Override

[Tom]

Do you support an override?

[Unregistered]

I support Cathy Winston's call for an audit of the school budget. I would like to see it completed by an independent firm unaffiliated with Walpole or the schools. This should be done before another override is even considered.

There are numerous hard questions that need to be asked an answered before I can support another override.

1. Some of the textbook requests that are part of the override are for French and Mandrain Chinese textbooks. By my calculations that means we are teaching at least 5 foreign languages at the High School (French, Mandrain Chinese, German, Latin, Spanish). Is that necessary? I understand we want to offer foreign language as part of a curriculum but maybe it should be two and not five. What is the average class size for reach of these lanuages? How many math, science, or English teaching positions could we fill if we trimmed this department and the associated expenses?

2. Why are we making bus fees and parking fees part of the override request? Bus fees, maybe, but parking? Unless the override includes a seat for me on the bus or a sticker to park at the high school this should not be part of the override. If it is an extra burden on the parents then maybe the kids should be paying for there own parking at the high school. My guess is that many old enough to drive to high school also have part time jobs.

3. We hear a lot of talk about class sizes but has there been a comprehensive breakout of class sizes by school, grade, and subject? Are larger classes at the high school level being lumped into the overall average thus inflating it? I would agree that at the elementary school level it may be an admirable goal to get class sizes as close to 25 as possible, however, once kids reach high school I do not believe class size is as big a factor. If these kids are planning on going on to college they will be facing lecture classes in the hundreds and breakout groups in the 20s and 30s at schools like UMass.

These are just a few off the top of my head. I think a comprehensive budget review by someone outside of the school system and outside of Walpole (with no emotional connection to the issue) is the only true way to get the emotion out of the discussion and get a picture of what the real story is (maybe the answer is that the override is necessary).

Until such an action is taken this is one Walpole resident who will never support another override.

[Unregistered]

Cathy Winston promised to get to the bottom and find the waste in the school budget four months ago. Did she find any? Did she even look?

[Unregistered]

I am a mother of two SCHOOL AGED children and I am fed up with these overrides! I work in education myself and see the waste that goes on. As soon as the Walpole School system begins operating like a business, including invoking its own independent audits, no one is going to convince me that we need to "spend" more money. EVERY business in America has rising health care costs......but not every company is having to go back to its shareholders to plead more money. Rather, they cut where they need to, including bonuses and high salaries!!!

Furthermore, NO ONE is going to convince me that our classrooms are busting at the seams at the high school level. We have a mass exodus of middle school and high school children who are leaving to go on to private schools - the most recent senior class was SMALLER than my own Walpole high school graduating class of 268 back in the 80's!!!!! Spread the inequity (surplus in higher grades, hardship in lower grades) across the system and operate within the budget! It's as simple as that!!!!

Prove the need with an audit! I'm tired of this whining!

Joan
A Lifelone Walpole Resident and mother of two Walpole school children!!

[Unregistered]

Where is the waste? Isn't the School Committee obligated to present their budget and explain it to the Finance Committee and the Town Administrator and do not those people ask questions about the expenses they see in the budget? Perhaps the problem is with the Finance Committee not doing adequate oversight. Since the School Dept's budget is the largest budget in the town administration I would HOPE that someone on the Finance Committee spends time looking at the School Committee's budget. I would also hope that if they saw any waste or extravagant expenses that they brought them to the Town Adminstrator's (and the Walpole Times!) attention.

[Unregistered]

I asked a reliable source why not allow the audit if everything is on the up and up. Apparently, the schools are audited yearly. The only problem with bringing in an outside agency (aka the state) is that they are going to find that Walpole is non-compliant in many areas (media, sped, class size, etc.). This is not going to save the town any money, but rather force us to spend more in order to meet these deficits. I am pro-schools and still say go for it, but those of you who do not want to pay more may want to reconsider what you are asking for. I would also suggest going back and finding Mike Ryan's response in the Walpole Times to Winston's request. It could not have been more eloquent and addressed the questions many of you have brought up.
*By the way...I do agree that Mandarin Chinese is excessive. We do need to prioritize.

[smokey]

I would hope that most of the good people of Walpole will not allow this override. Our taxes keep going up, we don't need another tax!
If the kids want to learn Chinese, let them learn it in college, our they can buy the software and learn it at home.
Most of the kids have computors at home why do we have to buy more computers? Teach the basic's in school then let them use their own computers at home.
Why do the good people of Walpole have to pay the kids parking fees and their bus fares? What does that have to do with education? We are suppose to pay the taxes for them when they are in school.

