Woodstock CT Café

I think I spoke about this recently here on the contract with the Teacher’s Association. The reason why it was always less expensive to self insure was that the combination of benefits in our contract did not meet any of the standard insurance plans; not a problem with the size of our pool. In the new contract the Teacher’s Association brought forward the idea of standardizing the benefits to save money.  We both agreed to the standardized benefit mix and to re-examine the private vs. public insurance issue with them in the next year as a joint committee.As for inviting people from the BOF, we always could. However, as statutorily required we invited a BOF representative to the teacher’s contract negotiations and that representative attended a good share of the negotiations. That didn’t in any way shield us from people criticizing the new contract. This was even though we got the Town of Woodstock a contract that is arguably tied with having the least amount of financial increase than any other town in the state that had recently settled on the date of our mediation.

You (to Newcomer) are not confusing me, you have the correct person. However, I’m not sure who we are supposed to delegate to. The school administration are a skeleton staff and they are already fully committed. We have trouble getting together for the BOE committee meetings we already have due to outside commitments. Since August I’ve been able to get everyone together for a grand total of one Personnel and Finance committee meeting. You don’t have to run for the BOE but we would love to have volunteers help us, particularly for community communications. You seem to have an interest in this area and we would appreciate having your help and support.

Thanks,

Kevin

This post represents my personal opinions and in no way should be considered an official act of the BOE or that I am speaking on behalf of the BOE in any way.

The easiest mathematical solution is to cap the Woodstock Academy’s per pupil percent increase in tuition to the percent increase in the school budget that is approved by taxpayers. It is easily calculable and not tied to any subjective measurements. The amount paid to WA will still vary based on the quantity of students sent, but that is expected.Of course the trick is to get Woodstock Academy to agree to any such funding scheme. The reality is that the Woodstock BOE has little choice but to send the bulk of grades 9-12 students to the Woodstock Academy. The Woodstock BOE is also statutorily required to pay whatever fees they charge. On the Woodstock Academy’s part they really have no choice but to take Woodstock’s students as we provide the bulk of their revenues (among other reasons). So with or without a contract the bulk of Woodstock’s 9-12 grade students go to the Woodstock Academy. This leaves Woodstock Academy with little reason to offer the town contract concessions in the form of tuition caps or anything similar. There is also very little reason for the town or Woodstock to enter in such a contract without those concessions because they have to take our students anyway.

In the next (I believe) Woodstock BOE meeting we are going to be discussing the history of contract negotiations and if we should have another go at it. I do think we should have another go but I also think the same dynamic I talked about above will be in play. Unless something changes any negotiations are likely to lead to the same conclusion.

This dynamic is in many ways a simplification of the problem but explains attempts to change the dynamic. For example, while I wasn’t there I suspect the 9th grade proposal was an attempt to change that dynamic and increase the bargaining power of the town. If there was a credible threat of switching some of the business we do with the Woodstock Academy then they might be under more pressure to offer financial concessions. Unfortunately by running that one down, the BOE ended up showing that there is no credible threat of switching, the residents of town won’t support it. The dynamic remained the same, in fact the Woodstock Academy’s position was strengthened by the abject failure of the 9th grade proposal. Read the rest of this entry »

Also, do these statements apply to teachers at the ‘private’ Woodstock Academy?

• There is no social security deduction; thus, career teachers do not receive full Social Security benefits which are not affected by the rise and fall of the stock market (thank God).  

• Teachers pay into a teachers’ retirement fund but have to contribute to this fund for 35 years to receive full benefits. What happens if they change professions or move to a different state?

• Towns do not pay toward the teacher retirement program as they do for municipal staff who also contribute to Social Security and receive full Social Security benefits.

• There is no Medicare deduction or benefits unless the teacher holds other jobs to gain quarters or have a spouse who does.

• Unlike state employees, teachers pay 100% of their insurance upon retirement.

• There are no paid vacations – teachers are paid for days worked (189 in the new contract). Non-teaching school staff has paid vacation days, but teachers do not.

• Some teachers have to work other jobs on days/weeks off, and some new teachers have second jobs on evenings to make ends meet.

