A version of this story appears in TheDailyNorwalk.com
Larry Mastrota got a crash course in school financing. The father of a preschooler at Fox Run Elementary School and a kindergartner at Columbus Magnet attended presentations this week with the Board of Estimate & Taxation and the Common Council on the 2011-12 school operating budget.
"I have young kids in the school now and want to get more actively involved," says Mastrota, a resident of Norwalk for the past 12 years. "I'm here to learn about the budget process." For the second time this week, parents such as Mastrota as well as teachers and administrators came out in large numbers to Thursday's Common Council meeting. No public comments were allowed. The crowd sat silently and listened as Tom Hamilton, City Director of Finance, presented his financial plan to the Council's finance committee. As Hamilton and others spoke, parents held up signs saying "support education" and "U," for United.
Similar to Tuesday's BET presentation, Hamilton called the city's $287 million budget an "austere plan that calls for shared sacrifice." Although the Board of Education sought a 4.25 increase, Hamilton recommended a "modest increase" of 2 percent for both the city and the schools. This would translate to a 2 percent average tax increase.
Council Finance Committee Chair Nick Kydes and council member Nora King disagreed about the state of the economy. "We are not out of the recession," said Kydes, saying that 9 percent unemployment is "ludicrous." King, however, said there are many signs that Connecticut is coming out of the recession and that unemployment is lower in here than in other parts of the country.
Council member Doug Hempstead asked Hamilton on how state aid would affect the budget, what the tax rate would be if the budget were increased and the feasibility of drawing down the city's 9 percent undesignated "rainy day" fund. "I don't suggest further drawdowns," said Hamilton, noting that it might hurt the city's AAA bond rating.
King asked Hamilton about the city's strategy to increase the city's Grand List of taxable property and about converting city pensions to 401ks. "Any changes to pensions would be up to collective bargaining," said Hamilton.
Hamilton recommended that school employees take a zero percent wage increase, as city union did for this year.
At the end of the meeting, Mastrota said he applauded Mayor Richard Moccia for not wanting to increase city taxes by more than 2 percent, but said he hoped to see more ideas to deal with budget shortfalls. "The only option presented is that unions take a zero percent increase. I'd like to see more creative thinking to deal with our budget needs."
Friday, February 11, 2011
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Moina, nice story.
ReplyDeleteIf the fund balance is indeed 9 percent of total spending, I believe that would translate to about $25 or $26 million. That's close to where it was in the spring of 2007, and puts Norwalk safely above the minimum required by the rating agencies for a AAA rating. It also means we've probably weathered the economic storm.
Back in the late 1990s, when the city was trying to get by with zero percent tax increases each year, the fund balance occasionally dropped below the magic 5% floor. A major no, no. Since then, fortunately, we've been more responsible.
After Malloy presents his budget, we need to have a comprehensive discussion of the possibility of drawing it down. Squeezing the unions won't generate enough funds.
Honestly, after attending the last budget meeting and hearing Tom Hamilton's presentation to the council's finance committe of the council, it's pretty clear that the Board of Ed is getting a huge chunk of change. The pie chart was very clear. The city certainly doesn't slight it in the least. I wonder how many city employees present at that meeting do not live in Norwalk thus do not care about the idea of paying more property taxes. It's not teachers who would care, anyway, because they are presently employed. This idea that things are looking better perplexes me. Say that to several people I know who are unemployed right now. The idea of suggesting that the "down and outers" pay more taxes for their car or house is downright meanspirited. More importantly, if if we put a quick bandaid on the wound with a property tax raise to meet the ed budget request for this year ONLY, then what do we do next year when we return to the fight. Year after year, it goes on and year after year the city gives an increase, not a decrease, an increase.. to the board of ed. I just don't get how my fellow citizens don't get this. Thank you, Mr. Mastrota, for understanding that pie chart. It's frightening to see people behave mindlessly when they are orchestrated in advance. If we want to get angry, we need to go to Hartford and bang pots and pans about the inequities in delving out the money for CT districts. There is much that doesn't make sense about our educational system, but this is one fight that is totally misdirected.
