Remember, You Said You Would Do Anything...

Deep breath. This is going to be long and uncomfortable, just like Wednesday night’s BOE meeting was. Remember Sachem teachers, staff and BOE members and their families are part of the Sachem community. So that person you just called stupid is the one making decisions affecting your child. I am just trying to point out there is no quick and easy fix. Everything needs to be thought out. Brainstorm, and then contact the BOE, don’t just hide behind your computer making comments about their lack of intelligence...

1. 50% of the Club budget was cut. BOE doesn’t decide which clubs get cut, principals do. So start calling/emailing your building principal now to tell them all reasons they need to save your club.

2. $150,000 was cut from the Security budget because Head of Security found a way to keep our students safe and save money. Don’t ask how this was done. Did you ever ask for the specifics of the security budget before? No, you just trusted them. Were they just spending foolishly before? No, they reevaluated ways to save money.

3. It was suggested every employee give back $20 a week from their paycheck. Really? Because I’m pretty sure you voted down school budgets in the past that would have raised your taxes $80-$100 a month.

4. The teachers should do more for less money. Sure, because employees at Target always volunteer to stay late and clean up the toy aisle after they clock out.
5. Let parents volunteer to be club advisors? Sure, Suzy pays for her background check and runs the cooking club at the MS this year. But next year little Billy goes to HS so Suzy doesn’t want to run it again. Now what? Ask any PTA council person, it is so hard to find volunteers.
6. Teachers should just volunteer to be club advisors. This is a contract/union issue, it can’t just be decided on a whim. Once the teachers start giving up stipends, it will never be budgeted for again.
7. Yes, I feel horrible the 12 people on the custodial staff will lose their jobs. Do I think the GoFundMe is a good idea? Nope. You’re not going to raise the $800,000. And why stop at the custodial staff? What about the office aids? Club advisor stipends?
8. Do you want more AP’s or not? Seems like most comments in the past were Sachem has too many highly paid AP’s helping to run the high schools. Then last night it was suggested we need to not cut the positions, and it was met with cheers.
9. Administrators should take a pay cut. Why? It’s not the same as when a CEO of a billion dollar company gives up some stock options for some good press.
10. Should the Admins and BOE been more prepared with the numbers last night? Absolutely! Should a power point presentation (or other visual presentation) go along with the meeting so the facts are right there for all to see? Definitely! But who is going to prepare it? Maybe a community member familiar with the program can prepare it, because I’m pretty sure the staff is already overloaded and annoyed they were asked to work for less money…
11. How many people who stood up and spoke (or yelled) at the BOE have actually run for a position? 1? How many have School Administration degrees? I’m thankful I wasn’t on that stage in a shirt and tie under those hotter than hell stage lights.
12. This always happens. Once or twice a year there is a big turnout at the BOE meetings. Then it goes right back to a handful of people attending and trying to inform the masses. Attend more meetings, and speak up. Speak with Mr. Nolan, he’s a pretty easy guy to talk to if you’re not insulting him. Ask questions! I promise you come spring it will not be pretty. There is no way we can get a budget that covers all our needs and stay within the tax cap. You say you will do anything to make sure the students have their clubs and the staff keeps their jobs? Good. Remember that come the 2015-2016 budget vote. Remember, you said you’d do anything...