• I can hear some saying facetiously ‘oh those poor teachers play with kids all day and make more money than I do.’ Those who say this have not explored the employment requirements and the professionalism required for the job.

In my non-teaching job, I receive 20 vacation days each year which is equivalent to half a summer vacation. I will also receive retirement pay from a fund from which a significant part was paid by my employers and I will receive medicare benefits automatically. Non-teachers take these benefits for granted.

By contrast, Ms. Wholean gave herself a 9% raise before she lost re-election and other senior Town Hall staff received arbitrary 9-10% raises which is compounded in perpetuity. The fringe benefits received by Town Hall staff far exceed the benefits teachers receive.

by Harry Stefan 

I would have entered this comment under the current thread ” Answers to FAQ about the Woodstock Education Budget,” but “comments are closed.” (Thanks Harry. Admin will correct this.)

It has been determined that the Academy is not subject to Prop. 46. When the town’s Board of Finance states that the education budget must be reduced, that reduction does not apply to the Academy. If, for example, a cut of $900,000 is required, grades 1-8 must bear the whole reduction, rather than two thirds of $900,000 and one third of $900,000 from the Academy.

Perhaps a way around this unfair situation would be for the town to assess the Academy with a separate levy. Whatever amount claimed as an exemption by the Academy would be recouped with the levy. Call it the Proposition 46 Equalization Levy.

This information was provided to the Cafe by the Woodstock Board of Education on May 15th, 2006, and published at the Cafe on the same day. These FAQs have also been at the top of the left sidebar since February 2008 (eyes left). The original copy can be found here. For more detail on these answers and other questions and answers, call Superintendent, Dr. Frank Baran, at 928-7453, or you can respond or submit queries here and the Cafe will forward your queries to Dr. Baran and the BOE to seek their response. Many State reports for Town expenditures are available from the State Department of Education. Since these FAQs were written several years ago, the Cafe would like to receive updates of these FAQs if anything has changed. Admin

Q Does Woodstock require a full-time superintendent?
A The Board does not believe Woodstock would be well served by a part-time superintendent given the scope of responsibilities and demands of the position. There are only ten towns in Connecticut with a part-time superintendent. Of those towns, the student population ranges from 76 in Union to 628 in Lisbon. Woodstock currently has 982 students in the district. Each of those districts has only one school building. Five are PK-8 systems, three are K-8, and two are PK-6.

Q Does the district need four staff positions in the superintendent’s office?
A The district office consists of a payroll/financial position, .75 Accounts Payable (.25 Transportation) position, an administrative assistant, and an executive assistant. Often districts of our size have a separate business office. Major responsibilities of this staff include in-house payroll, human resources, state and federal testing and reporting requirements, grants management, accounts payable, inventory, budgeting, business management, and school activity accounts. The executive assistant’s hours often stretch into the evening. State reporting requirements and CMTs take up a significant amount of time. The Board feels that the district office is minimally staffed to achieve efficient business management and mandated reporting requirements. Woodstock’s spending per pupil on General Administration of $387 is 24% below the state average and 21% below that of ERG C.

Q How does our teacher compensation compare to other districts?
A The Board looked closely at comparative salary schedules during our teacher negotiations last fall. Our compensation scales are fair and generally tend to be near averages for both Windham County and ERG C. Our negotiated contractual increase over the next three years will be 3% per year. Including step increments, the increases will be 4.74%, 4.75% and 4.57% for 2006-07, 2007-08, and 2008-09, respectively. This is comparable to statewide teacher settlement averages of 4.73%, 4.64%, and 4.61%. Our recent teacher settlement increases the length of teachers’ working year by two days. In general, our teachers are committed, hardworking and effective, and many spend far more hours than are contractually required. The teachers have agreed to meet collaboratively with the Board in a Teacher Knowledge and Skills Based Compensation committee to evaluate potential alternative compensation structures.

Q Wouldn’t it be less expensive to contract out for school bus transportation?
A Transportation for students is a mandated service. Transportation comprises 5.09% of our overall budget. Periodically, the Board reviews the cost of maintaining our own fleet versus outsourcing transportation. To date, each time we have researched this alternative, we have determined that we save money by managing our own fleet. Our average per pupil transportation costs of $422 is 20% lower than that of the State average, and yet, geographically, we are the second largest district.