ReplyDeleteThe education budget is not the only area of cutting that is available. Take a look a the CITY employees benefits. LIFETIME HEALTH INSURANCE. How many of you have this benefit??LIFTETIME!!! That's a lot of taxpayer dollars.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Nora King, city employees and board of ed employees should have benefit structures that match the private sector. Their benefits are so rich, so out of touch with the real world and it is breaking the city, breaking the board of ed and, on the board, it takes money away from kids.
ReplyDeletePrivate sector employees rushed to trade their boring, old-fashioned pensions for 401ks in the eighties and nineties when the stock markets were going like gangbusters. Now that the same 401ks are in the dog house you want public employees to give up their boring old pensions? Misery loves company, I suppose.
ReplyDeleteFor what it's worth, I am city-employed, live in Norwalk, with kids in the system and wouldn't mind one bit paying 2% more in property taxes.
10:45 bottom line we can't afford your benefits anymore. for what it's worth, I am underemployed, live in Norwalk, with kids in the system and I WOULD REALLY MIND paying a dime more in taxes.
ReplyDeleteDitto
ReplyDeleteIt really is a silly statement to say that one wouldn't mind paying more in taxes. You would? To fund top paying salaries? What makes you think it goes to the kids? Most of it goes to salaries, lawsuits, and insurance. The PTO, on the other hand, is about the kids.If you really want to help the kids, give a large donation to your neighborhood PTO. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the BOE is a business.
ReplyDelete6.38 You hit the nail on the head. You want to help the KIDS in the near term:
ReplyDelete1) donate to your PTOs for things like technology, books, and such that go into the classrooms.
2) Parents, support teachers, make sure you get your kids to school on time, make sure they do their homework and go to your parent teacher conferences.
3) Apply pressure to State legislators to pass education reform bills directed at collective bargaining agreements that drive more accountability. Otherwise Connecticut will not see a dime of federal dollars for education, but you will see an increase your taxes..but it will be going to support things pensions and healthcare and NOT into educating the next generation of Americans.
Vote for raising the rigor, and improving adult accountability so that effective principals and teaches can be rewarded and ineffective ones can be removed.
Then, we can talk about taxes.
Brilliantly stated, 8:38. You restore my faith in my fellow "thinking" mankind.
ReplyDeleteFor the public servant who suggested that the private sector rushed to 401 (K) plans - wow - do you think that the we had any choice? Businesses wanted 401(K) plans so that they could eliminate future obligations that defined benefit plans afforded their employees.
ReplyDeleteGuess we don't teach economics or history in our state colleges that train our teachers.
I no longer worry about my kids going to medicore state colleges - hope they can jump on this gravey train.
6:38...Ridiculous. Support your PTO's. The schools are so unbalanced that some schools don't really have a substantial PTO! I am tired about hearing about the fully funded field trips, enrichment programs, smart boards for the whole school funded by the PTO...(Rowayton to name one.) I am a teacher who was raised through the Norwalk public school system, has a child that is a future student of the Norwalk public schools, and I am tired of this banter!! Higher my taxes! I wouldn't send my child to a college that costs less or that has educators with the least amount of education so my tuition isn't as high. These teachers that are making good money paid to further their education to help our child. When you look for babysitters do you look for the cheapest ones to save a buck? Our teachers in Norwalk are fully invested in your child!! We buy our own books to support science, social studies, language arts, and other curriculum areas without being reimbursed. We do this for our students not because we have to but because we care about them. Some people need a real reality check maybe you need to start visiting not just your child's school but other schools and really see what teachers are dealing with. The time, effort, and support teachers give these children in Norwalk is Priceless....Shame on all of you!!!
ReplyDeleteWell said 5:57! And I easily give over $200 a year to my PTO so yes I am willing to pay that in taxes instead if it means our schools can maintain what limited resources they already have! Our teachers are worth their salaries! As for lawyer fees, is everyone forgetting the board of ed dealt with the 0% increase last year? Those cuts HAVE BEEN MADE already! Without raising our taxes, staff and programs are what's left to cut . And thank goodness education gets over 50% of the budget, that's how it should be but obviously our entire city budget needs the tax increase! That 54% needs to be the $156 million they are asking for then. We need to cover the BOE budget AND pave our roads and maintain our sidewalks - this all needs to happen to keep Norwalk desirable, let's stop being the underdog of Fairfield County.
