What are the residential requirements for becoming an Academy Trustee “At-Large”?
POINT: Academy Trustee, Mr. Wetzel, Attacks the BOE & K-8 School System
How about a little truth with all of this nonsense. What is going on in Woodstock is a group of people who were elected under false premises will stop at nothing to Repeal or Amend Prop 46 to their liking. They are using our children and their political position to play hardball and get what they want. They are willing to sacrifice a small group of kids to get their desired objectives: Repeal 46 and have all the money they want. Or so they think. Even if 46 is Repealed the Citizens of Woodstock will not give these morons what they want.
Right now they are planning to take the 9th grade and keep it at the Middle School soon to become a Jr. High School. They will try this action to punish the parents and taxpayers of Woodstock and try to blackmail them by saying in effect: Repeal or Amend 46 and your children can then go to the Academy. If you don’t then they will get the equivalent education of 8th grade twice in a poor/average school system. They are hoping the Citizens will rise up and fix 46. What that the Citizens should do is rise up and repeal the Board of Education. These people are irresponsible and disgusting in their behavior over the last two years.
The members of BOE knew their enrollment was over-estimated at the Academy and yet they put the numbers in anyhow. Want to know why? Because they had to cry poverty during the budget session. Enrollment in the K-8 system has been slow and fairly flat for the last 10 years. Enrollment in the Academy has been steadily growing for the last 10 years.
Older parents with children in the Middle School or High School have been moving to Woodstock because of the Academy and housing costs are too high for young families. The K-8 budget is full of fat, special deals, and bad business decisions over the last 10 years. The Academy has been well run and provides a quality education at a fair price. This BOE is a political board with an agenda. They have hurt the children at the Academy and their education. The Board of Trustees and the Administration has had to spend alot of time and money coping with the political nonsense for the BOE. That time and money could have been better spent improving education and programs.
The Town of Woodstock will get a credit of over $200,000 this year for their overestimate of enrollment at the Academy and $40,000 more if they sign a contract or commit their grades 9-12 for next year. Where is the budget crisis in Woodstock now? The BOE has misrepresented the facts, played political games and now are caught up in their own web. When are the Citizens of Woodstock going to have enough of this and get rid of these idiots? By the way, it is not all of the BOE, some members are actually trying to be honest and fair. Unfortunately, Linsay Paul, Charlie Snow, Bill Loftus, Frank Corden, and Andrezyk are the main culprits. Just a side note, Joe Breen the “mastermind” of alot of this…(deleted by Admin because of inappropriate reference to a family). Isn’t it nice for these schemers. There is alot going on in Woodstock , please wake up and find out what is going on.
Mr. Wetzel’s Addendum follows – Admin
How about deliberately overestimating the number of students at the Academy to pump up the budget by $200,000.
How about a Health Insurance Account which is being used for other things than Health benefits and every few years dumping alot of money into it. There has never been a true audit of that account. I tried to get an audit for the last 8 years to no avail.
How about a real study into the bus system of owning the buses or contracting out the service.
How about a real space audit for the school system. Plenty of space by the way.
How about a real class size per teacher.
And how about all of those aides that were supposed to be gone but now are under East Conn.
How about the Reading and Math Coordinators who were supposed to be temporary but now are permanent. How about a school system of less than 1,000 students with a Full Superintendant and two Pricipals.
How about an administrative staff under Dr. Baran that is too large and inefficient and expensive.
I could go on and on but if they would only put some energy into some of the above I would be happy. There is plenty of money to be saved. The issue here has never been about real money. These people on the BOE have bought into the nonsense that the k-8 sytstem is starving because of the Academy. Go back over the last 10 years of spending on education in Woodstock and the k-8 has spent far more of its share with flat enrollment. And you wonder why I have a problem with the Woodstock school system.
