This is a My View by Jay DiLorenzo, President of the Preservation League of New York State, making a compelling argument for why Chorley Elementary School should be preserved.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Friday, April 16, 2010
Rapid Depletion Of Fund Balance Reserves By Dr. Eastwood
Although Dr. Eastwood blamed the Governor for the increase in next years school taxes, he failed to to take any responsibility or share any blame for the district's current budgetary problems. Dr. Eastwood did not inform the public that he took $5.3 million out of the fund balance reserve to reduce last years tax increase, and to supplement the current year operating budget.
Dr. Eastwood also did not inform the public that in the proposed budget for next year, an addition $4.7 million will taken out of the fund balance reserve. It appears that items that were paid for out of the reserve fund this year will again be covered by the fund balance reserve next year. Instead of using the reserve fund to cover operating expenses, these monies should have been used to cover the current shortfall in State aid, and no job cuts would have been necessary. The fund balance reserves are suppose to be for emergencies, and not for general operating expenses. The budget increase for next year is 6.91%. If Dr Eastwood had obtained the $4.7 million needed for expenses from taxes rather than from the reserve fund, our school tax increase for next year would have been 16.3% and not 6.91%. For every $500 thousand tax unit, the tax rate is increased by about 1%. Clearly, our fund balance reserve fund is not being used for the purpose for which it was designed.
As of June 30, 2009, the fund balance reserve was $18,883,357. For this year and next year, we will spend about $10 million from this fund. This scenario brings to mind Mr. Hoefer's allegations about Dr. Eastwood when he was superintendent in Oswego about depletion of reserve funds. If the current rate of spending is not reduced, the district may face double digit school tax increases in the near future.
Dr. Eastwood also did not inform the public that in the proposed budget for next year, an addition $4.7 million will taken out of the fund balance reserve. It appears that items that were paid for out of the reserve fund this year will again be covered by the fund balance reserve next year. Instead of using the reserve fund to cover operating expenses, these monies should have been used to cover the current shortfall in State aid, and no job cuts would have been necessary. The fund balance reserves are suppose to be for emergencies, and not for general operating expenses. The budget increase for next year is 6.91%. If Dr Eastwood had obtained the $4.7 million needed for expenses from taxes rather than from the reserve fund, our school tax increase for next year would have been 16.3% and not 6.91%. For every $500 thousand tax unit, the tax rate is increased by about 1%. Clearly, our fund balance reserve fund is not being used for the purpose for which it was designed.
As of June 30, 2009, the fund balance reserve was $18,883,357. For this year and next year, we will spend about $10 million from this fund. This scenario brings to mind Mr. Hoefer's allegations about Dr. Eastwood when he was superintendent in Oswego about depletion of reserve funds. If the current rate of spending is not reduced, the district may face double digit school tax increases in the near future.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Report: Teacher claims Eastwood requested accelerated grade for daughter
In a legal claim, Ellen Dillon, a former teacher for the Oswego school district claimed that Dr. Kenneth Eastwood's wife, Suzanne, requested that she increase their daughters grades after learning she wasn't doing so well in gym class.
The document reads, "Petitioner [Dillon] claims that two board members and the wife of Superintendent Kenneth Eastwood (formerly the assistant superintendent) complained about the grades earned by their children in petitioner’s physical education classes and allegedly attempted to have petitioner change their grades."
Ellen Dillon was described as a phenomenal teacher who according to sources was the subject of a vindictive pay-back scheme.
The document also states, "Petitioner contends that two members of respondent board and the superintendent of schools were dissatisfied with the grades their children earned in her physical education classes. She alleges that, as a result of that dissatisfaction, respondent made a teaching assignment that, although still within her tenure area, precludes her from exercising sole responsibility for student grades."
To some within the Enlarged School District of Middletown, the idea that Dr. Kenneth Eastwood would retaliate against outspoken people is not unbelievable. What's the saying, "Some people never change".
The full document can be read here.
The document reads, "Petitioner [Dillon] claims that two board members and the wife of Superintendent Kenneth Eastwood (formerly the assistant superintendent) complained about the grades earned by their children in petitioner’s physical education classes and allegedly attempted to have petitioner change their grades."
Ellen Dillon was described as a phenomenal teacher who according to sources was the subject of a vindictive pay-back scheme.
The document also states, "Petitioner contends that two members of respondent board and the superintendent of schools were dissatisfied with the grades their children earned in her physical education classes. She alleges that, as a result of that dissatisfaction, respondent made a teaching assignment that, although still within her tenure area, precludes her from exercising sole responsibility for student grades."
To some within the Enlarged School District of Middletown, the idea that Dr. Kenneth Eastwood would retaliate against outspoken people is not unbelievable. What's the saying, "Some people never change".
