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Steven Suriani (Region 15 Board of Education member) May 20, 2013 at 09:30 am
>> Yes, from 2007 to 2013 the cost per student went from $12,293 to $15,601, an increase of…Read More 26.9% -- even though the total school budget rose 10.3%, and inflation rose 13.8%.
>> I would explain it this way: Fixed costs do not change in proportion with changes in enrollment. If an elementary school looses a couple kids from each grade from one year to the next, the costs for running the school don't necessarily drop. Therefore the average cost per student increases. Same expenses, less students.
>> If you have a mounthly household budget of $1000 for a family of five, that averages $200 per person per month. If one child leaves home, let's say monthly expenses decrease to $900 per month ($225 per person) because you now play less in electricity or heating or food or medical bills. Your monthly *per person* costs went up $25 or 12.5% (from $200 to $250), even though your total monthly costs went down by 10% (from $1000 to $900).
>> Even without full day kindergarten the schools would be unacceptably overcrowded if one of them were closed next year.
>> I don't think full day kindergarten is a "scheme" since 3/4 of public schools in both CT and the entire USA offer it. When implemented with the same quality as our 1st through 12th grades, I would disagree that full day kindergarten would be subsidized daycare.
>> I have never suggested that those who no longer have children in the schools "move out of town."
>> I am not certain what private school costs, but I'd guess a private high school like Taft or Chase is at least $30K per year.
(Please note that my comments are my own, and not intended to represent the views of the Board of Education or any of its other individual members.)
Southbury Mom May 14, 2013 at 10:23 pm
It appears the 60% did not care enough to vote on the school budget and the families in this town…Read More moved here because the school system has an excellent reputation. As far as full time Kindergarten being a scheme for subsidize daycare, you are sadly mistaken. The expectations set on our children by today's society has been raised significantly and requires students to be able to have more time in the classroom to learn, as not to be hurried along. Unfortunately, the days of a 5 year old going to school for just under 3 hours is long gone.
RU Kidding May 8, 2013 at 11:44 pm
I spent over an hour searching for a graph of Region 15 student decline inpast years and could not…Read More find any info on the decrease. Sippy's tenure has had some large increases except for a few years.
Rob May 8, 2013 at 02:41 pm
Does the piddly .9% decrease in teachers healthcare expense come as the result of an INCREASE in…Read More individual employee required contributions to their healthcare coverage and higher co-pays like the rest of us non-civil servants are over burdened with (UNlikely!)? Funny how certain union backed groups are allowed to operate in a "fantasy world" and the taxpayers of these municipalities are left holding the bag.
Donald A. Taylor May 8, 2013 at 01:08 pm
Why is there an increase in the school budget with, what I have been informed, is a decrease of…Read More eight teachers and a declining pupil enrollment?? DONTAY
Doug Ziemke May 2, 2013 at 02:41 pm
It is refreshing and encouraging to see this closer, cooperative relationship between Southbury and…Read More Region 15 from years in the past. Dr. Sippy and First Selectman Edelson are to be commended for their efforts as they have consistently pushed for transparency, and enabling cost savings while meeting the needs of the taxpayers.
James Patchen May 2, 2013 at 01:42 pm
It is interesting that the there is a significant budget increase primarily driven by salaries in…Read More spite of a headcount reduction of 8 staff. Possible security enhancements are provided with a meager $100,000 in the shadow of the Sandy Hook tragedy. Full time kindergarten is not a major expense driver although the education ROI can be debated. My point…”for the children?”
ConcernedResident March 21, 2013 at 01:54 am
You've gotta love good ole Region 15. They always present articles like this when they are looking…Read More for budget money on the backs of hard working citizens. I plan to vote as always "NO".
Thad Burr March 20, 2013 at 03:03 pm
As I have stated before, after previous years' study results were released; without comparision of…Read More our data with other schools here in CT, it is impossible to reach any definitive conclusions as to the relative "success" of our program in Region 15. Furthermore, it stands to reason that a much higher percentage of students who have done well in college would respond to the survey, while others, not doing as well, would be much less likely to showcase their poor performance. I have had children graduate from Pomperaug on both ends of the spectrum, and know first hand who was more motivated to answer the survey, and it wasn't the low performer. . . thus my scepticism about the so-called findings of this study.
RU Kidding March 9, 2013 at 07:45 pm
Instead of paying thousands of dollars for consultants to help find a new superintendent why not…Read More promote the current assistant superintendent to superintendent, and also list the job on linkedin. I would think in this economy there are plenty of qualified candidates that would apply especially for such a lavish salary.
Thad Burr February 22, 2013 at 07:05 pm
I was at that BOE meeting, and it was nothing but rubberstamping of Dr. Sippy's proposal; no…Read More discussion, no debate, no critical thinking or analysis of the facts. The facts are that, while full day kindergarten has proven to be beneficial for low income, urban areas, it has no statistical benefit for those children from higher socio-economic households. Therefore, for Southbury, Middlebury and other similar towns, it simply amounts to taxpayer funded baby sitting services that parents would otherwise have to pay out of their pockets. In addition, Dr. Sippy and his staff have cleverly worked this into their plan to keep all the schools open, thereby preserving staff, teachers, aides, money and other resources. 800 students less and still declining, yet Region 15 BOE refuses to lower our taxes, close a school, or do anything else that is fiscally responsible. I urge Patch viewers to simply VOTE NO on the upcoming budget, and then elect a completely new slate of BOE members this November and next year.
Tom Oakes March 4, 2013 at 03:51 pm
"the fact that you object to my description of your commentary is your problem, not mine"…Read More
That's an odd thing to say. Don't you take personal responsibility for your comments? I suppose that's one 'advantage' anonymous comments, there's no need to take responsibility for them.
The suggestion that your use of ad hominem is my problem is misguided. There are repurcussions to venting ones anger and resentment that run deeper than the fact that they undermine the argument one is making. In the long run the injured party is not the resented one, but the one that is so insecure in his convictions that he needs to use intimidation in order to 'win' his argument.
SbyMom February 21, 2013 at 01:07 am
I an not pro or anti guns. I have been struggling to answer a questions though, and I ask this...…Read More Someone, please tell me what an unarmed guard would do if God Forbid a gunman broke into our schools? Try to physically hold them back, call 911, isn't that exactly what the brave, dedicated teachers tried to do in Sandy Hook?? It cost them their lives and the lives of twenty beautiful, innocent, children. Top priority is to protect our children as parents, a community, and a nation. Sticking your head in the sand, standing on a political soap box, is not going to do it. Many schools have resource officers. They do not promote fear in children. Many children find comfort having them there and establish a re pore with them. Historically resource officers have been placed in schools to aid in deterring drugs, fighting, etc. Now these officers will have a much greater meaning. To possibly save our children's lives.
Thad Burr February 20, 2013 at 07:35 pm
The BOE and Region 15 staff do not really want survey inputs from everyone, just those who support…Read More the Education Empire. They do not want facts, just positive PR in order to railroad their latest budget proposals through for the "sake of the kids". We have lost nearly 800 students in the Region, but does anyone talk of taking that $8Million and, God forbid, actually reducing the budget??
Region 15 Students Capture Superintendent Awards
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