Q Can we manage healthcare insurance more effectively?
A The cost of health insurance comprises 7.54% of our overall budget. Read the rest of this entry »

Today (Dec 28th) as the Café approaches 2009 – despite the anomaly of the 3rd quarter - Café readership continues to grow, albeit with ups and downs. A total of 1105 articles and 11,345 comments have been posted since October 2005.

The data below indicates that the frequency of visitation and the number of page turns fluctuates in parallel with the rate of articles published (number per week).

The Café estimates that there may be as many a 600-1000 people visiting frequently or infrequently by assessing the number of different Internet Protocol (IP) addresses that are recorded by our StatCounter, and hits on our BrightEgg server (see article on Cafe Growth late last September).

The graph below shows that we experienced a dramatic increase in number of articles published in June (86 articles), July (66 articles), and August (63 articles). In September we recovered our sanity and returned to publishing within a range of 34-42 articles per month – the norm for the five months leading up to June.

Below we have posted the daily visitation pattern from January 1st, 2008 to December 27th (12 months)

Read the rest of this entry »

By ‘Underground Weatherman’

At a recent BOF meeting the question was raised on what to do with the excess funds from an overcount of Woodstock students attending Woodstock Academy this past fiscal year. The sum total excess amounted to approx. $500K. This overcount was due to students moving, overestimation, ect. Woodstock Academy returned the amount to the WBOE.

Should the funds be spent? Should they be returned to the taxpayers? Should they be placed in a rainy day fund? These are questions that will need to be answered.

According to Barbara Rich, it seems the right process is to return the funds to the town. If the funds are needed the BOE would have to go through the proper channels (20k requires a town meeting, 100K requires a referendum).

So with this in mind I read with little surprise in yesterdays Villager the following:

“The Board of Selectmen read a letter recently submitted by the Board of Finance, stating that the 2009-’10 budget adhere flat to the current fiscal year budget, without any increases.”

My first thought was concern for the BOE who just signed a contract with the Teacher’s Union. I tried to find the contract on the Woodstockschools.net website, but it was no longer posted. The Cafe posted some information recently but there was no information as to the dollar sum amount of the increase this contract will pose to the BOE 09-10 budget. So I went back to this last year’s budget to get a rough estimate. According to the 08-09 BOE budget, salary increases due to contracts was $400,102. I assume then that the 09-10 budget increase will be the about the same approximately. Well this seems to create a little problem now for the BOE if the BOF is intent on keeping the 09-10 budget flat. I suppose a flat budget shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone (except to the teacher’s union) considering the state of the nation’s economy. The storm clouds were heard last year and the sky is getting a little bit darker now. Read the rest of this entry »

On December 9th 2008, TIMSS 2007 International published their findings from a four year study in a report entitled “Trends in International Math and Sciences Study” (TIMSS). This organization is based at the Lynch School of Education at Boston College (http://timss.bc.edu/TIMSS2007/ ). News releases on this study were published in major newspapers around the country. These studies have been repeated at 4-year intervals since 1995. More than 50 countries were enrolled in this study. This is complex comparative study of the relevant education acheivement of the enrolled countries based on standardized testing, assessment of  “curriculum coverage and implementation, as well as teacher preparation, resource availability, and the use of technology.” If you wish to learn how this repeating study is accomplished, go to the URL above and read the extensive documentation.

The score of 500 (below) is average. Since the first study was completed (1995) the USA eighth graders have increased their scores in Math and Science by 16 and 7 points, respectively. Many other countries have slipped. It’s interesting that the top 4 or 5 countries in each category are homogenous countries. It’s also interesting to see the countries that score below the USA.

Discussion at the Cafe suggests that many view the US education system as sub-standard but the results below indicate to me that the pre-high school US education system is very competitive. Most of the 50-plus countries fell below the USA in early education achievement.

