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
School Board Candidates night is tonight at ORHS multi-purpose room @ 7:00 PM. Come and mee the 2010 list of school board candidates:
ReplyDeleteAnn Wright - Lee
Krista Butts - Lee
David Taylor - Durham
Mr. Speidel,
ReplyDeleteWhile some of your info might be correct, once again, you distort facts to suit your argument. Despite the fact that you attempt to sound accurate, sadly you are not.
you state:
Bow students going to college: 85.6%
You fail to note, and therefore you try to distort this fact, that ORHS's rate of students going to college is 84%. http://staff.orcsd.org/shared/hs-guidance/2009-2010%20School%20Profile.pdf
You claim that OR budgets have risen 1000%. Give me numbers and not your fuzzy math. Give me the figures that the STate of NH uses -- for both Bow and OR (and provide your source so we can check your accuracy). Let's compare apples to apples, not your apricots to my apples.
While I don't contest the fact that Bow is keeping to a 0% increase. You fail to mention that the cost of insurance to the district is projected to increase by over 15% -- now that is astonishing. Please tell me what Bow's increase is. By the OR board putting a 1.7% increase out there, that means that they actually cut 15% from the budget in other line items. Now that is astonishing.
The Bow school district CANNOT just refuse to grant a COLA. That would be against the law. Bow teachers didn't receive a raise/cost of living increase due to the fact that the negotiations between the union and their board failed to come to an agreement. They don't have a contract. Our teachers have a contract that was passed by the voters. The district is required by law to offer it (only 2%). You failed to mention this and again, you mislead the public. Now that is astonishing
Bow does not grant any discounts for out of town students because they don't take any. You failed to mention this and yet again, you mislead us. Now that is astonishing.
Oyster River does not give a $4000 discount to out of district students. I am sure Barrington parents would be happy to refute your claim to a huge discount. The town of Barrington pays over $10,000 per student to ORCSD and the parents of these students pay the balance. You failed to mention this and yet again, you try to mislead us. How astonishing.
The committe created by the school board investigated the creation of a budget committee. Their conclusions were simple: that is the school board's job. That is why they are elected to the job. To have an outside group dictate to the board a budget when those individuals have no connection to the goals and objectives of the board just doesn't make sense. Again, you failed to mention the conclusions of this committee and are misleading us. How astonishing.
And finally, you always, and I mean always bring up the issue of declining enrollment. Again you have fuzzy math. You fail to mention that the State of New Hampshire has instituted numerous changes to graduation requirements and they require ALL NH schools to offer certain courses (economics, government/civics, computers, etc). Students are also taking more classes than they did 10 years ago. So, despite the fact that that enrollment goes down, the demand for teachers to teach the classes that are required for our students to succeed continues to climb. You fail to note this too which leads me to believe that you deliberately try to mislead the public at all of your steps (here on this blog and in every school board meeting).
SO please Mr. Speidel, put all this in your pipe and smoke it. We are so sick of false accusations. Enough is enough! Our elected officials continue to do a great job keeping our costs down. They are well aware of the struggles that affect our population of students and provide an excellent education to our community. If you don't like what you see, I know a great realtor in downtown Durham you should speak to.
Thank you anonymous!!
ReplyDeleteAmen Anonymous...it's about time someone challenged Roger Speidel's use of half baked facts to support his very vague arguments!
ReplyDeleteGuess the truth hurts
ReplyDeleteHere is some more truth.
ReplyDeleteBarrington students are charged $12,500.
Our cost per pupil is $16,400
Parents of Barrington students pay the difference between our district and Dover, $ $1,700.
Our district eats the rest, $2,200.00
I disagree with the previous anonymous. I don't know where he/she gets their facts but the Barrnington parents do pay the $3700 balance. No free lunch for Barrington students at ORHS. The total tuition is paid.
ReplyDeleteBTW, if money is tight here, and Barrington wants to build their own high school, and given the fact that Barrington kids used to go to ORHS, why don't we invite them to join the ORCSD and we can take all their HS students. IT would probably be cheaper for them than building a new building and operating it.
This is true. There is a ton of space available in the high school. Instead of looking into moving 8th grade up from the MS, I say let's let more Barrington kids in and lower our tax burden to fully utilize the high school facility.
ReplyDeleteThat is a great idea.
A few years back, Newmarket was also looking for a new High School, wanting to merge, approched the SB and were dismissed. They are still looking.
ReplyDeleteHe got his facts about Barringon from the school meeting minutes. The parents only pay the difference between Dover to Durham. We eat the rest. Every meeting regarding tuition has included conversation about how the Barrington students can be charged less because the fixed costs are already there. I watched as questions regarding the difference have been asked, never has it been said that parents pay the entire difference. It has only been said that we can charge less because.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the idea that we should invite another town in, but only if they pay what we as taxpayers in all three towns pay.