ReplyDelete5:57 - the shame is yours. This argument has rendered you too emotional to think things through. As an insider, I have to consider 6:38's points. The teacher's contract does not attract the best and the brightest because the steps do not favor those entering the profession. That is something, apart from this issue, that needs to be looked at.
ReplyDeleteDon't raise my taxes, too much already paid and mediocre results, you've lost credibility.
ReplyDelete6:38, I said I wouldn't mind a 2% raise in my taxes to support the schools. How is that a silly statement? I really and truly wouldn't mind as long as it goes to the schools. And, yes, I give plenty to the PTO, in both time and money. I am a city employee who has nothing to do with the schools (there are a few of us out there, you know), so that tax increase wouldn't benefit me directly. It would benefit my kids, however, and that's where my focus is.
ReplyDeleteAnd for those in favor of imposing private-sector models on education, why should teacher salaries be immune? Banks, big pharma, high tech companies and their ilk pay top dollar to get the best and the brightest. After all, isn't "pay for performance" one of capitalism's dearest beliefs?
Teachers do not have the same benefits as other city employees, so I do know who has lifetime health insurance but I do know it isn't teachers! were any teachers on the top salary list...I don't think so but many administrator are...what about other city employees earning 6 figures! What about the city spening money on bike paths and planting trees...there is money but it is not being allocated to the schools,so the teachers should finance the difference? Are you kidding?
ReplyDeleteI agree with 5:57. There is a huge disparity between school PTO's in terms of equity. Some schools can have auctions and raise enough funds that enrichment programs happen all the time; technology is paid for;on and on.While other schools can have an auction and because of the economics of their school community the result is perhaps there will be one enrichment program for the year. Let's raise funds for all the schools by pooling the money, dividing it up between schools and let all the children of Norwalk have the same opportunity to be exposed to some amazing programs.
ReplyDelete3.58 Good luck with that one. The system is too broken with NPS 'gatekeepers' for parents to trust that to happen.
ReplyDeleteIt's pretty sad when a public employee questions why a city would want bike paths and trees that improve the quality of life for all a towns citizens. The poster above thought a raise for him/her was more important. This has just gotten out of hand.
ReplyDelete10:46. I wonder if you would want to pay more taxes if your salary had been frozen for the last three years like the private sector. Or if one of your family members were unemployed!Great to support a tax increase when your raise that you wont give up is more than the additional tax. Selfish I say.
ReplyDeleteditto
ReplyDeleteWhat makes any of you think that people who post here in support of teachers are in fact teachers? There are plenty of parents here who spend time in the schools and can see what is going on. Plenty of parents would rather see the city spend money on the school system than on the beach! Would they even need to raise taxes if they just made different choices about where to allocate the money?
ReplyDeleteI have teacher friends who are experiencing financial difficulty just like many other people. They are the sole providers for their families. To suggest that teachers are immune to the poor economy just shows your ingorance.
As far as PTOs, every school has a group that is invloved and others that are not.Are you really suggesting that a school such as Rowayton work to raise money then give it to another school? Rowayton has its share of families who can't contribute as well as those who chose not to participate.
Just so you know...the information about the trees and bike path were included in a letter sent home by the PTO from an elementary school...not compiled by teachers or any other school employee.
ReplyDeleteCentralized PTO monies is not a solution. Anyone else have any solutions? How about some accountability from Central Office so the City doesn't feel they are writing a blank check without any return on their investment?
ReplyDelete6:44, what makes you think bike paths and trees improve the quality of life for all town citizens? what makes anyone think some of us care about improvments at the beach. Many people couldn't care less about either of those and won't use either of those. We do care about our property values and while bike paths and beaches may inrease property values, so do good schools. If the town cares so much about the quality of life for all that they want to build bike paths and plant trees, then they should care enough to support the schools. That is the towns responsibilty. they need to fully fund the recommended budget and everyone who has an interest in the schools, which is all the town's citizens, whether you have school aged children or not, should be willing to support it as well, without pointing fingers at any town employee. A city needs employees in order to run, those employees need to be paid. Like it or not!