Science Achievement by 4th Graders (left) and 8th Graders (right)

Math Achievement by 4th Graders (left) and 8th Graders (right) Read the rest of this entry »

by Kevin Conrad

It is ILLEGAL to use a Mailbox for ANY purpose except delivery of the U.S. Mail by U.S. Postal Service employees. ALL OTHER USES ARE ILLEGAL. It is ILLEGAL to LITTER; to throw anything onto the property of another without permission is Illegal.

The REMINDER seems to get away with this ILLEGAL BEHAVIOR: 1) Use of Mailboxes for Delivery (they seem to have Stopped this clear Violation of Federal Law); and 2) Tossing their ADVERTISING WEEKLY (it does NOT qualify as a ‘Newspaper’ – not by a long shot) WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE HOMEOWNERS.

THE REMINDER BREAKS THE LAW to deliver it’s FOR PROFIT ADVERTISING publication and Stops breaking the law ONLY when a homeowner complains and is taken off the list. THEY GET A FREE BITE AT THE APPLE – they break the law with NO ACCOUNTABILITY and their response when challenged is: “Tell us your name and we’ll stop delivering to you”. HOW does that permit them to break the law? When someone LITTERS onto my property, that is a violation. The LAW and the Police do NOT accept “I won’t do it again” as an Excuse for breaking the law.

By A Taxpayer

The Cafe debates on education are very important as they mirror and often rival the debates occurring on the national level. On one side we have reformers who seek an educational system centered on the student and on the other we have those who prefer the status quo where the system centers on adults who work at the schools. Despite the repeated provision of information on what exactly the “status quo” has created—failing inner city schools, unfair funding practices by the state, hard-nosed union strangleholds, unfunded state mandates, lack of accountability in spending practices—those who support the “status quo” remain in denial by advocating for big government, archaic laws, and unfairly paint reformers as cheapskates, rednecks, and scaremongers.

But hope for those who want change that we can believe in may be just around the corner. President-elect Obama’s choice for education secretary, Arne Duncan, has a reputation for unconventional reform and believes in many of the things local education reformers here in Woodstock advocate for as well. He supports merit pay for teachers, charter schools for students, and school choice for parents. He also supports the indispensable but controversial education reform law No Child Left Behind.

According to writer Ruben Navarrrette, of the Washington Post’s Writer’s Group, “ Duncan insists that the right to a quality education is nothing short of a civil right.” It’s no wonder our local educational …. (characterization deleted by Admin) are beginning to trip on their dirty white sheets when they hear such declarations. Navarrette continues, “Duncan wasn’t afraid to rankle parents by closing down failing schools in Chicago. He even practiced a little tough love, making students who wanted to drop out sign declarations that said: “I will not be able to afford many things that I will see others acquiring,” or “I will be less likely to find good jobs that pay well, bad jobs that don’t pay well, or maybe any jobs.” For those who studied hard and got good grades, the schools chief launched a program using private donations to pay students for academic achievement.” Yes! Finally someone who is rewarding those who play by the rules and demanding personal accountability from those who make bad choices! Read the rest of this entry »

You continue in your dream world.

1. Unions – You have not identified an alternative to unions to provide bargaining power to teachers to preserve professional wages, benefits, working conditions, etc. Because there is no other mechanism – that is why we have the one we have. Sounds like you just want cheaper teachers.

2. Arbitration – imposes MARKET STANDARDS for wages/benefits after failed contract negotiations. You have not explained what is wrong with this or described your alternative. There is no respect for teachers in Woodstock and teaching is not considered a critical public service here – that is the problem. And it is the children, not the “town” who would pay the “huge price” you describe. That is why the state intervenes and supports this model. And you never explained your concept of “teacher private corporative organizations” that would “fairly contract and allow the laws of supply and demand to work”. Sounds like more of your psuedo-intellectual gibberish to me.

3. State Education Funding Equalization – It seems you do not agree that the state should help insure equality of funding among towns with greater/lesser ability to pay. So do you think we should simply ignore state law? Since you never provide support for your wild-eyed claims, I suggest you take your own advice and start judging by results rather than intentions.