[Unregistered]

Here it is. Government is like a spoild child. They get money that they blow on whatever, and now they need more. And then there are the Yuppies who are too cheap to send their kids to Private schools, so now they want to turn the public schools into a Private school education system on your dime.
That's your summary. Oh Yeah, they want you to pay for all the fees too. The children should park free and ride free so Mr. & Mrs. Yuppy can continue to get rich. Let all the elderly suffer.

Clearly, I am an expert...and I hate wealthy people. Listen to me.

[Unregistered]

I agree that kids can pay their own parking fees. But as for the rest of your statements, I really think many of you need to get educated about what is going on before you discuss it. Chinese class was addressed at the meeting on Tuesday night. The reason they want the vote in March is because the schools need to let those they are laying off know by June. This means the staff that you have will begin looking elsewhere. When you get new staff, you need to provide professional development for them (mentoring, current programs, etc) by mandate of the state...$$$. Nevermind the educational implications this has (think any sort of learning curve in a new job.)
Are taxes ridiculously high? Yes. Start lobbying the state for more aid. The schools can not cut any more. Class sizes at the elementary are predicted to be over 33 (at some levels) next year. At the rate this town is going, it is only going to get higher. You do realize that this means your property value is going to decrease. That's interesting ...an investment in the education in Walpole is also an investment in the value of your own home.
One final thought, if the override does not pass, you will pretty certainly be paying trash fees next year. Would you rather have a say on if you pay (vote) or have it decided for you (trash fees enforced)?
PS Get in touch with your governor!

[Unregistered]

I am not sure where Smokey got the info that more computers would be purchased. The majority of technology in the schools is now coming from the Walpole Computer Foundation, a separate organization that raises the money.

[Unregistered]

I am all for every child having a good education, but in the past 15 years the demand for more money every year from the tax payer to support it has gotten way out of hand. The school committee needs to get a clue and see living in Walpole is not cheap. I'm sure I'm not the only one to have their Nstar bill increased, real estate tax increased and several other services increased in the last six months. The situation is so bad, selling the house is not even an option because nobody is buying houses in Walpole. I hardly think this is due to the school system that some people say is so terrible.
Anyway, no on the override and for every resident that thinks it should happen, might I suggest another "ARE YOU IN?" campaign. You can send your donations to the school commitee to use to cover their budget for next year. Forgot to add, they should keep the bus and parking fees. Why should single, seniors and childless couples have to pay the tab for that? I'd rather pay a trash fee, at least it is a service I am using.

[Unregistered]

You know folks, maybe the day has come for parents of public school children to start paying for more of their education by means testing. Thousands for those who have and less for those who do not. The day is upon us. The people who are against this will blow $25 - $200 a week on scratch tickets. Instead of giving it to the state, give it to your kids, and get out of my knickers.

[Unregistered]

Investing in the school system of your town is your best return on your investment you can buy. For the majority of homeowners, your home's value is your largest asset. A strong school systems further strengthens the value of your home, whether you're retiring in 1, 5 or 25 years we all need to keep these values up for our "nest" egg. Do the seniors know that if their spouse needs nursing home care from Medicaid that their home is one of the only things the spouse is able to retain? Your homes value is critical to your long term financial security. The decrease in your homes value if this override does not pass will greatly exceed any override that passes.

Cathy Winston's scenario about an older couple selling their home to a young couple with children who will then "burden" our budget with their services was the most short-sited, ignorant thing I have ever heard. Who does she expect the seniors of this town to sell to? Does she expect home sellers to discriminate on who they sell to solely on the basis of how many services they will require over a life time of living in a community? I assume Cathy does not want any new families moving to town? How does that mentality transfer to the commercial industries we are trying to grow? Cathy made it clear she ran for selectman to block any override requests. Let's have positive political leaders in our town, not spiteful ones.

[Unregistered]

To invest in the school system only for the reason that you want your home value to rise seems rather shortsighted.

By saying this, you are implying that you want to invest in a school system so that you can leave the town eventually, with enough cash to do so. How about investing in a retirement account to do the same thing? Or has putting cash away become that unfashionable (of course, saving money these days is an "old fashioned concept").

How about investing in a school system to better the citizens of the town, in the hopes that they will make the town a better place for the future?

No...shortsighted greed is the rule of the day. That is what is wrong with many citizens of the Town of Walpole...

"there is nothing new under the sun..."

[Unregistered]

People, the town has a habit of scare tatics to get money. Maybe someone should look at the town employee list and see all the nepatism. Fire all these people. Cut this practice out and save us some money. And the school committe needs to be looked at. They are mismanaging money at an alarming rate.

