April 10, 2009 at 11:11 PM (Uncategorized)
In the comment section tell us why you voted as you did. Please note, the polldaddy system is set up to rotate the answer positions on the poll so no particular answer always has the top spot. Controls are enabled to allow only one vote per IP address.
After voting here, scroll down and vote in the Freedom of Information Act poll question.
April 4, 2009 at 9:58 PM (BOE Chair Peggy Roell Responds)
This is Peggy Roell, chair of the BOE. I will attempt to address a couple of the comments made earlier in this thread.
To clarify, the purpose of slides 18 and 19 in the BOE presentation on Monday night (the entire presentation, along with my notes can be seen at http://www.avon.k12.ct.us/webshare/district/reports/BOE_Presentation_March-30-2009.pdf) was to show how Avon COMPARES to similar towns on a per pupil cost basis (and on CMT and SAT results). All of this data is extracted from the strategic school profiles on the State Department of Education website
http://www.csde.state.ct.us/public/cedar/profiles/index.htm#go.
The latest COMPARATIVE per student financial data that is available is from 2006-07, which is what is included on slides 18 and 19. (In prior years when the BOE has gotten information directly from other school districts, the comparability of the data was called into question by some residents…hence for comparative purposes we now only use the data districts have reported to the State—on a standardized form to ensure comparability). All of the other information in the presentation represents Avon’s budgeted 2008-09 and 2009-10 numbers.
The purpose of slide 19 is to show that in 2002-03 Avon spent almost the most per student, and in 2006-07 Avon spent the least per student, as compared to surrounding towns (based on per student information reported to the State Department of Education by each district).
The budget increases included in articles in the Courant are on an overall basis, not on a per student basis. In the same state reports you will see that for the 5 years ended 10/1/07 Avon’s enrollment increased 15.2%, while Farmington’s decreased 1.0% and Simsbury’s decreased 1.7%.
To address another comment, from the information on slide 18, if you divide enrollment by total administrators, you will see Avon has the highest number of students per administrator, and that is before we reduce one administrator next year…we have a lower number of administrators (based on our enrollment) than the comparative towns.
To address the comment regarding paying for violin lessons. Most of the elementary/high schools we attended likely had a band program. I know that my Mom, who graduated from high school in 1952, learned to play the clarinet in elementary school and played in her city of Chicago high school marching band. Students had group lessons starting in elementary school. I honestly don’t know how long Avon has had a band program (no marching band) but I’ve heard folks speak about the program being great as far back as at least the mid 1970’s. Throughout the years, the band program in Avon has included group lessons.
About six years ago, as our enrollment increased and the sizes of the bands were getting very large, we expanded the music program to give students a choice of band or orchestra. Similar to the band program, students in the orchestra receive group lessons also. In both programs, parents either rent or buy instruments for their children.
As far as average teacher salaries, Avon is among the highest in the state. As shown on the Strategic School Profiles (see link above), this is because 92.6% of our teachers have masters degrees or higher, compared to the state average of 75.6% of teachers. Over the years, Avon has successfully attracted, hired and retained the most skilled and talented teachers possible.
As a reminder, the current teacher contract was settled in binding arbitration because the BOE and the Avon Education Association were too far apart on some contract issues to reach an agreement during the negotiation and mediation sessions. Based on criteria set forth in the state statues, the arbitrators determined the general wage increases the teachers are receiving in each of the three years of the current contract (2.2% in 2008-09; 3.1% in 2009-10 and 2.4% in 2010-11).
April 3, 2009 at 10:48 PM (Rules Have Changed)
Our hope in starting this blog was to promote a non-partisan and civil debate within the town of Avon regarding the pending budget. In the beginning the blog posts were very polite. The tenor and tone of some comments on the blog is now becoming too personal.
Effective immediately, anonymous posts will no longer be allowed. You must sign in to post on this blog. Hopefully this will solve the problem of disrespectful and personal posts.
Please remember, these are your neighbors. Everyone is entitled to his or her opinion. Keep the debate polite. We can disagree without the nastiness.
April 3, 2009 at 10:06 PM (Scare People And Wrestle Them To The Ground?)