Mr. Wetzel’s Second Addendum follows – Admin
Plus, the Town of Woodstock has a per pupil cost of about $1,000 for building costs for projects over the last 10 plus years. Far more than any town in the area for k-8. The Middle School project was a boondoggle from day one. Data General laughed themselves silly over Woodstocks stupidity. If you spent part of this money in the classroom instead on the classroom we might get a better education. However, the leaders in Woodstock love building projects. Just look at the Bonding proposal in front of you now by the BOF. What a collosal waste of money on nonsense. The budget process in Woodstock is to come in with high requests of 12% plus and then pretend to cut down to 8%. The Academy has oversight of sending Towns and 22 other Trustees and they don’t play that game. Go back over the last 10 years and see the enrollment growth and tuition growth at the Academy, compare the per pupil costs to surrounding Towns and you will see that we have a good deal for a subcontracted service. The Academy is not the problem, the k-8 system is the problem. You can’t have a reasonable discussion about education in Woodstock because all they are is a special interest group who want what they want. They get elected by promising things they can’t deliver. They lie about their position on 46, then get elected and spend all of their energy trying to get rid of it. This BOE is a partisan group who aren’t interested in ideas and savings, just getting more money to solve their perceived problems. They believe their ends justify their means. They will sacrifice your kids education to get what they want. Because in the long run more kids will be better off in the k-8 sytem. I contend that there is plenty of money in the Woodstock system and we can get a good education with the money we have and future growth in spending under 46. Until we can get people to stop protecting their special interest Woodstock is in trouble. Woodstock has limited spending ability, it is a middle class town with some wealth in it. The tax and spenders see the citizens as an endless source of taxation. How many times do the people have to vote to save 46 before these people will respect and honor the vote. I circulated a petition to Repeal 46 inorder to save 46 from these liars. I know that doesn’t make sense to most people but I have learned how to deal with these lowlifes for 10 years now. Citizens of Woodstock insist that your elected Officials honor 46 and come up with creative ideas to spend the money they have more efficiently and effectively. I have sat on both the Board of Education in Woodstock and the Board of Trustees. Have seen how they both function and operate. The Town of Woodstock is a woeful example of business decisions and educational ideas. Too much favoritism and deals for certain people. Just use the example of the husband of the pastor in East Woodstock for that one. Use the example of the busing study done in early 2000’s. I had to shame the BOF to even ask for a study. They turned it over to Linda Galton, Superintendant, who turned it over to Richard Johnson who ran the service. Gee, Laidlaw didn’t submit a quote. How much have we spent on new buses over the last 6 years. Scary amount. There is no arms length anything in Woodstock. I am not picking on Richard Johnson, he’s a good guy who does his job. I don’t he should be double dipping by supervising the bus drivers and also driving a bus. If you want I can keep going but hopefully you get the point.
COUNTERPOINT: Defender of the K-8 School System Responds to Mr. Wetzel’s “Points”.
You are all too ready to assign motive to those you disagree with. I believe you wouldn’t know a balanced perspective if it plucked you from certain death in a raging torrent. You have apparently lost touch with reality in this never-ending crusade you are on.
If Woodstock Public Schools had been receiving adequate funding over the last ten years, the thought of holding back the 9th grade would never have surfaced, let alone be entertained. The education they would get would not be equal to the education they would get at the Academy, but the scenario is finding more justification every time we are forced to make cuts.
Given that Woodstock’s BOE cannot save money for anticipated costs such as the huge bubble in the next freshmen class, the Academy’s refusal to accept the larger enrollment figure only increases the probability that our BOE will have to accept holding the ninth grade back. You failed to take advantage of the opportunity to show how willing the Academy is to ‘work’ with our BOE. Our BOE is not “willing to sacrifice a small group of kids to get their desired objectives: Repeal 46 and have all the money they want.� However, because of the lack of responsible behavior of our Board of Finance (not to mention your incessant yammerings) we reluctantly face the very reality you have helped create. So, yes, you may end up being ‘right’ but not for the accusations you have levied. Your continued personal attacks are not only petty and small-minded, but reveal your innate character.
Now on to more substantial responses:
Your accusation of “deliberately over-estimating� the student numbers for the Academy seems silly. If, as you consistently point out, the education establishment is empire building, why would they do anything that actually resulted in one of their own being put on the street (teachers laid off)?
What “other� things are being paid for out of the Health account?
If, as you contend, a “real� study about the cost of owning the buses or contracting the service needs doing, please indulge us. I’m sure the webmaster at this site would be willing to publish the submitted quotes, so we could all see what the “real� costs are. By the way, be sure to include how much value the town would have to sign over when we GIVE our buses to a subcontractor like Laidlaw.
The aides you say are supposed to be gone but are now under EastConn, are being paid by special education grants, as I understand it. They are not being paid through our BOE budget.
I’m not sure why you believe the Reading and Math Coordinators were supposed to be temporary. The Coordinators are responsible for seeing that our multiple teachers at each level are covering the same ground for all our students. They also insure that our achievement goals are on target and a myriad of other details, I’m sure. Given the shrinking resources our system has, I think the coordinator’ roles are even more important at this point.
Why do you think that having a superintendent and two principals is an illustration of overstaffing?
The District’s staff consists of 3¾ people. Those 3¾ people oversee and handle the purchasing, record keeping, payroll, state and federally mandated reports, budgeting, insurance, human resources, and every FOI request that comes in for the entire district …about 100 employees, 1500 students and $14 million dollars. By contrast, the town hall works with less than a quarter of the employees, a third of the money and whoever walks in the front door of the town hall. I think there is a much more clear argument to be made that the town hall is overstaffed.