ReplyDeleteI wholeheartedly agree, 1:20. Give us the line by line items that are in need of the funding we are so ardently fighting for. Are we really sure these are priorities that are efficiently and effectively delivered? As stated earlier, the major payout is for insurance, lawsuits, and salaries. Now... don't get so defensive about salaries, but it is fact that NPS has some very BIG salary earners. We are not disputing those salaries but merely stating the need to supply them at budget time. When people hold up signs that say, "Support Public Education," you have to wonder what they really means. I see posters stating that they wouldn't mind paying more in taxes.. car, property, personal tax, that is. I'm not so sure others feel that way if they are without employment at the moment. Also local businesses are feeling such a crunch, I doubt they would want to hand over more in taxes. I would feel very guilty asking them to do just that when they are trying to stay afloat. I really would like to know what people suggest be done to FIX this situation where every year, the cumulative salary increases require more and more money from the city, regardless of what it can supply. It is simply wrong to pit education against other departments or those who are invested in NPS against conservative taxpayers. I cannot believe people actually make statements that prioritize city needs. There is money set aside for specific items like bike paths, etc. Bikers require that safety and have a right to it. This is a city with many, many needs. Our public officials are people elected to do a volunteer job. Most of us do not want this job, so we ask them to do it for us. To heckle them or try to intimidate them at meetings is just plain rude. The meeting I attended was an honest attempt to gather answers and understanding.. much of which we posters do not consider when making broadbushed comments. I trust the appropriate boards and agencies to do the best possible job for everyone concerned. I certainly would lose respect for anyone who caved in to public pressure without weighing both sides of what hangs in the balance. I wish to thank those individuals on the BET and Common Council for asking questions and trying to do the best they can. It behooves us as citizens of Norwalk to try to be part of the solution.
ReplyDeleteI agree with much of what you said 2:32, however, the city must prioritze its needs, just as the school board will have to prioritize its needs if the recommended budget is not fully funded..even if it is, the budget presented will still require cuts. Someone is going to have to decide what will get funded and what will not. everyone will have their own opinion about what will get funded, just as the posters here have there opinion. Whoever makes the decision needs to consider the needs of all and not just special interest groups, where will the money make the biggest impact, what needs to be funded now vs what would be nice but can really wait...
ReplyDeleteAnd why do you not think the city does not prioritize its needs? The city is not made up of one person who writes checks. There are panels of people, like you and me, who deal with cold, hard facts and conclude what is the best overall. I would not want that job, especially when you have to deal with thankless people who do nothing but critize rather than support when it comes to close to special interest. The other point to be made is it doesn't matter WHO said what about the bike paths. A poster brought up an excellent point about the diverse needs in the city. What is so hard to understand about all of this? I suppose if you don't live in town you would flash a sign about education and not give one hoot about the state of our roads, which will become the number ONE problem come this spring. Listen to THAT priority sing its tune!
ReplyDeleteFebruary 14, 2011 3:34 PM-- Thanks for a succinct analysis of what is really at stake.
ReplyDeleteI don't think for a second that an "insignificant" tax increase exists. As a taxpayer, I appreciate that the Common Council and BET are asking the tough questions.
Any extra the BOE asks for from the city's taxpayers (who are our neighbors) will burden our families-- of that there can be no doubt. Therefore, I'm a firm believer that we need to continue doing what we did last year by reviewing every line item of the budget and questioning if it's necessary, while also looking for greater efficiencies (that's how we cut $5 Million from last year's ill-conceived initial budget request).
When we ask our neighbors to make a deeper sacrifice, we must assure them that their money is going to improve our children's educations. We have to be willing to assure the taxpayers that we've worked to improve administrative operations, eliminate non-classroom positions when possible and truly reform the way we do business. We also need to assure the taxpayers that we sought reductions in our labor costs by looking for innovative solutions (like the Mayor has done in negotiating no-layoff clauses, early retirement incentives, deferred raises and other proposals with City-side labor), and not merely by making demands.
If we can't do all of that, then we haven't earned the sacrifice that many would be willing to consider.