[Unregistered]

I agree with most of the comments in that an independant audit should take place to surface where the money is going and how to better appropriate funds in the school system. As a mother of a special needs child in the Walpole School System, of course I want more money, however I want it directed to where it is needed. My immediate concern is that my child learn to communicate in English, nevermind Mandarin.

[Unregistered]

I was knocked out of my seat the other day when I found out that the town pays almost $20K for one child to be sent to another school. Why doesn't the town require the parents to pay a hefty part of this. What the heck has this country become, Russia?

[Unregistered]

If I can't afford the $500 busing fee how can I afford an override.
I voted for the override in 2001 but I can't afford to live in Walpole if my taxes go up in large amounts every 5 years or so. We are also facing the need for a police station and library. If I had to vote which one(s) to support, the police station and library have waited long enough and it is their turn.

[Unregistered]

Cathy Winston's point is completely valid. The constant increases in the taxes through annual tax increases plus these overrides is what drives people from town, especially the elderly. They do not restrict who their homes are sold to, nor should they, but if/when they are sold to a family with school age children you have just increased the burden on the school budget in terms of additional services. This could mean another override, which drives more people from town, a new generation moves in, etc., etc. You have a vicious cycle.

My issue with yet another override request is that these are always based on the incremental costs....higher healthcare costs, more ESL students, more teachers. What we need to look at (and an independent audit would do) is examine the current costs. Where is the $28 million dollars being spent today going? Maybe you find that 10% of that could be spent more wisely (one suggestion...maybe coordinate with other school districts to get higher volume discounts on supplies). That's $2.8 million which goes a long way to covering the proposed override.

This is not to say you will find that 10% but without a detailed audit by a group having no emotional connection (school committee on the 'for' side, citizens against the override on the other side) to the issue how do you know? This type of reassurance from an independent set of eyes would go a long way to proving that the money may really be needed and that another override is not pitching money into a blackhole.

[Unregistered]

Unfortunately I missed the Tuesday night meeting. My understanding is that the override will help hire an additional 30 positions. What happens the next time the contracts are negotiated with the teacher's union or the step increases kick in for this new staff. Will this override help cover that as well or is this just to get them in the door?

[Unregistered]

This registered voter is still deciding, but leaning against another permanent override. I think we could all benefit from FACTS rather than rhetoric (coming pretty steadily from both sides). Where can I get my hands on the actual town and school budgets? Are they available online? (Town hall is only open when I am at work). I believe in strong schools, but it seems like I need to decide for myself whether the additional money is needed or not - both sides of this debate are spinning this BIG TIME!

[Unregistered]

It's simple really, most in town government know that the elderly are away during March. Maybe the vote will pass. Past elections has shown that the majority of the towns people don't vote, and could care less wheather their taxes are raised. They are mostly sheep that just keep paying. The town governmet act like children when they are never told "NO!". I wish that people would get out to vote and get rid of them all. Change the school comittee to people with half a clue of how to spend money right. I'm getting the heck out of this town. Norwood is better, more bang for your buck.

[Unregistered]

Had this town had a better 10 year plan we probably wouldn't be in this position. Let's see :

1) We had an override for Adams Farm, could have been a golf course, revenue coming in and $8million dollars saved.

2) Could have had a 2nd story on the Walpole Mall

3) Could have put in an Osco Drug or YMCA

4) Still waiting for the hotel next to Applebees

5) Still waiting for the KFC that was suppose to go on route 1 (what's it taken over a year for that)

6) Age qualified community that could have been built 5 years ago.

Now add up that revenue as well as what those businesses could have brought in and I'm guessing there would be no need for an override.

Now I heard there was discussion of a power plant being put on 1A towards the prison. I'm from South Walpole had the rest of the town said yes to the those items listed above I would be fine with the power plant but since the rest of the town said no to those establishments you can bet you will have strong opposition to the power plant. Except from those in North, East and West Walpole.

[Just the Facts]

There are some facts we need to begin to make a decision which position to support:

Current Year

Total School Budget
School needs funded from other sources ( health costs, building maint etc)

School budget revenue sources ( town, state, SPED, outside grants , etc)

Total enrollment breakout by school type

# Walpole residents, # non Walpole residents
# SPED students and cost for students to attend school outside Walpole

[Unregistered]

I have voted yes for previous overrides, but am leaning toward no on this one. I have 2 school-age children and yes, I am concerned about our schools - but feel that we need to explore other avenues.

