DISCLAIMER: the following is a collaboration to show historical facts vs. current rhetoric on the campaign trail. Ms. Butts and Wright are not current board members and therefore do not have voting records to speak of relating to the district.
--------------------------------
Last night at the candidate’s forum, David Taylor stated that he voted in support of the strategic plan. There were some audible gasps in the crowd. If you have been watching the SB meetings this school year, you would have been surprised to hear this comment because his record shows otherwise. Here are meeting minutes over the past school year related to votes for the strategic plan.
Summary:
6/3/09--David Taylor voted against the Board volunteers—Jennifer Rief and Jocelyn O’Quinn
9/23/09 David Taylor was the only Board member who voted against the charter of the Strategic Plan.
11/4/09 David Taylor wanted to move to non-public (most members of the Board felt this was a violation of RSA-91A State Law) to “discuss” members of the community who had agreed to give their time to help with subcommittee work.
Find the link to these minutes: http://www.orcsd.org/index.php?option=com_docman&task=cat_view&gid=65&Itemid=146&limitstart=15
June 3, 2009
Oversight Committee to Strategic Plan Committee: Kim Clark nominated Jennifer Rief and Jocelyn O’Quinn to serve on the Strategic Plan Oversight Committee. After a Board discussion, Mark Townsend moved to appoint Jennifer Rief and Jocelyn O’Quinn to serve on the Strategic Plan Oversight Committee, 2nd by JoAnn Portalupi.
Motion passed 6-0-1 6-1-0 with David Taylor opposing.
September 23, 2009
C. Articulation of Charge for Strategic Plan Committee: The Board reviewed the Strategic Planning Oversight Committee Charge below. This was developed by Jennifer Rief, Jocelyn O’Quinn and Superintendent Colter.
Purpose: To develop and recommend to the School Board a Strategic Plan that will guide the District’s work for the next five years toward sustainable and purposeful improvement.
Charge: The Oversight Committee will serve as a repository for all information generated throughout the Strategic Planning Process. Committee members will solicit and consider the input of all members and the broader stakeholder groups regarding the content of the Strategic Plan. Additionally, they will synthesize that input, reflect the best thinking, and draft the elements of the Strategic Plan.
Timeline: The Oversight Committee will deliver the proposed Strategic Plan to the School Board by July 2010.
After discussion of this proposal, JoAnn Portalupi moved to approve the Strategic Planning Oversight Committee Charter, 2nd by Jocelyn O’Quinn.
Motion approved 5-1 with David Taylor opposing.
11/4/09
Jocelyn O’Quinn moved to approve the above names for the working groups, 2nd by Mark Townsend. Discussion: David Taylor would like to move into nonpublic session to discuss this further. The Board had a dialogue on whether it was appropriate to discuss this in public session or nonpublic session.
David Taylor moved to discuss the names that have be nominated to work on these groups, 2nd by JoAnn Portalupi. The motion did not pass 2 – 4 with Jocelyn O’Quinn, Mark Townsend, Henry Brackett and Jennifer Rief opposing the motion.
----------------------------------------------
Finally...from a current teacher:
1. September 23rd David voted against the charter of the strategic plan. He said he voted for it.
2. 1/21/09 he voted against adding in money for a holding place for a teacher in case it was needed. He said tonight he supports kids and teachers.
3. 1/21/09 he voted against the budget. He said tonight he supports administration.
4. 4/1/09 he said the book good to great was our strategic plan. Tonight he said he supports the efforts of the plan.
5. 4/15/09 voted against early retirement. Saying that when numerous English teachers retired it desimated the English departement, truly and insult to those teachers remaining.
6. 6/3/09 voted against Jennifer and Jocelyn being the board representatives to the strategic planning committte. Tonight said it is important to work together and stop the divisions.
7. 11/4/09 voted against the citizens who volunteered to be on the working groups for the strategic plan.
Town Council February 15, 2010
On Thursday, February 11, I drove over to Bow, New Hampshire to meet with the Bow School District’s Business Administrator. I spent an extremely enlightening two hour session with him. He was forthright, candid, and very informative.
