Would You Support an Override? [Poll]
In order to support the school budget, the School Committee said that an override is needed.
The Winchester School Department is asking the town to increase its budget by 7.36 percent, which would equate to a $2,628,367 increase, making the 2013 school budget $38,349,537.
Superintendent William McAlduff said that residents would have to support an override in order for the department to reach its targeted budget amount.
“In order to go forward with this budget, we know we need to have an override," McAlduff said.
Under Town Manager Richard Howard’s budget proposal, the school department would get a 5.2 percent increase.
After last year's failed override vote, the selectmen do not want to ask residents to vote for another override.
“We’re not ready to have an override,” said Selectman Thomas Howley. “We need to speak for the needs of the entire town.”
According to McAlduff, the budget would help pay for four assistant principals, four elementary school psychologists and one clinical counselor for the high school. The budget would also help Winchester increase its per pupil expenditures, which is currently near the bottom in the state.
“People will not tolerate diminished services," said School Committee chair Chris Linskey.
Badger
8:53 am on Wednesday, February 8, 2012
I take issue, as usual, with the questions [cf. "false dichotomy"]
It is indeed important to support the schools--as taxpayers, parents, volunteers, and boosters are doing right this very second, EVEN IF they question the need for an override.
The state of the economy has less of a bearing on an increase in taxation than some more fundamental issues, e.g., reining in health-care costs and what some perceive as less-than-critical administrative additions (e.g., psychological counselors and assistant principals in each and every school).
Further, some might oppose yet another increase on the perception that PREVIOUS overrides have not been deployed in the most efficient manner, that is, some might prefer to send a MESSAGE rather than more money.
Why could not the poll have been more simplistic, a la
"Would you support an override this year?"
Yes
No
Janet
1:09 pm on Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Don't know about the other principal but the WHS principal is useless. Has no clue what's going on in the classrooms. Some teachers should have been fired a long time ago if it's wasn't for the "Tenure" status. No support to the students at all, unless the parent must demand for it. McAlduff should open his eyes first before asking for an override.
ZAAB
2:50 pm on Wednesday, February 8, 2012
SO I moved here about 5 months ago...and I am a first-time home-owner.
I always thought that the Property taxes in MA supported about four main things:
1. Roads (plowing, repairing, updating intersections).
2. Garbage pickup.
3. Schools (including bus).
4. Police, fire, EMT.
How has this town screwed it up so bad that we have to pay for garbage, pay for bus service, and have awful road intersections. I guess the Police and Fire are OK.
And then the town needs even more money for the schools? Really? What are tehy doing SO wrong? Really?
jake
8:03 pm on Wednesday, February 8, 2012
ZAAAAAB if you don't like it then move don't complain about. All the years I've lived here and have never had a problem with bringing my trash to the dump. It's nice to dump it when you want. Also where is bus service free? and im pretty sure every city and town has bad intersections.
joan
3:45 pm on Thursday, February 9, 2012
it's not the police and fire, It's the teachers. The teachers salary is outrageous. They should cut their salaries slightly to help out. Just like everyone else in America. Instead they want a raise. They get an amazing pensions. Tons of days off and summers off. They get THE BEST SHIFTS. Police and fire work the worse hours. Rotating/swapping ect They make the same amount of money as these teachers but dont get nearly as much
Aleks
8:20 pm on Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Hi, I moved to this town in 2010. Is the school district budget and or their actual financials publicly available? My eldest won't start kindergarden until fall of 2013 but I'd like to get a sense of where the money is spent. I was pretty much sold on this town by how good the schools were apparently but have been shocked to discover than 2 of the elementary schools are considered failing. (Though I must confess I don't know by what measure they're considered failing or what the consequences are). Thanks