Why don't we receive as much money from the state as other towns? (FY2006 - chapter 70 aid - Walpole received 1,213 per student - Franklin rec'd 3,729 per student, Nofolk rec'd 3,050, Wrentham rec'd 2,910)

Why can't we go after the state for the money we need? (instead of the working families of Walpole) If other towns are receiving much more than us (both comparable towns and wealthier towns), why aren't we going after the state?

Why are Walpole's sped costs SO much higher than comparable towns? (In 1996, Walpoles SPED budget was 14.10 % - in 2005, it's now up to 22.3%) Surrounding towns seem to be around 18% (Foxboro 18.50, Norwood 18.90)

Why do we still have Metco? (and along those lines - in the funding we get, why are we on the lower end of reimbursements?) Why can't we fight the state for more reimbursement? If the state allows 3,700 per Metco student and Walpoles per pupil expenditures are 6535, there is a shortfall of 2,835 PER PUPIL. If there are 48 Metco students, that is a loss to the town of 136,080 per year. (a couple of elementary teachers!) And no - I am not a racist - I think Metco is a great program with a lot of super kids - BUT if we can't afford education for our own townspeople, then maybe it's something that should be eliminated (or at least reimbursed more from the state)

What can be cut to save elementary teachers? (ummm - chinese maybe?)

Why are the citizens of Walpole unable to get a copy of a school budget? (instead of bits and pieces here and there - I want a simple copy of the school budget, but can't find one)

Why have people been saying that are teachers are among the lowest paid in the area? (I thought that had been taken care of and we were brought up to "average")

How do our teachers benefits compare to other towns?

It is very difficult to make a decision. If we definately need the money - then we do and I would vote for the override, but how are we able to tell? It seems to me, that there are plenty of things that can be cut before teachers. Unfortunately, I feel that they will just start with the teachers first, so that they get their point across. It's obvious though, that they need to be going after the state as aggressively as the taxpayers of Walpole.

Also, if the override fails, does that mean we don't get the desperately needed police and fire station, because it is all lumped into one override?

[Unregistered]

The override for the schools and the police/fire station will be separate. The schools in March and the police/fire in the normal June election.

I believe the police/fire override would be a one-time hit for the cost of the station and will not be a permanent override. However, it should be noted that it will be an additional burden this year on top of the $500+ permanent increase in taxes (for the average Walpole home) if the school override (at about $4.7 million) passes.

[Unregistered]

After reading the "Budget Surplus Shrinks" article at walpoleNews.com I think I am even more confused. Hopefully, someone with a finance degree can explain this.

1. If the deficit would require a cut of ONLY $233,000 to bring the schools to level services for the school year why would we need an override of almost $4 million dollars?

2. Why is there a gap of $500k between what Mr. Boynton says the schools need and the schools say they need for a level budget? Where is the discrepency?

3. Even if you take it as fact that the schools do indeed need $500k more than what Mr. Boyton projected this would lead to cuts of $733,000. Again why an override of $4 million?

4. You cannot project what the state will do but it seems that it is possible things could actually break so that we could end up with a $72K surplus vs. a deficit. If that is a possibility why are we spending our time an energy on dissecting a possible $4 million dollar override. Shouldn't we be pressing the state on the state aid? Isn't that why we elect local resps and senators?

[deju]

I see more of a need for a new police/fire station.
I know that is why we are having a special election.
If the overide passes there will be no support for any other pressing needs in town.
I am not going to vote yes.. they will have to wait and make do.

[Unregistered]

I voted for the overide last time.
Sorry I have run out of both money and sympathy.
I have noticed this time those against the overide are being quiet.
We shall see!

[Unregistered]

I too am out of money!!

However, do we really want to see 30+ students in some of the elementary classes?? There is so much pressure put on teachers to help children learn. With MCAS and all of the material a teacher needs to cover, how are our teachers supposed to be effective with so many students?

What about other services that would be lost?? This year all four elementary schools lost their full time librarian. The fifth grades were not offered to play in band. Some of the textbooks are from the early nineties. The 6 graders in middle school weren't offered an exploratory foreign language. The list just keeps going............ Even if you do not have children in the system, don't you want to help our future leaders??

I have noticed a trend in the housing market. Towns with strong schools and resources to keep those schools running smoothly have a higher market value. Unfortunately, towns with schools operating below par also have a lower market value. If not, for the children of this wonderful town, then think about your investment in your home.

Maybe some suggestions to keep the taxes down would be to lower the parking/bus fees rather than eliminate them. I also feel an audit should be done to find out exactly where the money is being spent.