Thank you, Steve. You summed it up so beautifully for those of us who would gladly sacrifice if it means it truly is for the kids. Not everyone is quick to pad what appears to be a bloated budget that has not yet earned total public trust. Trust is a big issue here. No one need defend the work our teachers do. It goes without saying that they do their utmost to move kids along the reading and writing continuums and prepare them for these questionable "one size fits all" tests. Our teachers are amazing. Their salaries are not the issue when we recognize that there are tweaks that need twittering in terms of what is truly meaningful, efficient, and cost-saving. More importantly, there is trust to be built within and without the system. Dr. Marks appears to be doing a fabulous job of bonding with the community, as well as with her employees. In previous administrations, we were privy to the existence of mysterious "slush-funds." Line by line transparency from the Board of Ed is very helpful in dissolving this sort of mistrust. Additionally, it is time to set about the business of looking at what really works and what does not, educationally speaking, to get the most bang for our buck. Thank you, Steve, for all you do for Norwalk Public Schools.
ReplyDeleteWe'd be having much different conversations if more members of the BOE were out there trying to sell their budget. Where's the leadership? A handful of BOE members have been present for meetings and silent otherwise. We hear Jack night after night slamming the unions. Halsey - why did she even take on the role? Very disappointed with the lack of leadership and vision from the BOE.
ReplyDelete4:18, it does matter who said what, a previous post assumed that public employees were questioning about where the city was spenging money and that is not the case. There are plenty of "private sector" people who question that. As far as not prioritzing, a previous poster stated that he/she could not believe paople make statements prioritizing city needs, isn't that what everyone does when they speak at public meetings? Everyone comes out in support of their program. Everyone needs to work together to come up with a real solution or we will be having these discussions again this time next year.
ReplyDeleteNorwalk's issues are not unique. Take a look at what is happening in neighboring states and across the nation. The problem that we have in education these days is that EVERYONE (short of 4 people in Norwalk's case) is part of a collective bargaining unit.
ReplyDeleteHistorically, in education there have been NO meaningful evaluations of ANY positons, so that when eceonomic times are tough, you can't separate the 15-20% ineffective employees from the 80% that are doing their jobs...and doing them WELL! So, it becomes a LAST IN FIRST OUT situation and the system never changes, costs continue to rise, mediocrity prevails and the kids suffer.
We're at unique point in time as CT faces an unprecendented debt crisis, fueled by the the declining housing market, the very component that sources our educational system.
However, as we all know, (at least those on this blog,) organizational leadership and management issues have been prevalent in Norwalk for many years now across all stakeholder groups.
If only Norwalk's issues were as simple as raising our taxes another 2-4% this year. It is not. We have a very public fight going on in education about how to hold educators accountable. It has now only come to a PUBLIC head as a result of the financial crisis, however the declining performance of our US educational systems has been the talk of the world for some time now.
Something is wrong.
Is it the kids? Is it the parents? Probably yes to both. But is also education itself.
In the private sector which incidentally has collective bargaining, you have merit based pay and you are written up and given a development path for a prescribed amount of time until you either improve or are cut loose. Needs of the business can dictate layoffs and guess what, management is NOT part of a collective bargaining unit! This seems to have NEVER been the case in the public sector. Once hired everyone is in a group think mode and ...you're there for life...good bad or indifferent!
Structurally, our US educational system and Norwalk's is caught up in a system that CANNOT reward good teachers or principals for their great performance or inspiration to students... nor can they get rid of the ineffective one's until something ridicuously bad happens and they are found criminally guilty of something. The performance bar for the adults in education has been set too low.
Pitting parents against City Officials, or parents against teachers, or teachers against principals or unions against the community is NOT the way for ADULTS to move education forward for our children.
It is time for the 80%-85% of the true collective bargaining professioanal teachers and administrators in education to NO longer be silent. So long as BOTH major bargaining groups refuse to go along with ANY REFORMS like holding people accountable, re-examining operations like the school calendar, faculty meetings, class size, etc...the list goes on and on... nothing will be done, nothing will change and innocent employees,innocent children and this City will continue to suffer.
Tax increases MUST be tied to SCHOOL REFORMS!