The full document can be read here.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Reasons For Proposed Higher School Taxes
On April 8th, the Middletown Board of Education rejected the superintendent's 2010/11 budget proposal due to its inclusion of a large increase in school taxes. Although Dr. Eastwood attributed this tax increase to the state's withholding of funds, he failed to mention the contribution his unbridled development of programs has had to the current budget problem. Last year, for the 2009/10 fiscal year, approximately 5.3 million dollars was taken from the unstructured reserve fund to supplement state and local taxes to underwrite program development and minimize an increase in school taxes.
Unfortunately this year, the governor's recent withholding of state funds has exacerbated an already tight fiscal situation. In the proposed budget, funds for some of last year's new expenses need to be financed by taxes rather than being paid for by the reserve fund. In addition, the deficit in the state's appropriation of funds also must be supplied by more taxes or budget cuts. Given the district's unrestricted development of new programs, the administration must share some of the blame for the current fiscal shortfall. Although the quality and need for these programs has never been brought into question, Dr. Eastwood does not appear to recognize that the cost for financing these programs has gone beyond the capacity of the people within the district to pay. In addition, many of these programs were developed by grants, and the cost of these programs will eventually fall onto the district taxpayers.
In the current proposed budget, Dr. Eastwood has placed the taxpayers between a rock and a hard place. Either accept his large tax increase, or accept an equally large tax increase mandated by a contingency budget. On April 8th, the board rejected Dr. Eastwood,s budget based on an understanding of this situation. At that time , the Board directed him to further reduce the projected school budget for next year. Rather than take the board's suggestions, it appears that Dr. Eastwood will attempt to ram his previous budget through during a special meeting called on April 14. It is now up to the taxpayer to reject the current proposed budget. Granted, by default, they will be accepting an equally costly contingency budget, but the public will send a clear message to Dr. Eastwood to stop the growth in program development which they can not afford.
Unfortunately this year, the governor's recent withholding of state funds has exacerbated an already tight fiscal situation. In the proposed budget, funds for some of last year's new expenses need to be financed by taxes rather than being paid for by the reserve fund. In addition, the deficit in the state's appropriation of funds also must be supplied by more taxes or budget cuts. Given the district's unrestricted development of new programs, the administration must share some of the blame for the current fiscal shortfall. Although the quality and need for these programs has never been brought into question, Dr. Eastwood does not appear to recognize that the cost for financing these programs has gone beyond the capacity of the people within the district to pay. In addition, many of these programs were developed by grants, and the cost of these programs will eventually fall onto the district taxpayers.
In the current proposed budget, Dr. Eastwood has placed the taxpayers between a rock and a hard place. Either accept his large tax increase, or accept an equally large tax increase mandated by a contingency budget. On April 8th, the board rejected Dr. Eastwood,s budget based on an understanding of this situation. At that time , the Board directed him to further reduce the projected school budget for next year. Rather than take the board's suggestions, it appears that Dr. Eastwood will attempt to ram his previous budget through during a special meeting called on April 14. It is now up to the taxpayer to reject the current proposed budget. Granted, by default, they will be accepting an equally costly contingency budget, but the public will send a clear message to Dr. Eastwood to stop the growth in program development which they can not afford.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Eastwood's legal 'threats' fall on deaf ears
Dr. Kenneth Eastwood has pretty much threatened anyone he cannot control with a lawsuit. He's threatened school board members Evelyn Isseks, Nick Mauro and Francis Hoefer. Once with a lawyer that's not even his from the New York State Council of School Superintendents, and twice from a lawyer from Greenwald Law Offices. All "legal" letters were poorly written and full of hot air; all flash and no substance. We at "Inside Middletown Schools" believe that Dr. Eastwood has no basis for any of his claims and is only trying to strong arm this Board into falling lock-step under his control, similar to that of fascists.
Truth be told, if Dr. Eastwood has a legal case, he would have filed it by now. So one needs to stop and ask why that hasn't happened? Perhaps it's because he has no case. As Dr. Eastwood continues to threaten people with frivolous lawsuits, something he is sure to do as long as he remains superintendent, one this is for sure: We at "Inside Middletown Schools" have no intention on backing down or getting rid of this site. In the words of Francis Hoefer, "Bring it on!"
Truth be told, if Dr. Eastwood has a legal case, he would have filed it by now. So one needs to stop and ask why that hasn't happened? Perhaps it's because he has no case. As Dr. Eastwood continues to threaten people with frivolous lawsuits, something he is sure to do as long as he remains superintendent, one this is for sure: We at "Inside Middletown Schools" have no intention on backing down or getting rid of this site. In the words of Francis Hoefer, "Bring it on!"
Saturday, April 10, 2010
"Inside Middletown Schools" gains traction on web!
We at "Inside Middletown Schools" have good news to share with you...Starting right now you can access our blog on popular search engines, such as Google and Yahoo!
All you have to do is go to Google, and type in "Inside Middletown Schools". Alternatively, you can type in the name of any person that appears on the blog, and the site should pop up as one of the search results on the first page.
Happy surfing!
All you have to do is go to Google, and type in "Inside Middletown Schools". Alternatively, you can type in the name of any person that appears on the blog, and the site should pop up as one of the search results on the first page.
Happy surfing!
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