I propose that you put in some effort in finding the answers to your own questions. You are ever willing to blast everyone else as morons, lazy and pathetic but absolutely avoid any homework of your own.
Your contention that $1000 of the per-pupil-cost is for construction costs may be correct, but your assumption that those costs are unreasonable is not. Different communities build at different times. Our per-pupil spending (164/169) is derived by dividing the education budget by our student population – debt service is not included. So our pitiful spending per pupil would be at the absolute bottom of the state if the $1000 (your figure) construction costs were included.
Mr. Wetzel, Bill Loftus, Lindsay Paul, Joe Breen, Carol Andresczik, and Frank Corden all have children in the Woodstock Public Schools. deleted by Admin because it mentioned family members The special education aides in the public schools are there because the children they are assigned to have an IEP (individualized education plan) that states they need a 1:1 aide. If it is written into their IEP the school is legally obligated to provide one. And where is the favoritism in hiring a professional man in his forties with an advanced degree for a starting salary of less than $10 an hour? We were lucky to have him for that, although he has now moved on to a better position. I am bored and offended by your inaccurate personal attacks on people.
There really is little point in disputing Wetzel’s fictions – he will simply drown us all with more. Ernie and his gang used their rantings to keep a political stranglehold on Woodstock for years – until we broke it and drove him and his gang from the Democratic Party and then from office to the great relief of all. What is really despicable is that Woodstock Academy has reassembled this group on their Board of Trustees where they continue in the same mode. To James Kaeding, Richard Foye, David Teed, Kevin Johnston, Ed Higgins – what the hell is the matter with you people?
Administrator – This site is publicly available to all – a personal decision between my wife and I regarding our children is now all over Woodstock – thanks. I ask you to delete references to my wife and children from any future comments – this is way out of line.
The Cafe apologizes to Mr. Breen and his family for letting the references to personal family decisions slip through. We will try to be more sensitive to this issue. I doubt that Mr. Wetzel would appreciate discussion of his family issues at this site either.
Defender – Thank you for taking the time to respond to Wetzel’s whinings! I hate the thought of having to even entertain his “yammerings”, but firmly believe that his trash-mouth allegations cannot be allowed to stand unchallenged! As Lenin said, “A lie told often enough becomes the truth.”
Mr. Breen – I’m sorry that your family was dragged into this. Wetzel should be much more careful… he lives in a glass house when it comes to family issues.
So Mr. Breen’s only rebuttal to Mr. Wetzel is to refer to “his gang”, call them “Wetzel’s fictions” and say they are not worth disputing? The second major point of rebuttal is to call the Academy’s actions “despicable.” Mr. Wetzel presented quite a few things as “facts.” So if they are not true or have been misrepresented, the logical thing to do would be to explain to the rest of us why they are not true or what another interpretation might be. For example, IS the BOE going to hold back the 9th grade? DID the board knowingly overestimate the Academy enrollment? (Counterpoint only rebuts this with a “why would . . .” statement.) Where IS the budget crisis if we now have another 200K$? WHAT about the health insurance account? Space? Class size? The reading and math coordinators? The topheavy administration? I’m not crazy about Mr. Wetzel calling people morons or idiots, but I’d like to hear logical rebuttals to what he has stated as facts.
It doesn’t bother me one way or the other that Mr. Breen… (deleted by Admin)…, and I don’t see any problem with that. It does bother me that he wants it censored out of the list, and that the school system cried poverty, and now we have 200,000 dollars? It seems like they were trying to get rid of it like a hot potato, giving it to WA before anyone noticed they had it. I never understood why a school system needs reading or math coordinators. Any of those teachers should be able to teach reading or arithmetic without having it coordinated by another person.
So please “get past” Mr. Wetzel’s personality and logically address the things he presents as facts.
Come on Joe, is that all you can come up with? I would like to hear a little more from the Democratic party and the BOE on this site.
Mr. Wetzel, Mr. Klusek & ‘Numbers’, “You can have your own opinions but you are not entitled to your own facts.”
Mr. Cain,
I am siding with Numbers on this one. The problem I am having, and I’m sure many folks in Woodstock are having, is that I am not sure which facts are real and which facts and figures are confabulated for political reasons. I am not fond of Wetzel’s harshness, however, I too would like to hear more of a rebuttal than the invoking of sympathy and “what the hell is the matter with you people”. This site holds an extensive audience worthy of more and provides an excellent platform for politicians and board members to increase transparency. Their failure to do so makes me suspicious of them and their motives.
Come on Cain, how can you disagree?
