April 2012 upcoming dates

If you can, please come to the town budget meeting on Monday, April 16. If you can't, try to alert somebody else to the date. If we don't want the education budget to shrink and even want to ask for it to grow, we'll need to show our faces. If you feel you have something to say, you'll have an opportunity to say it. We have a small community with few tax opportunities, true. But we also have an obligation to educate the children of our town, and we are not letting them have enough opportunities. Cuts could include the following:

• Cutting one first grade teacher, ending the MultiAge program and putting 77 first graders in three classes next year. Twenty-five six-year-old children per class is too many. The MultiAge classes are amazing and effective. They have not been at a loss for students--they almost had a "waiting list" this year! The students are given opportunities to learn in non-traditional ways and all four grades interact well together.
• Cutting out or cutting back on foreign language classes at the middle school. If that happens, students will not start learning a language until they are fourteen years old. Research says it's better to start earlier, and the state of CT is going to require HS credits in foreign language for graduation in two years (if memory serves).
• Middle school clubs and activities. I know they are not the reason we send our children to school, but for some kids, these are the only reason to be there. 

And more. There have been cuts in the past that have not been reinstated. Middle school music, freshman basketball for boys and girls, middle school family sciences (home-ec for those with long memories), department heads at the high school, a curriculum leader to help guide the teachers and students into the future. The future--where our children are landing, ready or not.

Can we get more money for our town services?

From a source who attended the last BOF meeting:

The board of finance has demanded that every town department with just a few exceptions stick to a measly 1.5% increase. The Board of Ed budget requested a mere 2.31% increase which is already a very bare bones budget. I believe that the fourth grade band is one of the casualties. The budget overview is here.

The department of public safety also requested a 13K increase (3.71%) to maintain current coverage. With the proposed BOF budget, there will be far more limited police presence 4 nights of each week, which will result in a response time of up to half an hour. I for one want a policeman to get to me in under 10 minutes, should I have the need.

The library is also being denied a small increase despite its great popularity in town.

We have to speak up!

I am hoping we can get some more action with this group. It would really be great if everyone who gets this message could 1) spread the word about this group to all Lebanon residents, especially those with kids and 2) CALL OR EMAIL THE BOARD OF FINANCE to voice your support to grant the already minimal 2.31% increase to the Board of Ed as well as other departments. The residents of the town can afford to pay an extra $10 per month so we don't have as many cuts to services. (Heck, most can probably afford a lot more)

Should the BOF take over the BOE's finances?

...I'm not sure they can. According to this article in the Norwich Bulletin, BOEs in the state of Connecticut are autonomous. Nonetheless, it seems as though members of the BOF are still irritated that the BOE didn't report a lack of income for this year. The comments at the end are interesting, too.

What do you think? Our new Superintendent has her work cut out for her! Good luck.

Meeting June 9th

The BOE is meeting on THIS Wednesday night to discuss teacher non-renewals and budget reductions. There is a discussion about the LES Science teacher (and the entire program) versus a high school guidance position. If you want to show up and voice your opinion, please do.

Please remember to be polite. While you may not agree with a certain position the board has made, rudeness never gets anyone anywhere. I am afraid that tempers are high and people forget that the teacher (or guidance counselor) who is losing a job is a person with a family. Just try to be respectful of that. Thank you.

Click here to find a link to the BOE agenda for Wednesday. Pass it on!

Tuesday 5/25 BOE meeting

At which they will discuss the budget. There is a public comment section--go if you want to be heard! Click for the agenda.

Next meeting

If you want to know what's going on with the new-and-not-terribly-improved BOE budget, they may have info at their 5/25 meeting (Tuesday night, 7:30, library @ LMHS). Then again, they may not.

IT PASSED!!!

The town budget passed by 200ish votes. In the exit questions, more people thought the BOE budget was too high, so we still wait to see how that plays out at the schools.

Here are the details on the town's website.

Thanks to all who voted, helped, petitioned, Face-Booked, talked to friends, called people, harassed people, spoke up at the town meeting, sat still and thought good thoughts, or any other helpful things.

Onward!