4. SPED – provides educational needs for all children with special needs. Your statistics do not mean anything as they depend entirely on the needs of the individual cases and the cost to meet these needs differs dramatically. It seems you do not support Federal SPED requirements because they cost money. Read the rest of this entry »

Half a year… come on. I’m so tired of that argument. Teachers work from August 20 until June 20. That means two months during the summer and 3 more weeks for vacation during the year. Yes… more than the average person but it certainly is not 1/2 a year. Plus not many other jobs include 2 -3 hours after hours and on weekends grading and preparing for classes without overtime pay. I’m getting rich off the back of the “poor” taxpayers?? Come on!!!!! I’ve been in my profession for 13 years. I have a undergraduate degree in Biology, a masters in education and over 30 graduate credits in molecular and cellular biology. Yes.. I do teach because I love it but I also deserve to be paid a living wage.

Teacher

Once again, it is recommended that Preston Schultz’s latest complaints over the notice of the Board of Education’s executive session “are not supported by the factual record and are without merit.”

Admin

The CPS/UnTruth Coalition: For every winner there are dozens of losers.

Greetings To All:

The Woodstock Education Foundation approved eighteen education grants for Woodstock Public Schools during the fall grant process.  The grants included the purchase of a Smartboard for Woodstock Elementary School and many exciting programs such as the recent Multi-age1 & 2 Plimoth Plantation visit, additions to the Kindergarten Reading Intervention Program, and the upcoming Grade 6 Shakesperience performances.  Many of the wonderful after school and extra-curricular programs that are ongoing at Woodstock Middle School are also part of the recent grant approvals; Public Speaking, Engineering Club, the WMS Student Newspaper and much more (a complete list of the fall 2008 grants follows).

Roseland Cottage’s “Pink House” is the star of the WEF’s 2008 Pewter Ornament series.  The original artwork for the ornament was  designed by local artist and WEF Board member, Daryl Hartman.  The ornaments are being sold to benefit the many programs that the WEF funds and they are available for $10.00 each.  Last year’s ornament depicting the Exhibition Hall at Woodstock Fair is also available in limited quantities.  The lead-free ornaments, crafted by Woodbury Pewterers make great hostess and teacher gifts, are easy to mail and best of all – are made in the USA.  They are being sold at the following locations throughout town:  Sweet Evalina’s, The Christmas Barn, the Woodstock Town Clerk’s office, Woodstock Academy and Woodstock Elementary School, or contact Steve Adams at  974-0728 for special orders. 

2008-2009 Education Grant Requests
• WMS Grade 7 & 8 Science Competition Fuel Cell Purchases

• WES Smartboard Purchase

• WMS Public Speaking After-school program
• WES China Patterns International Week Performances   (PTO Partnership)
• WMS Grades 5 – 8 Math Enrichment
• WMS Grades 7 & 8 Competitive Science Fair
• WMS Student Newspaper Mini-Grant
• WES Grade 1 Ragged Hill Woods Three Nature classroom programs
• WES Grade 3 Ragged Hill Woods Mineral classroom program
• WMS Grades 5 – 8 Engineering Club
• WES Multi-age 1 & 2 Plimoth Plantation classroom program
• WMS Grade 6 Primary/Secondary Source program (Historic New England)
• WMS Grade 6 Shakesperience Productions classroom programs
• WMS Grade 6 Demos R US In-house Science presentations
• WMS Grades 5 – 8 Internet Safety & Fox 62 Student News, Digital Video Projects
• WES Grade K Reading Intervention Manipulatives
• WMS Grade 7 Family Ties classroom program (Historic New England)
• WMS Grade 7 Civil War Week (Historic New England

The WEF programs are funded in large part by the WEF Annual Appeal which was mailed early last month.   The WEF is a 501(C)(3) non-profit, donations are tax-deductible, and employer matching grants are also encouraged.  Collectively, we can make a difference!

http://www.woodstockeducationfoundation.org/

Barbara Wright, President

No Reminder News was thrown on my two properties this week. Thank you to Fran.

My neighbor on Barber Road didn’t fair as well. Now there are two unwanted Reminders at a rarely used entrance to their driveway - this week’s and last week’s. The delivery man mindlessly tossed this week’s Reminder within a foot of last week’s. I saw double deliveries on County Road and on Route 169 also.

Getting this straight is like potty training for an unruly child – more often than not, things go wrong.