There is a prior thread with Sharon (Sam) Levine requesting emails under the Freedom of Information Act. Guess what surfaced from this request? An email from Sam Levine and Ms. Merlin rallying their troops.
Here are the questions on this. Does this constitute fair play or stacking the deck? Was their plan to flood the town officials email accounts and then try to prove a point by immediately requesting the emails under FOI?
From: lmerlin2@comcast.net
Subject: Fw: Tomorrow Night’s crucial Bd of Finance Meeting
Date: Sun, 29 Mar 2009 18:06:50 -0400
If you can only make one meeting next week, please come tomorrow night. But if you can come on Thursday (see below) that would be a great way to figure out how we can really make a difference this year and maybe help get a referendum passed in this town first time around.
In addition, don’t forget to e-mail the BOF anytime betw/now and Tuesday when they make their final decision on what the BOE’s budget will be that goes to referendum. (If you recall, after tomorrow night’s big town meeting and after hearing from the community at the meeting and in e-mails, the BOF meets to discuss what to do, and usually cuts back on both the Town and the BOE budgets. The realistic goal is not to ask them for more than the BOE asked for, but to ask them to cut back as little as possible at this point. That meeting is Tuesday, March 31, 7:00 pm BOF Workshop in the Avon Room at Town Hall – BOF – as I said, they will discuss what number they think the town voters will “tolerate” and set the number they will send to referendum first time around. If they can’t come to a final decision that night, they will have one more meeting either on Wed. or Thurs. if necessary.) Here are the e-mails addresses – feel free to cut and paste – ask them to distribute your letter to the appropriate boards. I have always thought e-mails can make a difference, especially from new voices.
Town Manager: PSCHENCK@town.avon.ct.us
Board of Finance Chairperson: tfh101@sbcglobal.net
Board of Ed Chairperson: peggyroell@comcast.net
Town Council Chairperson: john_carlson@sbcglobal.net
—– Original Message —–
From: Sam Levine
To: Sam Levine
Sent: Sunday, March 29, 2009 3:21 PM
Subject: Fwd: Tomorrow Night’s crucial Bd of Finance Meeting
Dear Concerned Parents,
Please bear with me if I am sending out repeats I am working out my contact glitches- NB I have modified this letter read to end.
I like the rest of you am extremely concerned by the upcoming school cuts. In previous years when things were difficult the get the vote movement helped in mitigating the damages. This year the damage has already been done and we have not even received the proposed budget from the town.
FYI we live in a town of approximately 15,000 residents we have a historical presidential election turnout rate of over 95%. On average 1,800 no voters have determined the fate of our community. All we need to come up with is 2000 people to vote yes and we can restore our schools, services and provide for those who live in this town, who are really in need.
First on the Agenda: getting enough parents (Moms and Dads) toSupport our schools on Monday March 30th 7:30 at the Sr. Center
Here is a Link for you to find out all that is about to be slashed:http://www.avon.k12.ct.us/webshare/District/Newsletter/Spring-2009.pdf
Please spend tomorrow calling and emailing those individuals that you can rally and convince to attend, this is not a fun job but we desperately need bodies tomorrow, This is a CRUCIAL step in the process we need people to show up en masse!!!!!!
Second: we need to get people involved and educated more so than the 50 or so regular campaigners that gets involved out every year.
This means you (and those who you can wrestle to the ground so that they appreciate the direness of the situation) MUST participate by:
1) Making difficult phone calls
2) Handing out literature at schools and campaign hard to get parents out there aware and willing to vote.
3) Scaring people with the truth about the cuts that are about to fall. (See link above)
4) Dedicate yourselves to helping your children’s future on a local level with the same energy and dedication that you utilize in your own home
5) Presenting this group with the email addresses of at least 5 friends or family members within the community to help support our children this effort- it should not be a tough sell.
FYI I have set up this separate email account and will not use yours or any other email addresses for any purpose other than to support our schools in the upcoming and future referendums.