[Unregistered]

I am a parent of 2 children and if the taxes keep going up like it is today, for little boxes that we leave in, I am going to move out and rent.
No one is being compensated at their jobs, at the way expenses are growing for American homeowners.
We also have to deal with rising fuel cost, electricity and other utilities.
Many people have to pay for school busses, that was town’s decision to get compensated and they got it.
Sewer project was supposed to start in 2006, now it looks like it’s dead, so pray that your septic system does not fail, otherwise you need to get $25k and maybe loose your backyard.
We have all these big businesses in Walpole (Bayer, Hovo just to name 2) that are paying tons of money, in taxes.
There is this money going to? That’s the biggest question.
It should be simple, either it’s being used GOD knows where (maybe they got GOD confused as well :-) or being used incorrectly.

They need to be audited from an independent firm for all these years and should be held accountable for every penny that taxpayers pay.

[Unregistered]

Folks,
We're putting the blame for the budget woes on the wrong level of government. The mandates for SPED come with very little money from the state and federal government. SPED costs are now running about 1/3 of the total school budget and it serves only a small population of students. While these SPED classes have many adults present in them, and sometimes do little work during the day, the other regular ed classes keep getting larger and larger with fewer teachers available. The school dept. is forced to take from regular ed. in order to provide the mandated programs. I see this as a kind of forced discrimination. I think that the town should pay the per pupil cost for every child and let the state and federal govt. pay the extra costs needed for the mandated services for the Sped students. It has gotten to a point that these sped mandates have become an undue burden on cities and towns. We need to contact our state and federal elected officials, cry uncle, and get better funding.

[Unregistered]

1. The School Department should look into why 1 out of 5 students in Walpole is a Sped Student. The number seems high. However, overall SPED is a small percentage of the school budget.

2. Class size isn't the be all and end all. Some high school classes may approach 30 while others may be closer to 15. If a high school student can't function in a class of 30, how are they going to function in a college lecture hall of 300? It's not the size that matters, it's the quality of the teacher and student.

3. The Selectmen should clearly explain what the expected tax increase will be on average per household and not expect the viewer to calculate the impact.

4. Mandarin Chinese is unnecessary. More emphasis should be put on English courses to produce students who can communicate effectively orally and in writing.

5. The Town Administrator indicated the deficit is $300,000 and that figure might become a $72,000 surplus if the town receives state aid.

6. The School Committee needs to explain and itemize how they spent the $600,000 plus surplus they had last fall. As one writer to the Walpole Times wrote - let's have some intellectual honesty.

[Sparky]

In reply to the previous post:

"1. The School Department should look into why 1 out of 5 students in Walpole is a Sped Student. The number seems high. However, overall SPED is a small percentage of the school budget."

In FY03, it SPED was 25% of the budget. In FY07 it is 31%. I guess it depends on your definition of small.

"3. The Selectmen should clearly explain what the expected tax increase will be on average per household and not expect the viewer to calculate the impact."

It has been stated repeatedly that the proposed override would cost the median household $112 per million dollars of increase.

"4. Mandarin Chinese is unnecessary. More emphasis should be put on English courses to produce students who can communicate effectively orally and in writing."

The principal has explained that one class of Mandarin Chinese has been offered to be taught by a current teacher who is fluent. (Aside: If this country continues to lose its manufacturing base, we are all going to need to learn Mandarin Chinese."

"5. The Town Administrator indicated the deficit is $300,000 and that figure might become a $72,000 surplus if the town receives state aid."

This is the budget associated with his proposed service cuts.

[Unregistered]

For those of you who are looking for info and asking questions, I would suggest going here http://www.win2007.org/. All your questions may not be answered, but contact them and hopefully they will get the info for you. Stay informed!

[Unregistered]

With the override amount set there are now even more questions than answers.

The new override numbers still make no sense. In the last week the estimated deficit has dropped another $100k to $255k to provide level services (meaning about $170k deficit for the schools based on Boyton's 2/3 estimation model).

To me 'level services' would mean providing the same services next year that you are this year. I interpret that as 'level services' would mean no job cuts. The article stated that without the override the schools would have to cut 14 to 18 positions a year. If we only need an additional $170k this year to provide level services how can that be?

If the deficit is $170k for the schools 14 positions would mean about $12k a year per position ($170k deficit/14 positions), 18 positions would be less than $10K per position ($180k deficit/18 positions). Are there 14 - 18 positions at the school making this as an average income?

The other things that is still not clear at all is what the $500k difference is between Mr. Boyton's and the schools estimates for level services and why this is being included in the override request with no discussion. That is a huge discrepency that needs to be addressed.