The fact that the ‘estimate’ (developed last winter) did not reflect the actual student count as of October 1 does not prove that the BOE “deliberately” over estimated the count to the Academy. The WA enrollment figure for last year was 475. Take away 112 (senior graduating class of 2006) and you have 363 students remaining. Now, add in 111 (graduating eighth grade of 2006 and the total is 474. Those numbers are reflective of actual bodies in the system. The ‘estimate’ of 481 was not unreasonable. So, if the BOE actually “overestimated” the student count, they did so to the tune of 6 students or $59K, NOT $200K! The fact that the student census on October 1 came in at 459 is surprising given the past trend of yearly, add-in enrollments in late summer.
The assertion that the elementary/middle school population has been fairly flat is subjective. More to the point, it is irrelevant because our elementary/middle schools are the feeder stream to our Academy enrollment. Thirteen years ago (94/95 when this year’s graduating Academy class was in kindergarten), our elementary/middle school population was 869. In 02/03 it was 1002. This year it is 962 (enrollment figures as of 7.25.06).
For perspective, the population of Woodstock increased 30.8% from 1990 to 2005. The increase of our student population during the same time is 41.9%.
Mr. Wetzel’s “facts” are not facts. They are over-generalized, grandiose accusations recklessly casting aspersions of negative and manipulative motivations onto a huge swath of Woodstock’s population. Just because something is stated as fact does not make so.
Numbers – The reason not to dispute Wetzel’s rantings is that these same basic accusations have been repeated – ad nauseum – for years. They have been addressed – over and over in one public venue after another – over many years. This individual – along with Jay Livernois and Preston Schultz (who did not want a bathroom installed in the new highway garage) simply have no credibility. Distortion of a few recent current events by an individual obsessed with hatred for the town’s public school system does not make them worthy of response. As the Academy has remained silent in the face of any inquiries presented here and elsewhere – why don’t you ask THEM to respond to facts much more intelligently presented? Why not start by asking the Trustees why they have packed their Board with people this irresponsible? Finally, if you don’t have the decency to understand there is something wrong with exposing my children to this individual’s rantings, then you are of his ilk.
“what the hell is the matter with you people?â€? – the same question applies to the BOE. The $200K (or $59K which is somewhere near the BOE’s legal fees to date) mentioned is quickly being drained away in legal fees, so don’t get your hopes up that it will be spent where it should be. The dilatory tactics employed by the BOE and their attorneys have taken a hearing that is supposed to be completed within 45 days by statute and dragged it out to almost a year so far, and the end is still not in sight. The State DOE is not happy about this either. (Although I’m quite sure Shipman & Goodwin can’t suppress their laughter when the bills go out). While we’re at it, let’s ask them how it’s going for them? I’ll bet not a peep. From my perspective, that it’s not going well for them is a nice way to put it. I will temper that by saying from experience you never know what an ‘administrative judge’ might do, although I feel strongly that a federal judge will have little patience for the shenanigans that have been exposed by the testimony, if in fact we have to go to the next level.
I wonder how the teachers are going to feel when we release the transcript (will the Café post it or say they didn’t receive it?) and they find out that they were thrown under the bus when not in the room and then paraded in, obviously highly coached to the point of lacking credibility, to attempt to aide the administration in covering their admitted failings. Great move in boosting morale among our teachers.
The brain trust here decided to evade rather than write a meaningful response or pick up a phone and speak to us like human beings in response to the myriad of letters asking direct questions regarding the matter, on which the entire board was copied- (no ability to hide on this one) -to what end? I’ll bet you won’t get an answer.
As for the Café administration- trashing people, posting inappropriate information and then issuing hollow apologies seems to be a pattern- (I can’t tell you how much we enjoyed ‘Selfish Couple’). The Café’s slant on the issues is no secret to anyone with a brain under the guise of a ‘public service’- Oh, please. No response from Admin is required.
When it’s all said and done, I will borrow the sentiment of Mr. Rapoport, in that, should we be gracious in having to spend tens of thousands of dollars to get people to follow the rules including their own public policies?
Citizen Cain- the BOE is not “entitled to their own facts� either. Defender- “Our BOE is not willing to sacrifice a small group of kids to get their desired objectives: Repeal 46 and have all the money they want.� Our experience proves otherwise.
To all of those considering buying or building here- welcome to the armpit of Connecticut- to the rest of us already here, aren’t you tired of holding your nose?
Cain/Sour Grapes/Numbers – Facts?! Wetzel?! C’mon yourselves! As everyone in Woodstock knows, this guy is the Niagara Falls of falsehoods! Wetzel wouldn’t know a fact if it were his birth mother! That’s why the Academy made him their Chief Public Spokesperson! The Academy can’t challenge any facts or respond to any questions so they wheel in Ernie Wetzel to deliver an attack speech no one can stand to read because they have heard it all so many times! And you call these facts?!! Its like listening to a large calibre machine gun spewing baloney against the wall! WHOMP! WHOMP! WHOMP! WHOMP!