I chose to visit Bow because the Bow school system is comparable in size to Oyster River and, year after year, is at the top, or near the top, academically of all the school systems in the State of New Hampshire. 85.6% of Bow’s seniors go on to 4 year colleges....tops in the State.
In comparing Bow to Oyster River, here are some of the things I found out.
During the past 10 years Bow has reduced its amount above the state average in cost per student per year, while Oyster River has increased its amount over the state average by 1000%. And this increase of 1000% occurred while the state average cost per student per year doubled. A 1000% increase over a doubled state average! That’s astonishing!
Last year Bow reduced its budget, and this year’s budget will be a zero per cent increase. In the past 10 years Oyster River has never reduced its budget or gone with a zero per cent increase. The Bow Administration is cognizant of the present economic situation and taxpayer frustration.
This year Bow’s budget calls for the reduction of seven professional staff positions due to declining enrollment. In contrast to that, from 2000 to 2007, Oyster River’s enrollment decreased by 246 students, and continues to decline. Instead of reducing staff, they hired 10 additional teachers and replaced 40 others who retired or moved.
In this year’s budget Bow has frozen the cost of living increase for teachers. Oyster River continues to grant step increases and cost of living increases for all teachers. The Oyster River Administration and School Board are completely out of touch with the current economic environment in this country.
When bringing in students from outside the district, Bow gives no discounts. Oyster River discounts outside students by $4,000 per student. That means the Oyster River taxpayer is paying $4,000 for each student coming to Oyster River from, for example, Barrington.
Bow has a budget committee made up of 6 elected members, 1 School Board member, and 1 Selectman. This committee oversees the school budget and keeps in mind the current economic situation and the school budget impact on the Bow taxpayers.
With this fiscal awareness and commitment to both the taxpayers and the students of the Bow school system, there is no reduction in the quality of the Bow educational experience, shown by Bow’s high standing in the State academically.
I have said for three years that spending more and more money does not create a better school system. This is clearly proven every year by the way Bow is fiscally careful and has at the same time, created an academically successful school system. They are responsible with the taxpayer’s money.
Because of the above information, and because the Oyster River Tax burden is 70% of the budget, I’m asking that the Durham Town Council, the Madbury Selectmen, and the Lee Selectmen call for an audit of the entire Oyster River School System budget.
The taxpayers need your help.
Respectfully Submitted
Roger W. Speidel
FYI...
Tuesday, February 16*, 7:00 p.m.
High School, Multi Purpose Room *Snow date Wednesday, 2/17/10
Watch cable channel 22 for reruns
This is your opportunity to meet, listen to and ask questions of participating district moderator and school board candidates.
Refreshments will be served. Hope to see you there!
Have questions for the candidates?
By noon 2/15, call 868-5100 x 20 or e-mailwdifruscio@orcsd.org
Ann Wright - 10 Thornton Lane, Lee, NH 03861
Krista Butts - 17 Riverside Farm Drive, Lee, NH 03861
David Taylor - 16 Surrey Lane, Durham, NH 03824
The candidates' forum info is below:
Tuesday, February 16*, 7:00 p.m.
High School, Multi Purpose Room *Snow date Wednesday, 2/17/10
Watch cable channel 22 for reruns
This is your opportunity to meet, listen to and ask questions of participating district moderator and school board candidates.
Refreshments will be served. Hope to see you there!
Have questions for the candidates?
By noon 2/15, call 868-5100 x 20 or e-mail wdifruscio@orcsd.org
--------------------------
So, let's post some comments on this election. If you are for the strategic plan or really any future looking plan in this district, it is important to look at prior voting records/opinions of these candidates. The particular voting records to this subject can be found in minutes from 11-04-2009 and 09-16-2009. Keep in mind that Ms. Wright and Butts are not current board members.
Other voting records -
Renewing Superintendent's Contract - 02-11-2009
Adding an elementary teacher in case of enrollment increases - 01-07-2009
Early retirement for teachers - 05-06-2009
2009-2010 School Board Goals - 06-03-2009
