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I am a TAX PAYER. I understand feeling the pinch of a tax bill. I am a PARENT. I moved to Fairport with a belief that the Fairport School District provided an excellent program of education for my children and grandchildren. I am a CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES and recognize that we are significantly falling behind in producing scientists, engineers and mathematicians. I am a Fairport HOME OWNER and know that my home will be less appealing for resale to any prospective residents with children who care about music, science, mathematics, technology, humanities, the arts, psychology and a diverse, expansive program. I am PRAGMATIC and understand the bills have to be paid.
I am CONCERNED that the leadership of the Fairport School District seem to believe that the ONLY way to deal with a budget shortfall is to cut teachers and program for our children. I am wondering why there are NO CLEAR cuts to expensive school administration, use of a taxpayer funded rainy day fund, no open discussion about OUR educational priorities, no reduction to non-educational initiatives. Let’s think out of the box!
I know that the bills have to be paid, state aid is shrinking and other revenue sources are limited. But keep your eye on the ball. Our education system is our future. These are our children and we must prioritize their education. Let’s evaluate what redundant administration we can trim, modify transportation routes, look at making our athletic programs less expensive, eliminate “pet projects,” and double down on utilizing technology to make the system more efficient and effective.
I’d like to see the budget for 2012/13. I’d like to clearly understand:
How much do we have in the reserve fund?
How much does our district administration cost?
What administration roles can be consolidated or eliminated?
How much do we spend on healthcare?
How much do we spend on teaching salaries?
How much do we spend on teaching aid?
What unfunded state mandates are we paying for?
How much are we spending on non-instruction roles?
How much do we spend on music/theater/athletics?
How much do we spend on transportation?
How much do we send to BOCES?
How much state aid do we anticipate for 2012/13 (we don’t know yet)?
What will be the tax revenues?
How much does the district ASSET program cost (program and personnel)?
What are discretionary, non-program, initiatives that we’re paying for?
What is our district leadership doing to work with local/state politicians?
What is the process being used to negotiate and determine appropriate cuts?
How much of the above would be saved with the proposed cuts?
My current belief is that these proposed cuts have been dictated in a vacuum, we haven’t done due diligence and that our children and community are the big losers.
Damon Buffum is a resident of the Fairport school district.
I am a TAX PAYER. I understand feeling the pinch of a tax bill. I am a PARENT. I moved to Fairport with a belief that the Fairport School District provided an excellent program of education for my children and grandchildren. I am a CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES and recognize that we are significantly falling behind in producing scientists, engineers and mathematicians. I am a Fairport HOME OWNER and know that my home will be less appealing for resale to any prospective residents with children who care about music, science, mathematics, technology, humanities, the arts, psychology and a diverse, expansive program. I am PRAGMATIC and understand the bills have to be paid.
I am CONCERNED that the leadership of the Fairport School District seem to believe that the ONLY way to deal with a budget shortfall is to cut teachers and program for our children. I am wondering why there are NO CLEAR cuts to expensive school administration, use of a taxpayer funded rainy day fund, no open discussion about OUR educational priorities, no reduction to non-educational initiatives. Let’s think out of the box!
I know that the bills have to be paid, state aid is shrinking and other revenue sources are limited. But keep your eye on the ball. Our education system is our future. These are our children and we must prioritize their education. Let’s evaluate what redundant administration we can trim, modify transportation routes, look at making our athletic programs less expensive, eliminate “pet projects,” and double down on utilizing technology to make the system more efficient and effective.
I’d like to see the budget for 2012/13. I’d like to clearly understand:
How much do we have in the reserve fund?
How much does our district administration cost?
What administration roles can be consolidated or eliminated?
How much do we spend on healthcare?
How much do we spend on teaching salaries?
How much do we spend on teaching aid?
What unfunded state mandates are we paying for?
How much are we spending on non-instruction roles?
How much do we spend on music/theater/athletics?
How much do we spend on transportation?
How much do we send to BOCES?
How much state aid do we anticipate for 2012/13 (we don’t know yet)?
What will be the tax revenues?
How much does the district ASSET program cost (program and personnel)?
What are discretionary, non-program, initiatives that we’re paying for?
What is our district leadership doing to work with local/state politicians?
What is the process being used to negotiate and determine appropriate cuts?
How much of the above would be saved with the proposed cuts?
My current belief is that these proposed cuts have been dictated in a vacuum, we haven’t done due diligence and that our children and community are the big losers.
Damon Buffum is a resident of the Fairport school district.
