: warwicklist-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:warwicklist-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Tom Wyatt
Sent: Thursday, June 21, 2018 11:38 AM
To: warwicklist
Subject: [The-L] Re: PVRS Budget Meeting June 19 link
Gregory,
My understanding of the deficit spending is to buy time to make the future
positive changes in a constructive and inclusive way. The School Committee and
HEART committee have been discussing changes and will continue to do so, with a
balanced budget a key part of what needs to happen. See the quote at the end of
the article from Sue O'Reilly McRae, school committee member from Warwick. "
“We can’t keep spending at this level. We know that,” said School Committee
member Sue O’Reilly-McRae. “So we make a long-term investment to buy this time
to keep us going.
“We don’t make draconian cuts to our district that continue to spiral us down
so that we have less enrollment and less engagement and less faith in us as a
district,” she said. “That gives us the year. … It gives us time for everyone
to come to terms with, do we need to close a school? How many administrators
can we support? Do we have to restructure in a dramatic way?”
Tom Wyatt
On Thu, Jun 21, 2018 at 11:28 AM, Gregory Brodski <gbrodski@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
It is very sad to see that it was no discussion on future positive changes,
which can lead to balanced budget.
Gregory Brodski
gbrodski@xxxxxxxxx
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upon it. Instead, please inform the sender and then delete it. Thank you.
From: warwicklist-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:warwicklist-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Tom Wyatt
Sent: Thursday, June 21, 2018 11:22 AM
To: warwicklist
Subject: [The-L] Re: PVRS Budget Meeting June 19 link
An overview of what was decided.
Tom Wyatt
http://www.recorder.com/Pioneer-School-Committee-decides-to-borrow-money-for-budget-18303978
Pioneer board votes to borrow money, spend at deficit
NORTHFIELD — Insisting there is nothing left to cut from the school budget, the
Pioneer Valley Regional School Committee voted on Tuesday to borrow money and
spend at a deficit through the coming year while it restructures its spending
to be sustainable in the long term.
“We’re destroying ourselves. We’re not going to get students coming in here if
we make more cuts,” said School Committee member Sharon Fontaine. “I think it’s
ridiculous to think we can cut more money out of this budget. I don’t want to
get into debt either, but it’s feeling like that’s the only lifeline we’ve got.”
The decision to spend at a deficit and borrow money rather than make further
cuts comes after several major cuts were announced at the previous meeting on
June 12. These most notable cuts included several teacher layoffs and
reductions to elementary school special classes.
The committee debated asking the towns for more money, but decided against
doing so after Leyden Selectman Jeff Neipp said it would be “ludicrous” to ask
the district’s four member towns to hold special town meetings for
appropriating the money in time for the start of the school year in September.
Similarly, closing either Leyden’s Pearl Rhodes Elementary School or Warwick
Community School has been ruled out, as doing so would require a change to the
district agreement which would have to be approved by at least three of the
four towns in a special town meetings.
“We can’t keep spending at this level. We know that,” said School Committee
member Sue O’Reilly-McRae. “So we make a long-term investment to buy this time
to keep us going.
“We don’t make draconian cuts to our district that continue to spiral us down
so that we have less enrollment and less engagement and less faith in us as a
district,” she said. “That gives us the year. … It gives us time for everyone
to come to terms with, do we need to close a school? How many administrators
can we support? Do we have to restructure in a dramatic way?”
By MAX MARCUS
Recorder Staff
Tuesday, June 19, 2018
·
On Tue, Jun 19, 2018 at 11:34 PM, Erika Nygard <eanygard@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Important meeting...stay informed! PVRS Budget Meeting June 19th.
https://www.facebook.com/bnctelevision/videos/1359722947505767/
Erika
🌊
