The same- but different
The budget vote is less than a week away and we still haven’t decided the reconfiguration plan. Should that affect your vote? I think not. We began this journey in October by discussing the financial future of Mineola. Ultimately the Board voted to close schools so we are better equipped to handle the decreases in revenue and still maintain the programs we currently enjoy. Closing schools will allow us to offset the loss of Federal stimulus money as well as combat mandated increases in contracts, pension and health costs. It will also enable us to maintain a stable tax levy at or below 2.5%. This budget achieves that goal, and more importantly it establishes the foundation of future budgets to continue to deliver the targeted 2.5% levies. So what about the configuration? There is no advantage in rushing to implement something that isn’t fully discussed and researched. That is what we are currently doing. I urge everyone to complete the exit poll after you vote. Please express your opinion about the reconfiguration through the exit poll rather than the budget vote.
My understanding of any dollar-per-student statistic is that it takes a certain amount of money to establish and produce any program. That program — let’s say in sports or music — will have fixed costs: administrators, teachers, equipment, insurances, etc. These program costs remain at or about the same level whether one has 2700 students or 3000 students. (It doesn’t cost any more to add a student to a preexisting program.) The expense to run programs for small school district is proportionately the same as for larger districts. But our common denominator (2700 kids) is small; so the “cost-per-child” is greater. We run the same programs as our neighbors, at the same costs or less, but their common denominator (total student population) is greater. Maybe we should consider how to increase the common denominator.
I continue to read and hear comments regarding leasing or selling the two buildings to be closed.
No offense to anyone, but please note:
Selling the a building provides a one time cash influx which is sure to run out at some time. Leasing provides for steady income. Also, if a building or buildings get sold, and at some point we need them back, it would be cost prohibitive to find a parcel in the district large enough to begin then to build a new building or buildings.
Dr. Nagler,
Sorry if you couldn’t understand my comments yesterday. I just got back from one of my childrens athletic events where the fun has been taken out of watching the children because all the parents are talking about school closings.
I dont discuss this topic with my wife in front of my kids but when my child asks me why are they closing Hampton St. Daddy? She wants to have the same teachers like my oldest daughter had. I dont want to name names but she knows these teachers by name.
As far as bias, excuse me for using such a strong word. Maybe I am biased toward Hampton over Willis because it has way more space for outdoor activity and a functioning kitchen to accomodate a larger group of students. Not to mention an excellent Principal and staff.
Thanks for your time and I hope I clarified my comments a little better.
I think we should all exercise our right to vote. We should all go out and support the Mineola school budget on May 18th. We should also complete the exit polls so the CCC receives this input from the community.
It is great that the BOE and Dr. Nagler presented a fair budget to the community.
However, I believe the decision to close schools could have waited until this budget passed or failed. Also, I think we could have waited to see how much NYS aid the district would be receiving.
This decision will only continue to cause disagreement and hours of pondering over options. Why not the option of putting forth a budget that kept these schools open? I would have supported that.
Not sure I understand some of your comments. No one has mentioned a scenario with two schools on the north side of Jericho. Nor do I understand the comment about a bias toward Hampton. If every time an idea is discussed the parents of the school that MAY close think it is a biased decision we won’t get anywhere.
Mr. Campenella, very well said. Everybody thought the options the CCC came up with were reasonable. If we cant keep all the schools open, then 2 on the north side of Jericho Turnpike is not acceptable. After all Hampton Street is actually in the village of Mineola. I just cant get on board with closing this school. I cant deal with going to meetings anymore its like a non stop roller coaster ride. But i will be out for the vote and the Hampton Street parents are coming strong. You are not going to cram all the hampton kids into willis. Why the bias toward hampton? Is there something we dont know?
I agree with Mr. Napolitano that “our children are very resilient,” and that “our goals should be quality education at a reasonable cost. So far we have just one side of that equation.” I would just like to make sure that equality is also involved. In addition, when will we as parents see the whole equation, if ever? Everyone is aware that there are going to be parents who are not happy with whichever option is chosen – but can we at least be given an idea of ALL the options that are truly on the table – just to be fair?
Thank you for allowing me to voice my feelings and concerns and an answer would be greatly appreciated.