Good news:
1) If all the parents who support the schools actually vote, our schools can be repaired in the future
2) Dads as a rule do not vote as readily as the Moms in referendums, Moms have something that Dad’s want
OUR FIRST MEETING DATE: THURSDAY APRIL 2nd 7:30 pm AHS Public Conference room off the library DO NOT ASSUME THAT EVERYONE ELSE CAN MAKE THIS MEETING– EVERYONES PRESENCE IS ESSENTIAL TO ITS SUCCESS!!!! Sorry for being pushy but we have been bitten by the no show before and we all have pressing agendas.
Sincerely,
Sam Levine
April 2, 2009 at 7:24 PM (Are Town Resources Being Abused?)
Is this an appropriate use of town resources? What do you think? This is the email blast sent out by Dr. Kisiel’s administrative assistant to all parents and teachers siged up on the school systems email system.
From: http://us.mc819.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=gpereira@avon.k12.ct.us [mailto:gpereira@avon.k12.ct.us]
Sent: Tuesday, March 31, 2009 10:50 PM
Subject
: BOF Decision
The Board of Finance voted this evening five to two in favor of a reduction in the Board of Education’s proposed operating by $365,394 resulting in a 2.15% increase in the Board’s operating budget. The BOF reduced the Town Council’s budget by $243,596 resultig in a 1.36% increase in their operating budget. Except for Mr. Gugliotti and Mr. Eisenlohr, all the other Board members did not believe that the proposed budgets by both boards and the resulting tax increase would be acceptable to the voters.
Catherine Durden and Margaret Bratton voted against the motion because they sought no increase in spending for nect year.
April 2, 2009 at 9:59 AM (Sharon Levine Wants To Read Your Private Emails.)
Town resident SHARON (SAM) LEVINE has requested ALL emails sent to town officials, elected or not regarding the budget from Avon residents. While she may be entitled to emails that were not intended for her eyes under the Freedom of Information Act, what is her true motivation?
How do you feel about this? What do you think her motivation is? Does it bother you to know you cannot contact your town or elected officials without fear of someone with a different agenda demanding to read your private communications?
How do you think she will use this information? Do you know Sharon (Sam) Levine? Which side of the budget issue is she on? Is she the type of person to use this information to intimidate other residents with a different opinion? Is this politically motivated?
April 1, 2009 at 12:15 PM (Budget Workshop March 31)
Catherine Durdan and Margaret Bratton voted against the Board of Finance motion because they sought no increase in spending at all in the Fiscal Year 2009 – 2010 budget. Their remarks at the hearing recognized the tough economic times residents of Avon are facing due to internal and external economic factors. Recognizing that people are losing their jobs, taking pay cuts, 401K’s have tanked, etc., Mrs. Durdan and Mrs. Bratton stated they could not vote for a spending tax increase. The burden it would put on the taxpayers was too much in a tough year for many. ADDED 2:55 PM: Mrs. Durdan and Mrs. Bratton received boo’s and hisses for their position opposing any spending increase. Thank you to the blogger who pointed out that was missing from the post. It is this blog’s intent to be non-partisan.
Tom Gugliotti and Brett Eisenlohr, to the cheers and applause from the parents and teachers in the room wanted to approve the proposed spending increase in the budget as submitted. They had the most popular position in the room. Most of the residents who attended the budget workshop were in favor of the spending tax increases and fewer cuts in the school system.
In the final vote of the evening, Mr. Guliotti and Mr. Eisenlohr agreed to compromise their position in favor of the full increase and voted along with the other three members on a compromised version which included the lower spending tax increase.
It took courage to take the less popular position, especially in an election year.
Stay tuned for the public meeting on May 4th at the Senior Center. In the meantime, continue to blog.
March 30, 2009 at 3:02 PM (Calling All Town Officials.)
Hello –
We hope you will all take a moment to read through the posts on the Avon Budget Blog prior to the budget hearing tonight. We will be posting a copy of this email on the blog to let all of the residents who have taken the time to write their comments that you have been reminded of the blog.
Some of the residents are disappointed there were no replies from our elected officials directly on the blog. Please feel free to sign in and / or post as anonymous at any time.
With the success of this forum, we will continue the blog and hope to expand to many more bloggers in town.
Welcome to the new world of communication! Come visit us any time.
Kudos to the residents who have posted their positions in a polite and non-partisan way.
