Mam’k Schools Budget is Presented
The Mamaroneck School District’s recommended 2010-2011 budget, as announced Tuesday night by Superintendent Paul Fried, had few surprises,
as public participation in the process has been heavy over the last six weeks.
The bottom line:
Budget: $122,695,077 up by $1,769,317 over last year, or 1.47%.
Positions: Cut 52.8 (includes 11 teachers.)
Tax increase: 2.81%. The last go-round recommended an increase of 4.45%
According to Fried’s slides,on a property assessed at 20,000:
- The tax rate = $759.46 per $1000
- Annual cost to taxpayer before STARtax exemption = $14,722
- Increase: $414.94 per year; $34.58 per month
On March 20th at 9 am, the Board will hold a special Saturday meeting, where the Superintendent’s Recommended Budget is reviewed line-by-line with the Board and communityin the MHS tiered classroom.
A Board study session will be held April 6th, before the Board of Education adopts a budget on April 20th. The budget will go to community vote on May 18th.
As a Larchmont parent of school-aged children, I am frightened and appalled by all the cuts being proposed at the elementary, middle and high schools. Though, fundamentally I understand that in these trying economic times there are not many alternative options available to meet the needs of the upcoming budget deficits; I still wince at the thought of how my children’s education may be compromised. Teachers and schools bare a huge responsibility in determining the most suitable learning style and strategy for each child and insuring that each child maximizes his/her learning potential. At all levels of education, it is crucial for teachers to be cognizant and support all the different minutaes and eccentricities involved in learning. No two children learn in the same manner and not every child follows a predictable trajectory. Our children will be at a disadvantage if fewer teachers are trying to meet the needs of the same amount if not more students. A minor gap insufficiently addressed in reading, writing or math in the first grade, becomes a major hindrance to education in the later grades. More so than ever, the responsibility for our children’s educational needs will fall on the parents’ shoulders. Luckily, we live in a neighborhood with extremely educated and competent parents who for the most part are aware of the warning signs that their children are struggling in math, reading or writing and are prepared to step in to ameliorate this deficit. However, for parents who have always relied on the schools to assess and provide all the educational needs for their children, this burden may appear daunting. As a fellow parent, I greatly sympathize with parents who are overwhelmed with the challenge that lies before them. Although I do not want to appear to be profiting from the losses that the community faces, since I too am a member of the community and am facing the same challenges with my own children, the reality is that parents need to educate themselves regarding quality supplementary educational services. Thus, I am the director of Prodigy Learning Center. My staff and I provide intensive and individualized instruction for all levels of education and for all types of learners. Our mission statements are: learning is not one size fits all and to treat your children like our own. If you would like to request information or schedule a free consultation please call us at: (914)725-5085.
[quote][i]Don’t worry that children never listen to you; worry that they are always watching you. [/i]
– Robert Fulghum[/quote]
Editrix, can the ‘Ad’ for the ‘Learning Center’ be moved to the ‘Classified’ section?
It is frightening that residents of our educated community cannot come to grips with and understand the economic environment in which our collective mismanagement has left us. It is appalling that we appear unable to do anything about it but bemoan the situation and propose to leave future generations even deeper in debt.
[quote][i]We were — waist deep in the Big Muddy
And the big fool said to push on.[/i]
– Pete Seeger[/quote]
We continue to equate dollars spent with education delivered and continue to ignore the that it is the responsibility of the schools to provide education and not to be parents. Sorry, but our society once knew better about responsibility. The students of our community need schools that work, and adults to be their models as citizens.
[quote][i]The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.[/i]
– FDR[/quote]
It is our own failings that are most appalling.
Nothing like a sales pitch delivered right in the middle of a discussion. Do you wait outside of parent teacher conferences with your card? Might be able to drum up some business there as well.
I just wanted to respond to Bobo’s comment. At the budget meeting that I attended in February there were a number of parents who requested information about tutoring services. I think that it would have been inappropriate for me to raise my hand at that meeting and shared what I do or given out cards. However I do not see the issue that you have with making tutoring information readily available to those parents who desire the support. What more accessible a forum for a parent to get the information than a discussion on the pending budget reductions? If you are not interested in the services that is fine, but; please do not condemn me or other parents who may be.
[quote][i]The thing I fear most is fear.[/i]
-Michel de Montaigne[/quote]
Bobo is correct. Journalistic writing demands the separation of news, editorials and advertising.
Individuals, tutoring service providers, who see fail to see the lack of difference between fear mongering in their opinion writing and in distributing their cards in certain ‘prayer meetings’ 😉 can look here for supplies [url]http://www.vistaprint.com/vp/ns/studio3.aspx?pf_id=064&combo_id=4298&free_studio_gallery=true&referer=http://www.vistaprint.com/vp/ns/default.aspx?dr=1&rd=2&GP=3/21/2010+9:19:32+AM&rd=2[/url]. However, those individuals may not be the best choice to provide intensive instruction.
If supplemental tutoring services were really needed, perhaps the schools could provide space for all assistance providers’ business cards, especially those not looking for their fortunes among others’ misfortune. Our society once knew better about responsibility. The students of our community need schools that work, and adults to be their models as citizens.
[quote][i]
Don’t worry that children never listen to you; worry that they are always watching you.[/i]
– Robert Fulghum[/quote]
Yea, Bozo, chill…its was totally relevant and in context. Save your sarcastic venom for the things that don’t work around here, not the people who are trying to get them to work.
And hey, Mr. Nutter Butter Cookie Monster, supplementary tutoring services ARE needed, given the sorry state of the budget and the effects is has and will have on decent, motivated teachers. Where should one look, on the Post-It board at Blockbuster for the tutor that will help their kids? Next to the moving/cleaning/dog-walking services? Debbie’s Ausch is just doing a little direct marketing and not meekly hiding in the weeds. Chaos and panic deserves a counter-attack, not a retreat…
editrix: please go easy on your fellow loopaholics. we are all trying to figure our way out of this one…
The following was testimony given before the “NYS Senate – Westchester Delegation on the Budget chaired by Senator Suzi Oppenheimer” on March 19th regarding the Mamaroneck Schools Budget issue.
[url]http://bit.ly/cTDjg[/url]