I hear a lot about the “Academy Family”! Let me tell you, its more like the “Corleone Family”, with the following characters:
David “Friar Tuck” Teed!
Richard “Linebacker” Foye!
Kevin “Bagman” Johnston!
Joe “Numbers” Campbell!
Jim “Sneaky” Kaeding!
Ernie “Howitzer” Wetzel!
Jay “Nuts” Livernois!
Paul “Mop’n Glo” Lynn!
Paul “Car-Jack” Kelly!
What a gang! Where would our educational system be without this group shaking down our taxpayers for millions to spend on flawed septic systems, extra swampland, executive bonuses, and the most expensive teachers and sports in northeast Connecticut?! But what the heck, the taxpayers are picking up the tab, so I’d say the “Academy Family” has a good thing going!
It seems to me there is a baseline distinction that needs to made as to the credibility of Mr. Wetzel and therefore the effort to be invested in answering his charges in detail. As an observer for many years, I would say any detailed, factual response is a somewhat pointless task. I also wonder why Cain/Sour Grapes/Numbers ask K-8 supporters to respond to allegations from a noncredible source, knowing these responses have been provided many times, while allowing the Academy a free pass in responding to more serious inquiries. I do think it is legitimate to ask the Academy to respond as to why they have Wetzel on their Board of Trustees after he proved his seeming incapacity for truth during an extended political carreer in Woodstock.
Thank you. What you say may indeed be true, and I sincerely do believe it to be so, however, if these issues have been addressed ad nauseum in one public venue after another for many years, why is it then that Wetzel’s agenda continues to move forward and K-8 continues to be the sacrificial lamb? What went wrong with all the public venues and why isn’t the truth more adequately communicated? Yes, some arguments may not be worthy of a response, however, if they are not responded to, the argument is lost. Most people only remember what they most recently heard or read. The BOE and the K-8 need to take a more agressive and transparent stand in defending their positions. Their silence is hurting them. As much as Mr. Corden rightly argues that it is the responsility of the townsfolk to get involved, the fact of the matter is “it ain’t happenin’” . We need to move to Plan B. The air needs to be cleared. We keep spinning around and around on the same issues.
Numbers – As to the $200K – Unfortunately, the district is not allowed to put these funds into a savings account to use for next year’s bubble ninth-grade class. There are the unexpected legal expenses that the district has/is incurring and there may well be an increase in the catastrophic insurance policy costs after an incurrence at the beginning of the school year. Should the capital improvement plan fail to pass, these funds might also be used to purchase two buses which the district sorely needs.
As to the Health Insurance Fund – It is my understanding that Mrs. Munroe, the Superintendent’s Executive Assistant has worked diligently in the past few years to further refine the district’s estimation of the probable costs of the health insurance fund. While this fund may have had excesses in previous years (when Mr. Wetzel was a member the BOE and actually had intimate knowledge of the process) those excesses have not been the case recently.
As to the Space and Class Size Queries – That is currently being addressed within the framework of the Feasibility Study.
As to Reading and Math Coordinators – I think that the explanation of Counterpoint sounds fairly accurate. Maybe you ahould call the Superintendent’s office and ask for an explanation.
As to the insistence that our administrative staff is top-heavy – Could you please tell us why you think this is a fact? What about Counterpoint’s comparison to the town hall staffing?
Perhaps, more people should actively find answers to their own questions before they assume that there is any realistic weight to Mr. Wetzel’s.
By the way, as Mr. Breen pointed has pointed out, Mr. Wetzel has been making these same tired allegation ad nausea. As far as Mr. Breen not wanting his family being part of the discussion, perhaps if you proffer the members of your family for discussion you would immediately understand Mr. Breen’s position.
Sour Grapes – Don’t hide behind “Mr. Wetzel’s harshness�. He brings nothing more to the table beyond a merciless diatribe of accusations. Any credible argument given in response to him is completely overlooked and ignored. You have a much better ability of analysis than to be charmed by this kind of insincere behavior.
Sour Grapes – There is a long history to Wetzel’s stranglehold on this town over the last decade. Believe me, no one, regardless of ideology, wants this guy reinvolved.
Wetzel’s primary tactic is right out of the playbook of Joseph McCarthy. He attracts attention with a smattering of facts that are distorted and exaggerated into baseless, but alarming allegations. He drowns out any effort to answer his allegations with even more fantastic charges, ending in conspiratorial tones required to maintain the coherence of his original allegations.
Just as one example, he stated with great confidence at a town meeting on his Prop-46 referendum 10 months ago that there was $2 million of waste and fraud in the school system. When asked for specifics, he responded the town meeting venue was inappropriate to provide them(!). He drove one school superintendent out of this town, and is working on another. He attracts libertarians, conservatives, naive newcomers, and people who basically don’t want to spend or perhaps can’t afford additional taxes.
