Fayetteville-Manliu s Budget Vote

[Kaos]

just got the propaganda...umm I mean booklet discussing the upcoming school budget vote for me. My schools proposed budget is for $72,108,780 versus last year $69 mill and change. The thing I LOVE about it is they are really painting broad stroke as to what the money goes to. Obviously I have no issue with the actual teachers pay which typically averages around $65,000 here I believe, above average pay for typical upstate teachers. So, having my loclal news site I decided I was going to do an article about this... looking more at the budget under a microscope and was told that "the entire budget may be REVIEWED at the School District Office, but no copies will be allowed"??

Anyone else find this extremely odd? The public will vote on this in 3 weeks yet full copies cannot leave the building and can only be "viewed" Well, I think I definitely have to put my little reporters cap on now and really get to the bottom of this!

Anyone else pay much attention to their school stuff? I grew up with a mother on the school board and have always been fascinated with all aspects of government so I guess that is what brings this all out in me. But from the way they are acting "Something is rotten in the land of Fayetteville!" ::soapbox:: LOL

I live in a very high income school district (no I don't make tons just a fluke I live here LOL) so many parents just don't care about this BS stuff but having already had to go through a "turf and stadium' vote this year and luckily getting that one defeated (I was even on the 5 o'clock news for that one I know that people priorities are way messed up here IMO. I mean come on, the best part for me in high school football was the mud games... not the pretty astro-turf! Give me a break... I could go on but I won't. Anyone know some of their school budget totals? I'd be interested to know.

[Big Dan]

I don't pay much attention to town/school/state/federal budgets and figures. Generally whomever is at the helm will find away to what ever they want in under the guise of something else.

For schools, I think most teachers are drastically overworked and underpaid you're teachers up there get nice pay checks but for the most part teachers get treated like crap.

The no copies policy is really strange, there's no reason for it other than not giving people time to review it. The district office is only open at most 9-5, most people work 9-5 coincidence I think not? Personally I'd take my camera phone in there and take pictures of the budget proposal paperwork then post it on my website. ;)

I'm pretty sure the federal freedom of information act covers stuff like this; they may be infringing on your rights to view the information by restricting access to copies of it...That's something to look into too.

[Kaos]

I totally agree, they can't withhold a budget thats up for public vote.. it just makes no sense!
I like the phone idea, but I am more annoying then that. I assume they will claim its too costly to copy so many budgets, but then they should have it on our school website.
Worse then the 9-5 District Office hours is that the HSA or PTA whatever you call it where you are, hold their meetings for school issues either at 10am on weekdays or 1:30 to be sure working parents can't attend those meetings either. They better pray I never get on the school board here one day... let alone run it! LOL

[Raven]

Since my kids are grown, I don't pay much attention to the budget but I have noticed on the news in Baltimore MD they want to cut a teachers salary. Heck so many teachers lately down there have been attacked by students, I think they need hazzard pay and body armour. :gah:



Anyone else pay much attention to their school stuff?

[Kaos]

I know! Family members always tell me to go work at the schools mostly for the great benefits and pension but I would never consider it unless it was elementary level. I hope to never have to go back to the 9-5 grind but I guess you never know. It should be interesting to see what happens tomorrow at the District Office...I'll of course keep you all posted to what trouble I get in and/or cause !

[Kaos]

*Bump* Well, I'm in a mood so I decided "What better time to go cause some trouble?"::soapbox:: LOL This should be interesting to see if they willingly turn over the entire budget to me. I'll let you know what happens. Hey Does DNY offer bail services to its loyal members LOL:rofl:

Update, just got back from the district office of my school and it was pretty funny and interesting at the same time! I walked in a told the lady at the front desk I wanted a copy of the full budget being proposed. She looked at me like I had four eyes and quickly said "I'm not sure we have that, I'll have to go ask someone else in the Business Dept" I just smiled and she went back, next thing I know I can see in the hall way her talking with another lady while they both stare at me kind of concerned looking.

the lady comes back and says they are printing a copy that I can review there but I wouldn't be able to take with me. So I asked "WHY?" Her answer, "well there's the freedom of information act that you would have to request the information in writing before it could leave, and we would have to charge you .25 per page" I said, "Fine I'll write my document there and pay the fee" Well, this shocked them that I wasn't backing down apparently because next thing I know she's scurrying back to the Business Dept Lady. She comes back and tells me to just sit and wait a minute. Finally, a few minutes later the Business Dept lady comes out hands me a full copy of the report and says I can now take it with me, no document needed, no fee.

Weird IMHO They really seem to not want this information out to the public. So I had to ask one more question just for kicks (and my article I'm writing for my website along with scanning the full budget to add on to it) I asked,"Why is this not available on the schools website for the public to have full access?" She said it was never considered something they needed to do! WOW, to me it just shows thy are hiding something here that they don't want the public to see, or atleast I plan to find out. Next stop will be to my library to get the full copy of last years budget to compare the new proposed one to. Should be interesting...atleast it better be or I'm following the wrong conspiracy theory this whole time LOL

[Raven]

^ I like your style.

[Kaos]

Stubborn? Yeah, I got that down pretty good LOL
I went to our public library tonight to get a full copy of last years budget to compare with now. I didn't want to get them both at the same place and set off too many red flags. Now to get the energy to translate all this stuff. I guarantee they purposely write this stuff so vague so you're not actually sure who gets what monies

[Big Dan]

Stubborn? Yeah, I got that down pretty good LOL
I went to our public library tonight to get a full copy of last years budget to compare with now. I didn't want to get them both at the same place and set off too many red flags. Now to get the energy to translate all this stuff. I guarantee they purposely write this stuff so vague so you're not actually sure who gets what monies

I'll betcha a cup of coffee it's very vague. ::soapbox::

[Kaos]

Your right..truly vague but I can kind of decipher things especially comparing year over year. Will be interesting to see if the 2 million plus increase is going to admin or where? but I was too tired last night to start weeding through it all.

[THERESA]

The district my girls go to just got into huge trouble for mismanagement of the school budget.

[Kaos]

Nice..atleast they got caught though.

[Kaos]

Tomorrow is the big school budget vote. Should be interesting to see if we get any decent turn out at the polls, and if people vote so blindly for this budget!