If we get 75 to 80% of the rate to fill seats that would otherwise be empty in our classrooms, it is still a good deal for ORCSD taxpayers. Filling 100+ seats this way would help our budget significantly. Reasons why these districts shouldn't pay full costs:
ReplyDelete-They assume transportation costs to get students to school, not ORCSD
=They assume all special ed. related costs, not ORCSD.
-No vote or voice on the Board, meaning no influence of policy or budget decisions
Never allow Newmarket into ORHS! So many troubles and what would they honestly add to our school? If it is only money then forget it.
ReplyDeleteBarrington or Nottingham would be good choices. They both send to dover HS.
The post above is just so eitist. What harm might befall our precious youngsters if *gasp* we allow those Newmarket kids into our high school?
ReplyDeleteWhy...they might encounter people whose parents don't drive Volvos!!! Who don't drink lattes!!! Who knows what kinds of ideas they might be exposed to!!! Maybe a liitle something like "All men are created equal..."???
You're an elitist snob. If the best you can come up with against kids from Newmarket is that, well, they're from Newmarket, you're a stupid elitist snob besides.
Dear Anonymous(who posted 2/17/10),
ReplyDeleteThe points you are attempting to make are wrong.
For example: I never said 85.6% of Bow's seniors go on to college. What I said was 85.6% of Bow's seniors go on to FOUR YEAR COLLEGES.
The percentage of Oyster River Seniors who go on to four year colleges has remained steady in the 70% range for the past eight years, in spite of the increase in spending.
In the past 3 years, every statement I've made to the Oyster River School Board has been public, carefully researched, and honest. And I sign my name to every statement I make. You should do that, too.
I will correct your other points as soon as you muster up the courage to sign your name.
Its time the tax payers get a break, and have a year or two without any increse in the school budget. Only the public sector are getting pay incresses every year.
ReplyDeleteMr. Speidel,
ReplyDeleteWith all due respect, you are wrong. You do twist your facts to attempt to prove a point.
Must all students, in your mind, go to college? What about those who go to the military? We do send a few every year to the armed forces. Is that bad for them? What about those who aren't ready for college? What about those who already have a job lined up? What about those kids who don't WANT to go to college? Maybe they want to travel for a year; to volunteer somewhere in the world or to just "see" the world before they are tied down for four years. Also, don't forget the fact that not every child in our district lives in a $500,000 home like you do on one of the most exclusive streets in our community. Have you thought of the fact that not child's family has the economic means to pay for college tuition? (UNH --> $20,000 per year)
You certainly have been smoking the wacky tabacky if you think everyone that goes to ORHS should go to a 4-year college. Thousands across the country start in a community college and obtain an associates degree first - and then go on to matriculate to a bachelors degree.
85% of our students going onto some type of post-secondary education is an amazing statistic that all high schools in New Hampshire try desperately to achieve.
Mr. Speidel,
ReplyDeletePlease tell the truth. Who drove you to Bow to meet w/ their business administrator? Word around town it was a current school board member from Lee.
On your way to Bow, I assume that you stopped by the state house to ask the legislature and the governor for a fairer tax system in NH seeing that all you do is complain about your tax bill and make accusations that you know little about.
Gee, if our high school had a better Guidance Department, maybe the kids would be able to find more scholarships that would help them afford the high cost of college.
ReplyDeleteTo the anonymous poster on 2/25 @ 941am:
ReplyDeleteThis kind of comment is completely unprofessional is disrespectful. Why shouldn't we look at best practices of other districts like ours? Are we so elitist that we cannot accept criticism? Also, who cares who drove Mr. Speidel?
Are you spreading these so-called words around town and to what purpose is that accusation?
My children love(d) their guidance counselor. She was very helpful and yes, we did receive plenty of help paying for college -- thankfully.
ReplyDeletePerhaps those who complain about their guidance counselor want them to complete their applications, write their essays, and find them money on their behalf. Time for some of our students to step up to the plate and do the work themselves - or stop complaining.
Mr. Fiermonti:
ReplyDeleteslashing programs, teachers and staff is not my idea of best practices.
Offering new, innovative programs that challenge our students like no other school in the state is a great start. Now let's see what else we can do to further the excellence of Oyster River's educational experience. Let's continue to be the trendsetter -- the benchmark that all other high schools in the state look up to.
Who said anything about slashing programs, teachers and staff? STOP PUTTING WORDS IN MY MOUTH. It is this fear mongering that I cannot stand in this town sometimes! I NEVER said I wanted to cut teachers...EVER. This is not about doing that. it is about looking at waste and how we can be more open to the community regarding the budget.
ReplyDeleteHave you even read the budget? It is very difficult to understand. Look at the Town of Durham as a comparison.
If another community is doing something better than us, let's see if we can incorporate that. I am not out to cut programs or increase class sizes. However, if we can reallocate resources or do more with less, then why not learn about how other districts do that?
Also, I do not want to keep wasting my time refuting anonymous posts...start using your name if you want to defame mine!