That’s why it is so disturbing that the Academy, which was founded by a Woodstock benefactor for the benefit of Woodstock public school students, has provided Wetzel (and his political partner, Jay Livernois) a new platform and thereby brought him back into the public discussion.
More is at stake than the football program, short term budget issues, or the egos of a few misguided Trustees. It really isn’t the Trustees’ school to allow to be disgraced in this way. They are called “trustees” because they have a public trust – primarily to the education of this town’s public students. Their charter, which protects their nonprofit status (yes the IRS is serious about this) requires they act in accord with this mission.
Wetzel’s loud, rancourous voice cannot help – and will likely harm – an institution the whole town values – and needs. This individual has been destructive to every institution with which he has associated. Regardless of political perspective, Woodstock has – with certainty – had its fill of this man.
It appears that the BOE can’t wait to spend that $200,000. Is it because they’d have to give it back to the town if they don’t? Folks. look in today’s Classified section of the Norwich Bulletin. You’ll find that additional staff is being hired that will cost just about 200k in salaries for this school year!
Woodstock Elementary School: Kindergarten Teacher and SEVEN Teacher assistants.
Woodstock Middle School: Reading Itervention Teacher, Math Intervention Teacher, Speech and Language Pathologist.
Something stinks. One might think that the BOE was never short of funds. It appears that a “credit” for next year was being contrived for the overestimation of Academy students to get rid of excess funds all ready in their hands. If this “credit plan” flops then those funds would probably have to be given back to the town or spent immediatlely. Am I wrong? Can someone shed more light on this? If I’m right, then a bunch of you should start hunting for crows and stuff your faces full of it for slamming Mr. Wetzel. He’s dead on. He’s been around awhile and seen this kind of game played many times before.
One more thing I’d like to add and that is what is the real value of Teacher Assistants? I’ve had many opportunities to observe them. Most of the time I see them doing nothing. Quite frankly, if a teacher can’t teach his class by himself, then we ought to hire a teacher who can. Having someone “assist” in the classroom dilutes the integrity of the position and creates an unecessary cost to the taxpayer. There are instances, I grant, where an assistant can be used, especially when certain sections include a high number of slow learners who have been dumped into a class together. I’m certain, however, we’ve gone way past that with the numbers of assistants we have.
With tongue in cheek, I’ll back out of here and watch fish rise to this bait.
Karnac, Thank you. Yours, Becki’s, and Constant Reader’s comments have provided me with a little more balance and perspective. This is what I want and what I think the town needs. Mr. Wetzel’s contentious behavior on and off this site has made me suspect, however, as one of those libertarian/conservative types myself, I thought it worthy to at least consider his argument. Keep in mind, it is these types of arguments that, when loudly voiced without formidable opposition, have and will influence a number of voters in this town.
FACT:
Woodstock BOE estimated the student population in April 2006, as required by Woodstock Academy so that they could finalize their budget. BOE reported to WA that 481 students would attend. Woodstock Academy budgeted for 475 students. …(see the article on the right “Seadog presents the facts…”, Admin)
Can someone help me out here?
If Woodstock Academy had a $370,000 surplus in 2005-2006, why is Woodstock only getting $42,000 if it sends grade 9 through 12 for 2007-2008, two years later. Hasn’t Woodstock paid all of its tuition to Woodstock Academy for 2005-2006? I think they have. So, why don’t they get back the overpayment, say 40% of the $370,000?
Hey, Joe, wouldn’t that be about $150,000 that could be given back to the town?
Sorry Seadog, “Based on reasonable educational needs…(bla bla, bla)is NOT fact. It’s merely conjecture.
I think that Woodstock should pass an ordinance which says, unless you have professional experience in municipal or corporate finance, you must serve at least a year on the Board of Education before you can serve on the Board of Finance. There is no way that our BOF understands the financial intracies of Woodstock budget requirements. Maybe that’s why they hide behind Prop 46 which doesn’t require any understanding of the budget needs of education or government.
Mr. Powers,
Once your legal action was initiated, and lawyers for both sides became involved, any direct contact by BOE members with you about the substance of your action would have been way out of line.
It is generally accepted educational policy for board of education members to not interfere with the operational decisions of the school administration. Can you imagine if the system were to provide an avenue through board of education members, for any complaint about a teacher, student performance, discipline and other operational matters, how politicized the educational process would become? You may feel that the process is politicized as is, and you are entitled to your opinion on that issue, but its not realistic to expect board of education members to communicate with you about your case, especially after the matter went into legal proceedings. You do have every right to expect the board of education hold administrators accountable for their decisions. I believe Woodstock’s BOE does a good job in that regard.
