I am completely opposed to the proposed increases and the board needs to live within its current budget, which is already too high.
The board has failed over the last several years to rein in costs by consolidating operations and reducing staffing to better reflect the declining enrollments over the past decade.
The board has been fully aware of the declining state aid. It was not “out of the blue.”
As a former administrator of several large not-for-profits and for-profit health-care systems, I did not have the luxury of demanding and getting more money by simply stating I want it.
A cursory analysis suggests:
1. Limiting busing to children more than 2 miles from schools and charging for busing within 2 miles.
2. Increasing the child/teacher ration from the current 1:13 to at least 1:15.
3. Consolidation and closing of facilities.
4. Selling or leasing the unused facilities.
5. Focus on reading and math instruction and evaluate/reduce other ancillary activities.
Tom Patitucci
Hewitt