The overall deficit at this point stands at $255k on a budget of $62 million (.04% of the overall budget). Excluding the fire station/ police station, which is not part of the regular budget, what is being requested is a tax increase of 12.5% on the average home ($438 for the override, $176 for the standard 2.5% increase on an average tax bill of $4,903).

Do these numbers seem a bit excessive to anyone else?

[Unregistered]

I am a mom of kids in the WPS who will be voting no. I hope lots of other parents of school aged kids feel the same and just aren't speaking up. You do feel like you're betraying your kids' teachers (as well as your kids) if you vote no. I have a sped child in the system. I don't understand why so much of the budget is earmarked towards sped because it has been my experience that parents have to fight for every little scrap they get from this system. That is the standard in every town, for every sped parent, but this system has taken it to a new level. Would love to know kids who are placed out of district to the tune of $20K were repeatedly denied appropriate interventions until their issues became so overwhelming the school had no choice but to place them outside the district. Check the DOE's website and do a search on Walpole. For a town with such a large sped budget, Walpole is out of compliance in many areas according to yearly reports. So where is the money going that they claim they need to implement all of these federal sped standards? Some aren't being implemeneted now after being warned year after year, and none of the override money is going towards the sped budget. This will continue to be a problem, and it will never be fixed. It is one of the many reasons I am voting no, and I encourage other parents to think for themselves and know that a vote of no is NOT a vote against your kids or your kids' schools. It is a vote that sends a message that there has to be a better way, and if it means a few bad years for our kids, it will pay off in the long run when a solution is found. 30 kids in a classroom is far from ideal for the students and the teachers (especially), but it is not the end of the world. It is one of the many ways we will put the due pressure on the school system to make changes and take a good, hard look at their budget. An override every three-five years solves nothing.

[Unregistered]

Why are 1 out of 5 students SPED? Is it that the town offers more in the way of services than other towns? And if 20% of the students represent 31% of the budget, isn't it time to re-evaluate the programs and services the town offers?

I think the issue is credibility. A review of last year's spring newspapers featured the same gloom and doom scenario of shortfalls, cuts, need for an override etc. and then in the fall, the schools and municipal both had a surplus. The schools had about a $650,000 surplus.

During that period, discussion of sister schools diverted parents' attention from the surplus and how it was spent by the School Committee.

Whether or not an override is justified this time around is overshadowed by the perception that what taxpayers hear is more crying wolf.

[Sparky]

The rhetoric from both sides is deafening. The correct solution is probably in the middle, but that doesn't seem to be one of the choices.

It seems to me that half of the problem is tied to our financial relationship with the state, in terms of state aid and SPED requirements/re-imbursements. The override campaign seems to have a structured, grass-roots organizational capability. It would be good to see this effort grown in the direction of approaching the state on an organized front to address these issues. Why does Walpole's state aid seem so disproportionately low compared to towns with similar demographics? Unfortunately, the state uses town-aid as a political tool, the same way that the federal government uses "highway funds". This override campaign has demonstrated that Walpole has a lot of energetic, intelligent, well-meaning, and motivated residents; it would be great to see Walpole become the town that leads an organized effort to make the state accountable for the financial grip that it holds over towns, particularly suburban communities similar to ours.

The way our taxation system is now structured, it seems that the schools (and the rest of the municipal system, for that matter) are in the position of periodically needing to seek a more expensive, long term solution, knowing that it is undesirable (and futile) to bring a smaller override solution to the table every single year. However, in the face of other issues (like the fire/police buildings, library, etc.), now might not be the time to reach so far. Correct me if I'm wrong: the plan is to avoid pink slips, and do some additional teacher hiring to make up for previous cuts. Maybe at this time we can only afford to avoid the pink slips. Again, this does not seem to be one of the voters' choices.

I see this override similar to the school construction overrides in the 1990's: it might take a couple of tries to get the right proposal on the ballot.

This really is a great town with a nice blend of people: young, old, and in-between. The solution is probably somewhere in the middle. Keep in mind that there are so many towns facing these same issues; it has nothing to do with incompetence or waste. At least we have a good foundation that we are trying to preserve. Let's hope we can avoid the divisiveness this time around.

[Unregistered]

"People keep talking about the school budget, but what about an audit of the rest of the town. Schools have been level budgeted for years now"

- The reason people are focused on the school budget is because it currently represents just over 50% of the entire municipal budget ($32M for schools, $62M overall budget) and in the override request 90% of the override will go to the schools ($3.5 of the $3.9 million). When a single department takes more resources (i.e. money) than all other town departments combined that should be the department that receives the most scrutiny and analysis.