Joe,
Apparently, you’ve not heard of No Child Left Behind. Woodstock Academy is not required to comply with that unfunded mandate, but Woodstock Public Schools are. The only segment of Woodstock Public Schools that did not make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) based upon NCLB measurements last year was those with learning disabilities. If that result continues, the overseeing state and federal agencies will require Woodstock Public Schools to demonstrate measures to ensure that those with learning disabilities make AYP, that is, have not been left behind to use President Bush’s terminology. TA’s, remedial programs and early child education are measures that will be evaluated. It’s prudent to undertake those measures now to prevent the state and federal government telling us what to spend our money on. That’s a fact I bet you’d really like.
If seadog’s premonition is realized, wouldn’t the state and federal agencies telling us how to spend our money on education be considered an exception under Propostion 46? Ouch!!!!
Joe Kluseau – As usual, you are the hopeless, fumbling Inspector General of the town’s public school system. There simply isn’t anyone on this site who is as far off – as superficial – as you. It appears you were one of the “slow learners” you denigrate.
Sour Grapes – I have a problem with your giving the benefit of the doubt to Wetzel’s wild accusations, and reinforcing his suggestions of nefarious motivations on the part of BOE, without independent knowledge. Wetzel hasn’t presented a set of “facts” that were worth a damn in his entire public life. With his history of lying, it is simply naive to believe or lend credibility to anything he says.
The BOE does not have a public relations budget (as the Academy has) to counter the ongoing negative propoganda spread by Wetzel and Gang through the press, including this site. The BOE is trying to manage a school system, and now they are back to fighting a “swift-boat” propoganda campaign run by Wetzel out of the Academy Board of Trustees.
Numbers – It says a lot about you that you would not accept a simple suggestion to keep Mr. Breen’s children out of the discussion. Who are your kids and what are their issues? Let us know so we can all speculate about them!
Craig Powers – This article isn’t about you or your lawsuit. Stop hogging the ball.
Seadog, Thank you for the facts. Just curious though, how did the BOE overestimate by 22 students? ( Estimated 481, actual 459. ) Isn’t that an unusually large overestimation?
From time to time I have referred to the educational system in Woodstock as the “eduacation mafia”. Now I will explain. As with the mafia if you oppose them they “take care” of you. My family and I have been the recipient of many such attacks and retaliation. So has anyone else who dares to question this system. The BOE even saw fit to pass a Non-Retaliation policy back in l999. However, this policy is constantly not enforced. The mob in Providence could take lessons from their “money laundering” budget accounting each year. For example, The Health Insurance Account. Every few years an emergency is declared and the Health Fund has a nice deposit in a given budget year. That number stays in for future years when the emergency no longer exists. Plus it is part of the total budget which continues to grow each year. At the end of the year any excess funds from other areas of the budget, get deposited into the Health Account, or paid out of the Health Fund for other bills. What a nice little money laundering account. Where is the arms length audit of this account? Next lets move on to the debit/credit system at the Academy. Every so many years the BOE over calculates the number of children going to the Academy on purpose. They are in effect pre-paying for the next year. However, the citizen’s taxes are increased in this year. That number stays in the budget forever for kids that never existed. Or is adjusted going forward by any debits. In the next budget year the BOE now has a surplus in two areas, first the money from the prior year for kids who didn’t exist and they use the credit pay for this year which frees up more money to be spent in the current budget year. Yes, the mob would be proud. Next, we have to provide jobs for the family members like the school system does. And make sure they vote for this nonsense in the future. If, the Citizens dare to question the Education Mafia’s budget, then the cuts will really hurt the children and their parents. For Example, sports, music, spice, art, materials, etc. Never the patronage jobs. So if you want to experience these people first hand go ahead and stand up to them. Parents of 6th, 7th and 8th grade, if you think your children will attend the Academy in 9th grade you’re sadly mistaken. The reason I mentioned Joe Breen …deleted by Admin. He is also the head of the Democratic Town Committee and has chosen to become a public person. deleted by Admin Parents why don’t you ask the BOE to vote a resolution to send the grades 9-12 for the 2007/2008 school year and get your $40,000 back. Maybe this money could reinstitute some of the programs which have been cut or charged for. If you don’t think they will keep the 9th grade then this resolution should not be a problem,right?
Ernie – How big of a slush fund is the Health Insurance Account when the BOE budgetted less in 05/06 than they expended in 04/05? The amount budgetted in this year’s budget is also less than the 04/05 budget actually expended.
04/05 Expended $1,085,664
05/06 Budgetted $ 980,073
06/07 Budgetted $1,081,379
You are a shill to your own paranoia and you are pandering to the ignorance of others. If you have some facts, please present them… otherwise, stop throwing stuff at the wall in the hopes that something will stick.
Just what retaliation have you or your family endured at the hands of your so-called ‘education mafia’?
