School Board Sets May 18 for Budget Vote
by Nancy Wood
April 22, 2010, page 1.....

“What is the use of repeating all that stuff, if you don’t explain it as you go on? It’s by far the most confusing thing I ever heard!” - The Mock Turtle in Alice in Wonderland

As CCS students acted out their parts in a dress rehearsal of Alice in Wonderland in the multi-purpose room, the adults performed in equally dramatic roles in the Library. The School Board held a special meeting on April 19 to discuss the budget that was defeated, for the second time, on April 6, and invited the public to speak about their concerns.

Over 50 people crowded the room, and wide differences of opinion were expressed. Several themes reappeared throughout the evening: It’s not about the money (or it is about the money). The school should be run more like a business (or not). Hiring co-principals was a mistake (or is commendable). The state should be taken to task for the high property taxes, not the students. Additional cuts will reduce the quality of education (or we did just fine with less in the past).

At the end of the meeting the board set May 18 as the date for the third vote on the budget. They will meet Monday, May 3, at 7 p.m. for another work session at which they expect to vote on the budget that will be presented. A public hearing on the budget is scheduled for May 13 at 7 p.m. (note: this date is a change from what was originally set on April 19.)

The theme raised most often, by people on all sides of the issue, was the need for decisive leadership by the board and improved communications to dispel the confusion and misinformation that has characterized the debate. Carle Falke said there needs to be “dramatic education” of the voters, and an understanding of, “What is on the table and what is not?”

Oliver Gardner, a resident since 1978, compared the school approach to budgeting with what businesses do. He was one of several people who identified themselves as apathetic voters who haven’t followed closely as school costs have escalated over the years. He said the school board has lost touch with the marketplace, and should budget more like a business. The last $50,000 in cuts from a $7 million budget “wouldn’t impress a bank.” Jaunich commented later in the evening that this is a public school providing education to children, very different from a business.

Lane Morrison has lived in town for 40 years and served on the school board for nine. He said enrollment is less now than twenty years ago, and questioned why the number of teachers (full time equivalents, not including special ed) has increased from 32 to 42.

Bob Lazarus said that people are confused about what the next vote will mean. Will it be a choice between two options – the budget presented or, if defeated, being limited to 87% of the prior budget? Bob Mason, CSSU Chief Operations Officer and board chair Lynn Jaunich clarified what the “87%” is all about. According to Mason, under Vermont law, “if a budget for the support of schools for the ensuing year has not been approved on or before June 30 of any year, the school board may borrow funds necessary to enable it to operate the schools on a budget of up to 87 percent of the most recently approved school budget.” (Vermont Statutes Annotated, Title 16, Chapter 9, section 566).

Jaunich said that the board would have to keep bringing the budget back to the voters until one is passed. Mason explained that without a budget, the board would have no taxing authority. There would be costs associated with paying interest on the borrowed funds, and a loss of interest on invested revenues. Contracts with individual teachers could not be signed until the board has a voter-approved budget.

Several speakers raised the downside of reduced budgets. Marybeth Gilliam, who moved here with her family in July 2009, said they chose Charlotte because the realtor said there were only two choices in the area if you want the best schools: Shelburne and Charlotte. She cautioned that deep cuts in the budget would reduce that high quality of education and could lead to reduced property values. She also said that it could lead to parents sending their children to private schools, which would reduce the CCS student population and create additional financial problems.

At the end of the meeting, members of the board expressed their desire to do a much better job educating the public about the budget and how it affects the education of the students. Jaunich said that she thought that both budgets that were turned down were “incredibly responsible,” and she would hesitate to offer a token reduction of another $10,000. Sue Thibault and Kristin Wright said they felt that the most recent budget should be presented again, with an effort “to really get the word out.” Dan Luce said there was a “big hill to climb in educating the community.” Clyde Baldwin said he thought there might be another $30-40,000 that could be cut, but he said it would need a lot more discussion. The board agreed on the need to resolve the other differences that have divided them.

Picture: CCS students practice for their April 21-22 performance of Alice in Wonderland with hi-tech sound and light systems unavailable 20 years ago.