- If the schools are seeking level budgeting for next year then they do not need $3.5 million. They need $170K or $670k depending on who's number you want to trust.

- If they use the extra money in the override to hire 19 additional teachers next year does the override guarantee that these teachers and jobs will be covered for years to come. My guess is no and as soon as step increases, benefit increases, and a new teachers contract kick in a decision will have to be made on whether to lay off these additional positions or seek yet another override. Until we get spending under control more overrides are not the answer.

[Unregistered]

A performance audit is a perfectly legitimate request. Taxpayers need to know if the school budget is being spent efficiently and effectively.

Any time there is debate, someone brings up the D word - Divisive. We live in a democracy. We all have a right to challenge the information and to disagree.

Disagreement and differences aired at public forums should make decision makers re-evaluate their position. It seems to have the opposite effect. They become more entrenched further disenfranchising voters.

The $176 tax increase that will take effect in July coupled with a projected $432 average tax increase if the override passes will be a hefty increase.

The mentality that those who can't afford an override are mean spirited and divisive is all too prevalent. Bashing "old people" or blaming them for override failures is a black mark on our community. After all, override supporters will grow old one day too. Would they want their children to bash them?

[Unregistered]

I would like to use this post to address a few points that seem to continually come up through this thread by multiple posters

1) The Walpole Schools do not recieve the money for parking fees by the students at the high school. It is collected at the High School Main Office as this is the most logical place to do so. The money is then handed over to Public Works to pay for plowing etc. during the year. This money is not used by the Schools at all.

2) A post states that large classes are neccessary to prepare students for "300 person lectures in college". Not all colleges have classes that size, and I think that it is fair to say that 14-18 year olds in high school are not ready for college style classes anyway, nevermind middle and grade school students. Also, while some college lectures are that size, not science labs or research seminars are. The classes in Walpole are designed to be more than lectures, so the size is relevant.

3) A poster asks that we not lable older residents and those opposed to the override are mean and cheap. And I agree, that is an unfair generalization. At the same time, the teachers have been called lazy, greedy and self-centered repeatedly. That needs to end as well. Teachers do a job that most of us choose not to do, in fairness if you home schooled your children you did make that choice and I commend you for making that decision. But teachers have as much right to get paid a comparitive wage as any other working group. This is not the case in Walpole. Check and see for yourself.

4) A majority of teachers in Walpole do not live in the town for a few reasons. One: Many would probably not be able to afford to buy a home in Walpole. Two: A relative who is a teacher pointed out that it can be tough to seperate homelife and work. Your child's babysitter is a current or former student, the grocery store clerks are current or former students, etc. Some teachers like this, some do not. Same as any of us. How would like to continuously bump into "work life" people at home. Three: People like to live where they grew up, some teachers still live in the towns there were raised in, a tradition that Walpole holds onto very well. The fact the teachers choose not to live in Walpole should not be a critism.

5) The needs of Walpole have changed since adults in the town were part of the schools. These needs are more expensive and need to be met. I'd be willig to bet you choose a car with far more technological advances than your first car. Education has them as well.

Finally, two points that I have not seen in this thread.

One that I have noticed in Walpole. The majority of housing built in Walpole the past 15 years seems to be 3-4 (if not more) bedroom colonials with big yards perfect for kids, and the people who bought them brought or had children in them. A house with 2 kids does not pay the taxes needed to educate those children (Nor should if have too see final paragraph). The town officials and the electorat that did not vote to replace them has created this situation. Not the Teachers Union, not the School Committee, but the Town Planners have caused a need for increasing the amount that a homeowners needs to put into the town.

Another that is true everywhere. Education is a social contract. As a society we have an obligation to support and pay for the public education of our children. If a parent chooses private school, they should not be relieved of that obligation. If a person chooses not to have children, they should not be relieved of that contract. A person whose children have graduated should not be relieved on that contract. When you were in school, other people paid for the majority of your education. When your kids were in school other people paid the majority of their education.

[Unregistered]

Who is stopping an audit?

[Unregistered]

To all of those who don't support an override, bear this in mind: Whether you choose to acknowledge it or not, the schools are already in a state of decline, witness burgeoning class sizes, MCAS scores that are beginning to slide and the fact that experienced teachers and administrators are moving on. That’s not happening in neighboring towns, where citizens are willing to open their purse strings and adequately fund their schools. Allow this downward trend to continue, and all of us will suffer. Walpole will gain a reputation for not caring about the schools, and will potentially lose accreditation at the high school level. This means YOUR property values WILL decline. That is a definite. The real estate market is tough enough. Imagine trying to sell your house in a slumped market in a town with a bad reputation for its schools.