Dear Inspector,
The Academy deducted $270,000 from the “surplus” funds for its’ own use. To pay for the 25 or so students that did not go to the Academy this year 06/07 as had been estimated back last summer, and to put in the much needed sewer system. That left $100,000 of the surplus for the sending towns to divide. Woodstock will get $42,700 based on the percentage of students being sent to the Academy.
I thought there was an agreement to not allow posters here to drag people’s children onto their postings, yet Ernie is at that again. (‘Parent’, thanks for alerting us. We have other lives and have been too busy to scrutinize everything. So thanks for your help. Admin)
Becki please. For someone who has been involved for a long time boy are you missing the boat. Why don’t you just ask Martha what happened to Ginny in her 8th grade year. By the way, now that you are a beacon of truth detection, why don’t you support an audit to shut me up or prove me right. Go ahead and suggest an audit that covers the last 10 years and is done by an armslength outside agency, the BOE and Frank Baran will have a heart attack.
Ernie, leave Martha and your kids out of it. Leave everybody’s kids out of it.
Ernie Wetzel SHAME ON YOU! If it weren’t for my respect for your reference to family deleted by Admin I’d give you a piece of my mind! It is my belief that you are playing “survivor” and trying to take out the MVP player in the DTC because they booted all you disreputable fellows.
One story about Ernie tells it all. deletion by Admin – we are removing references to family Just think about this mentality on Ernie’s part.
Ernie – If anyone believed you, the entire town of Woodstock would swim the English Channel, crawl through the burning deserts of the Great Sahara, and walk on their hands up one and down the other side of the Himalayas in a blizzard, just to shut you up.
Has everyone heard that the Academy Trustees are getting an opinion from their lawyer on whether Woodstock can continue to have “Sending Town Trustees/Representatives” on the Board of Trustees if they do not have a contract? They have little voice now (2 reps out of 8 Sending Town Reps and 2 reps out of 30 total Trustees), but eliminating the Woodstock Sending Town Reps would snuff out any opinion Woodstock had about what happens there.
What about the fact that Woodstock taxpayers continue to pay for 40% of the operational costs of the Academy through tuition, with or without a contract?
How can this improve the contract negotiation environment?
Isn’t this “over the top”?
Realist- You are correct, this is not about me or the lawsuit, never has been. It is about lack of good faith and fair dealing, arrogance, lack of basic decency, lack of business acumen and lack of transparency, which seems perfectly appropriate for this article.
Constant- “unexpected legal expenses”, the facts show that there was NOTHING “unexpected” about it.
Upside Down- Is this conjecture or fact?
The mere fact that the majority of students at the Academy come from Woodstock, and the Woodstock taxpayer foots the bill with limited voice now, tells me that the current make-up of the Board of Trustees is suspect. I would think the Woodstock BOE would inquire with their attorney about the validity of the make-up of the Board of Trustees today. I’m no lawyer, but isn’t that ‘taxation without representation? Sure sounds like it……as far as their inquiry about eliminating Woodstock representation on the Board of Trustees because they have no contract…..huh? Is Woodstock not paying the bill? Of course they are! To quote another writer on this site: thats bullfeathers!
Limited representation on the Board of Trustees by the Town of Woodstock? Only a moron would take this position or someone completely ignorant of reality. Woodstock has had more than 50 % of the Trustees from the Town of Woodstock for years. The only problem is that these residents are intelligent and not corrupted by Woodstock politics. According to the intelligent people on this website they just must not be the “right” representatives from Woodstock. They won’t vote to support the nonsense coming out of Woodstock politics.
Ernie….the writer above is talking about an idea you purportedly suggested at an Academy Trustee meeting, and that was to eliminate the Woodstock Board of Ed representatives from the Board of Trustees as ‘sending town representatives’. To put this in full context, you purportedly are not considering that for other sending towns. Is this true?
3rd voice. Yes, we are considering temporarily removing the Sending Town Reps from Woodstock until a contract is signed. Without a commitment why should they have the same voice, as Pomfret, Eastford, and Brooklyn who all have contracts. You don’t understand that a contract deal was offered to Woodstock and the BOE voted it down with Lindsay Paul’s vote deciding matters which she later denied.. or doesn’t seem to remember. Do you have any idea how expensive a new high school will be. Also the quality of 9th grade that the Town of Woodstock will provide will be terrible. These folks who are scheming here know alot of people will pay for their kids to go to the Academy anyway. They will just keep the extra money for these kids and dump it into a mediocre school system. The Academy is a great price for a quality education. But then it Woodstock in has never been about education anyway.
I think the Trustee’s consideration to remove any sending town reps is an immature strong-arm tactic. Woodstock should have the same voice as the other sending towns because they ARE sending their students to Woodstock Academy… (see the new feature article, Admin)