Lisa, I am a teacher and I have seen the teacher evaluation process used to help teachers who are struggling in the classroom. I have also seen teachers lose their job due to the evaluaion procces. If used properly. That said, there are administrators who do not use it properly and either use it to get rid of people they just don't like, or they don't use it as an opportunity for to really assist a teacher. There is however, no similar process to evaluate administrators. I have never, in over 20 years here, seen an administrator observed during the school day, running a faculty meeting or addressing parents. Just what do they use to evaluate administrators, and who is supposed to be doing it? I agree there needs to be accountability but it also needs to start at the top and right now in Norwalk, that is a big piece that is missing.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure I understand your point about reforms such as calendar, faculty meetings and class size. How do these relate to reform and saving money? The only way class size will save money is if you increase the number of students in eadh class and eliminate teachers. Do you really think we should have larger classes? Faculty meetings are after school and do not take away instructional time so I guess I just don't see the coneection. Also, the calendar survery does not allow teachers to reply as teachers.
Dear Teacher 9:51,
ReplyDeleteI am in complete agreement with you regarding change starting at the top and the whole issue around adminstration/principal evaluations. A bad principal impacts teacher moral at the school and it this trickles down to the students (as much as they try not to.)
Under the Corda regime, schools were left to "manage themselves." Hence, some ineffective principals became very powerful in their own domains and teachers were left with nothing but the union leadership to defend themselves. That being said, it is still no excuse not to move towards more accountability and when I say accountability I mean principals as well!
Connecticut will see NO federal dollars from RTTT until accountability measures are put in place for EVERYBODY and districts like Norwalk will suffer terribly.
Dr. Marks is an extremely compentent, hard working and reform minded superintendent. She is NOT from Norwalk and has no agenda other than to improve our performance as a district. The problem (as I see it) is that she is bucking up against numerous Norwalk Gatekeepers, who are content to use whatever powers/contacts in Norwalk that they have to maintain the status quo.
As an reform minded PARENT (who has been active district wide for 4 years) it is extremely frustrating to know of the distrust and bad blood that exists between many principals and teachers. But HOW does the average parent deal with that when nobody in education says anything PUBLICLY except through their union spokespeople...who incidentally are charged with representing their membership and NOT the students or parents or the community.
Any communication with a parent by a teacher or principal is done briefly and quietly in sound bites in the hallways and always requires sworn secrecy.
The system is flawed until the powers that be or until the effective teachers and principals (and I suspect you are one of them) start banding together across this district to bring about the changes needed in education.
Until such time parents are but pawns in large part, forced into the political fray to either do the bidding of the school that begs the loudest to their PTOs or to the few of us (like myself, who incidentally is the daughter of a school teacher) to implore the majority of educators to stand up to those with vested interests reagrdless of your position in the educational system.
I understand it will take courage. If that doesn't happen, the City will be forced to do what it has to do to balance budgets and the chips fall where they may. Sadly, this dilema is not just a Norwalk problem...but a national one.
Lisa,
ReplyDeleteYou are to be commended for your insightful, articulate post. Please consider reading this at the budget hearing. I am total agreement with you on many counts. When we are asked to support eduation, we do so with an ideal in mind. There are many who find it difficult to blindly embrace funding the schools on a year to year basis when their "ideal" becomes compromised. It is most uncomfortable to watch the orchestrated mindset overtake meetings that should instead be providing information to the general public. Lisa, is it possible to steer energies into a venue for educational dialogue between parents, teachers, and city officials? You may not wish to hear this, but you certainly sound like the person to get the ball rolling. :)
Excellent post Lisa and one exhibiting real and honest leadership. Please keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteenough with licking the backside of Lisa. wouldn't be surprised if she wrote the last two comments herself. most people i know are sick and tired of her loud mouth self promotion. if you are such a hot shot business person most of us want to know where's your day job?
ReplyDeleteLisa speaks the truth, remains civil and makes sense,. What specific comments, facts or ideas of Lisa do you disagree with poster 10:11 or, are you just angry and threatened that she's saying them?
ReplyDeleteHave mercy on the Norwalk taxpayer and REDUCE the 40% of school spending on administration !!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDelete