(NOTE: I am a member of this board)
As accepted by the Williamstow School District school board on 09/14/10
To: Armando Vilaseca
Commissioner, VT Dept. of Ed.
Regarding your proposed “Challenges for Change” 2012 school budget cuts of which the Williamstown School District has been directed to find $125,409: We, the Williamstown School District board of directors, decline to participate.
It is our findings that:
1) In setting the targeted reduction for the Williamstown School District, the commissioner of education failed to take into account “other unique circumstances that affect education spending” in direct violation of Act 146, Section E-2(c)(5).
2) State law Title 16, § 428 gives authority to “vote such sums of money as [the school district] deems necessary for the support of schools” only to the voters of said school district.
3) Local school boards have real control over a limited number of areas regarding school spending: transportation, educational enrichment programs such as the arts, extra-curricular programs such as theatre and sports and, to a much lesser degree, personnel.
4) State law demands a young adult or child under the age of 16 attend a state approved school or be home schooled in a manner meeting state mandated requirements.
5) It is impracticable or impossible to expect a large number of parents to home school their children due to personal capabilities or the economic need to have multiple wage earners in a single household resulting in no stay at home adult.
6) State law by way of the above mentioned statute leaves it up to the local community to determine how local needs can best be met regarding transportation to and from state mandated schooling.
7) Williamstown is a working community spread over a large area where, either due to economics or the need to commute to work, daily transportation of children to school by their parents or neighbors is difficult at best and often impossible.
8) In the budget for fiscal year 2010-2011, the Williamstown School District board of directors has reduced finances for and thus availability of school busing.
9) Educational enrichment programs are a fundamental and vital part of the physical, emotional and intellectual growth of many, many children and young adults including their ability to meet or exceed state mandated educational standards.
10) In the budget for fiscal year 2010-2011, the Williamstown School District board of directors has reduced finances for and thus programming availability of library, art, music and other educational enrichment programs.
11) Extra-curricular programs are a fundamental and vital part of the physical, emotional and intellectual growth of many, many children and young adults including their ability to meet or exceed state mandated educational standards.
12) In the budget for fiscal year 2010-2011, the Williamstown School District board of directors has reduced finances for and thus programming availability of pre-varsity level sports programs.
13) The statewide ratio of students to adults in Vermont’s public schools is approximately 4.5 to 1, but in the Williamstown School District this ratio is about 5.6 students to 1 adult.
14) It would be the height of irresponsibility to attempt to find over $100,000 in staff reductions as Williamstown is just now coming out of the state watch regarding failure to make adequate yearly progress on the NECAP standardized testing regime.
15) The Williamstown School District is currently dealing with approximately $565,000 in debt directly attributable to past deficits; and this is resulting in a $179,000 deficit driven debt payment during fiscal year 2010-2011, a minimum of $179,000 during fiscal 2011-2012, and additional amounts will be required in following years.
16) The Williamstown School District will be financially unable to meet its obligations to regular education and special needs children and adults as prescribed by law and/or regulation if the proposed cuts are enforced.
17) Reducing the Williamstown School District budget by $125,000 will result in irreparable harm to the children and young adults attending Williamstown’s schools, the Williamstown community as a whole and the public education system in general.
18) Title 16, § 428(2) States “[The school board of a school district, in addition to other duties and authority specifically assigned by law:] May take any action, which is required for the sound administration of the school district.”
19) Each member of the Williamstown School District board of directors signed an oath stating that we “solemnly swear to execute the office (duty or trust) of School Director to the best of [our] judgement and abilities, according to law.” We would be violating that oath if we were to attempt to execute budget reductions of $125,000 for the fiscal budget year of 2011-2012.