Respectfully,
Avon Budget Forum
March 30, 2009 at 8:00 AM (March 30 Hearing)
Tonight the members of the Board of Finance will listen to the citizens of Avon and try to find a solution that will be palatable to all. What we sometimes lose sight of is these fine citizens in the photo above are elected and are not paid for their service. Their goal is to make our town a better place for ALL.
Many people may not realize that Board of Finance members are only allowed to set the total referendum dollar number and how the dollars should be allocated percentage wise between the Town Council and the Board of Education, to be voted on at the referendum. The Board of Finance is not allowed to set the priorities nor how each board allocates the money within the Town Council and the Board of Education budgets.
It’s easy for those of us who choose not to serve to to be upset with our elected officials when they disagree with our opinions. However, this writer is very grateful for their service. The purpose of this blog is to encourage dialogue and greater understanding. Toward that end, the ideas presented by the bloggers will reach the Town Council and Board of Educations members as they review their priorities with the dollars proposed for their budgets through the referendum.
Each member spends considerable time studying the budget, listening to residents and trying to facilitate the greater good for all residents of Avon. Keep in mind, most (almost 80 percent) of the costs in the budget are already fixed. The members of the Board of Finance are the gate keepers. Every year they pare down the numbers requested in the respective budgets from the Board of Education and the Town Council. Their role is very important in keeping tax increases in balance.
It’s impossible to please all of the people all of the time.
Please join your fellow citizens after the hearing on this thread to discuss the night’s events.
March 28, 2009 at 10:37 PM (Uncategorized)
Reprinted from http://whtalk.blogspot.com/
Talk Of West Hartford
Talk is Cheap…West Hartford Is Not
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Teacher contract negotiations in West Hartford are underway – and they are very private. The public isn’t in on this at all until mostly the end when they have to shell out whatever the union will demand (and binding arbitration will let them have).
Avon taxpayers get to be in on their negotiations to a degree.
This from the Hartford Courant website:
Avon will take the unusual step of holding a public forum on the school administrators’ contract after it has been negotiated but before the town formally accepts or rejects it. While the public won’t have a vote on the proposed administrator’s pact, negotiations formerly would have been completed before details were released publicly.
What a revolutionary concept… letting those who will ultimately get the bill actually be able to get a clue about what is going on and what the contracts include. They say that this type of public inclusion signals a “new era of transparency”. The forum was requested by the Avon Taxpayers Association (and a similar forum in West Hartford will probably happen when Hell freezes over).
Avon has an automatic budget referendum too. They don’t have to bother themselves with obtaining thousands of signatures and wasting their Town Clerk’s time to verify them all. Avon’s budget cycle this past year was cited as being tumultuous as their voters rejected their municipal spending plan for 2008-09 three times before the town council ultimately approved a final version that was acceptable to the public. There is no ignoring their public mandate either because the budget would just only keep getting voted down.
Flo Stahl, president of the Avon Taxpayers Association, said, “By the time we get the budget, 80 percent of it is already committed. Labor contracts comprise the lion’s share of the budget, and we don’t have any direct say on that.” The same pretty much goes for West Hartford. Contract deals are made and we get stuck with the terms – sometimes for a few years!
It was reported in the newspaper, that in Avon the school administrators’ union only represents about a dozen employees, but because most of their salaries approach $100,000 the contract constitutes a pretty large sum. Flo Stahl said that contracts put immense pressure on the budget and it is really important for the taxpayers to understand them. Even though the Avon taxpayer still won’t have a vote on the proposed salary negotiations and resulting agreements, the open forum is helpful to give residents a way to understand process better.
It is reported that other communities are taking similar steps to make contract negotiations more open. Anything promoting more transparency has got to be a good thing.
Maybe when West Hartford grows up, they can a bit more open like their Avon neighbors. Until then, it’s back room deals, and we get to foot the bill in the end, maybe even at the behest of those lovely binding arbitration referees. Let’s hope the administration keeps the residents, who must pay, in mind when they are sitting at the table chomping on their cigars and slapping each other on the back.
The best friend of uncontrolled spending is secrecy.
Avon Budget Blog 