I too would encourage the residents of the Mineola school district to come out and vote. It’s the only way to voice their opinions. For what it’s worth I am going to support the budget. Not because I think a 2.5 % increase is a bargin. It’s not. We will still be spending well in excess of $ 29,000 per student. We will still be spending 80% of our annual budget on personel expenses. But it will insure that no programs are lost for our students during this contract cycle. And then I would urge all the voters to begin to consider where we go from here in regard to how we negotiate with our unions. How do we slow this juggernaut of educational spending in our district !? And then we should approach our school board and strongly voice those opinions. What does this district owe to the unions and what do they owe the taxpayers ? In the proposed Mineola budget the line for benefits for the coming fiscal year was $16.5 million dollars ! That’s real dough. And we are still foraging around for money to maintain our district programs. I realize that some of these items are mandated by our incompetent and irresponsible representatives in Albany but that’s another story. Something in the budget has to give. The salary line or the benefits line. Which one do we have control over ? I encourage anyone who’s interested in public information to visit SeethroughNY on the web. It’s very informative. Lastly , there is no panacea in the reconfiguration debate. Someone is always going to be unhappy. Our children are very resilient. They will prosper regardless of the decision. There’s nothing radical in our choices. Our goals should be quality education at a reasonable cost. So far we have just one side of that equation.
The capital reserve should be viewed independently from the reconfiguration as well. The reserve allows the district to establish a ‘savings account’ for future capital work. The money cannot be spent without voter approval, so in the future if the voters do not want to spend it they can vote no. Additionally for the last 6 years we have placed a $500,000 budget line in the budget for capital work. I find it doubtful that we can maintain that budget line into the future. By establishing a reserve now- when we have money to fund it- is financially sound. It allows use to use the money in the future if we need it. The alternative would be to increase taxes to generate monies for capital work.
Also on the ballot is Proposition # 2, which would enable the Board to establish a $5 Million Capital Reserve Fund for the purpose of funding future construction, renovations and/or alterations. In this case, it would be very helpful for the community to know which reconfiguration option is the new # 1 option being considered. The two options proposed by the CCC each have their pros and cons. Even the so-called “No Construction” option would require some level of construction, as would the latest proposal to use Willis and close Hampton. The community is being asked to vote on a budget and establish a multimillion dollar capital reserve fund without knowing which schools are going to be closed, which schools will be added on to, and what the new grade configuration will be.
As for the exit poll, it doesn’t have as much force behind it as an official vote. It’s more like the survey from two years ago, in that the Board can choose to disregard the results. I wish the community were allowed to VOTE on which configuration they favor for their children. And this should include the “Keep all schools open” option — an option excluded from the exit poll as of the last BOE meeting.
I have heard that there are more than 2 options being presented to the board going around the district as far as closing certain schools and clustering. I know that rumors can be exactly that, but is it fair to have residents believe one thing after the Triple C spent time and energy coming up with options, and then other options be given to the board to accommodate a certain area of the community? As Mr. Widman mentioned, I hope that residents come out and vote because this will impact them, whether or not they have children in the school district. The children are our future and we want the best for them. Some of the options that have not been mentioned in the blog are not desirable. I have not been able to attend the board meetings but have heard about them. I know this isn’t an easy decision, but I hope that the decision made is made consciously, with full awareness of the present and future consequences – and not just by those complaining of social inequality within our district. As the saying goes, “the squeaky wheel gets the oil.” Well, here goes the squeaky wheel – just because one school feels entitled, that is not fair for the rest of us!
I agree with Mr. Widman, in commending the superintendent and school board for one of the smallest budget percent change. I just hope the best decision possible is made concerning school closings. If it comes to it, and I truly hope it doesn’t, if I feel that the welfare of my children is at risk, then, maybe I just may have to move out of Mineola. And that would be my drastic measure – but my children come first!!!
I hope residents take the time to go out and vote, either for or against the budget. Those that don’t vote should not complain about the outcome. This is the chance to voice you opinion.
It also appears that Mineola is requesting one of the smallest percent budget change of LI school districts. I would to thank the superintendent and the school board for this.