By Roger Koldeway
Contributor
I encourage all taxpayers in the Burlington Area School District to attend the special meeting of the School Board at the Burlington High School Gym on Monday, Oct. 31 at 7:30 p.m.
A vote will take place to request that the school tax remain the same in 2011-2012 as it was for 2010-2011. In spite of the electors NO vote at the annual meeting on Aug. 29, the School Board insists on raising the tax by $724,800 to fund our schools this year.
At a two-hour meeting with Dr. Moyer, the superintendant, I was told repeatedly that he knew that even though our taxes would have to be increased he would continue to keep the BASD faculty members health insurance premium at zero percent.
He also stated three times that he intends to give BASD faculty members the maximum raise allowed by the state. How many of you taxpayers are contributing nothing to your insurance premiums? How many of you taxpayers are expecting a raise this year? I know my health insurance premium will be going up $10 per week starting in January, making my health care premium $75 a week.
In the Oct. 20 Standard Press, Larry Anderson, a school board member, claimed that the BASD faculty members are paying about 15 percent of their health insurance costs so to speak. Deductibles and copays are not insurance premiums. Mr. Anderson, the taxpayers have been paying deductibles and copays for years in addition to health care premiums!
Would it be too much to ask the BASD employees to pay a portion of their insurance premium and not max out the pay increase? By raising the tax levy to pay for this, the school board must think so.
BASD officials have asked for community input. Their unwillingness to compromise proves they only want public opinion when it reaffirms their own opinion. By increasing the tax levy and maxing out the pay increase it shows no consideration for the taxpayer in this very difficult economic time.
I would also like to clarify the misinformation regarding the seven-class schedule. I did NOT say, as reported by the Standard Press, that we should stay with the block schedule. Calculations show that going from the current schedule to a seven-class schedule at the Burlington High School will require hiring 6.5 more teachers based on the current number of students.
As reported in the Standard Press on Oct. 20, when referring to the gap between core classes with the current schedule, Larry Anderson was quoted saying, “This is the main reason (we’re doing this), other than cost.” To solve the gap problem I suggest that we change to an eight-period schedule, which would require no additional teachers. I have sent all of this information to School Board members but I have only received minimal inquiry.
While talking to Larry Anderson he said my numbers were indisputable, yet he insists that there will be fewer teachers required next year. We will be requiring fewer staff members next year but that will be due to declining student enrollment, increasing elective class sizes and requiring teachers to have one class period of duties, which will reduce the amount of aides hired to supervise study halls and lunches. The schedule itself will require 6.5 additional teachers. This comes at a cost to taxpayers of at least $259,000 plus insurance costs every year the seven-class schedule is in operation.
The School Board’s insistence in going to this schedule also shows their lack of concern for the taxpayers. The Oct. 20 Standard Press reported Larry Anderson saying students will “hopefully” be able to learn more effectively by returning to the seven-period day. In the same article it was reported that Dr. Moyer added to the interview in regard to the seven-class schedule: The fact that it “will likely” save the district some money is just a side benefit. It is obvious, that using the words “hopefully” and “will likely,” the School Board insistence on going to the seven-class schedule is not backed by solid calculation, but hope.
Please plan on attending the special meeting on Monday to show your disapproval of the financial decisions being made by the school officials.
Roger Koldeway lives in Burlington. The opinions expressed here and his and not necessarily of this newspaper or Southern Lakes Newspapers LLC.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Superintendent David Moyer disputes Mr. Koldeway’s assertion that Moyer told him teachers will receive the maximum raise allowed by the state. In an email response to this column published in the print edition of the Burlington Standard Press, Moyer wrote: “I also specifically stated that the (teachers) union has to vote as to whether or not to re-certify, that there have been no negotiations to date, and that any salary adjustments are something that would need to be negotiated with the (School) Board.”
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