All of us win when our schools are strong. I understand that seniors feel the pinch. I urge them to go to town hall and apply for tax relief. It is there. When today's seniors had young children, they voted to build schools and hired additional teachers...even if it hurt the senior citizens at that time. The current generation of students is being offered WAY LESS than the children of yesterday. Did any of you have to pay bus fees? Did you or your children have art class? Music class? Musical instrument instruction? These things will all be on the chopping block if the current trend continues. Currently there is no money to send our teachers to seminars to enhance their skills in teaching science, etc. Massachusetts is a recognized leader in science and technology. What a shame that our own kids in Walpole are denied extras – even the basics -- in that area because there is no money in the budget to keep current.

For those of you currently in your 40s, 50s and 60s, here's some food for thought: Your doctors of tomorrow, the people who will be caring for you in your golden years, are currently in school. Do you want them to receive a great K-12 education that will allow them to go on to prestigious colleges and universities, or do you want them to have just enough to eek by? Think about it. THEIR future is in YOUR HANDS, but YOUR future is in THEIR hands too.

[Unregistered]

The people who are against yet another override simply want facts.

1. Why does a school department that has been operating at a level budget need $3.5 million when the deficit for next year is $170K or $670K?
- Note that the schools also went into this year with a deficit and ended up with a $600k surplus (of which all but $100k has been spent)? Where was that money used?

2. What is the actual deficit for next year? Why is there a $500k gap between estimates of the town administrator and th school committee?
- This should not be a difficult question to answer and goes a long way towards establishing credibility on how the budget was derived. If they can't explain this how can they explain the need for an override?

3. The last override was intended to bring the teacher's pay inline with surrounding towns. Where are we now on that scale?
- Since we are hearing some of the same things this time that we did then about teacher's and the pay scale then the last override must not have served its purpose. What says this one will?

Enough with the bleeding heart rhetoric about our poor children not becoming doctors and not being given opportunities to succeed, blah, blah, blah. Last I checked kid's are still graduating at a very high rate, a pretty good percentage are still going on to college, and Walpole's MCAS scores are still way up the scale (aren't we top 30 out of 327 schools??).

Those against the override simply need more concrete facts to justify a 12.5% tax increase for a deficit that is less that 1/2 of 1% of the overall budget.

As far as other town's opening their purse strings you may want to check your facts. Canton just rejected a similar override request and the trend over the last few years have been more overrides rejected than passed (www.boston.com search override).

[Unregistered]

With regard to the post that the schools do not get the money from the parking fees, that it is turned over to the town for plowing, etc., I may be wrong but isn't the maintenance and upkeep of the schools in the municipal budget, not the school budget? What part of the municipal budget can be directly related to the school facilities? I would like to see those figures.

[Unregistered]

An interesting site to gather facts to decide for yourself whether an override is required or not...

http://profiles.doe.mass.edu/home.asp?orgcode=03070000

Lots of information to review but very informational. One stat that jumped out at me (finances link):

The walpole school district added a net of 56 students from 1999 to 2005 (3,733 to 3,789) and 35.7 FTE teachers (237.2 to 272.9). That is one FTE added for each 1.6 student added to the population.

How is it that class sizes are 'exploding' if we have added teachers at an almost 1 to 1 ratio with additional students?

How could we have lost 30 positions if we have added a net of 35 teachers?

[dvorak]

Thanks for posting that link (http://profiles.doe.mass.edu/home.asp?orgcode=03070000), very interesting information. Of course, when you pick and choose you should be a bit more careful about getting the facts straight. (You're mixing data, the FTE teacher delta was for 1999-2006, whereas the student enrollment was for 1999-2005.)

Perhaps more interesting are the salary differences between our district and the state average (see attached image for detail).

[Unregistered]

My bad. I missed the dates. It appears that the enrollment through 2006 is 3,915 students meaning a net gain since 1999 of 182 students across the district. That means we have added a new teacher for every 5 new students since 1999.

Still doesn't explain 'burgeoning' class sizes. Granted there may be examples of individual classes or grades with a higher than ideal number of students but the argument for the override seems to be that class sizes across the board are too high and growing. The data does not support that.

I was not able to get to your link but it appears that the average salary is about $4,000 per year below the state average. This average can be misleading. What is the breakdown of young vs. experienced teachers in Walpole. That can certainly drop an average. Also, you can bring the average up by not bringing in one new teacher for every 5 students added to the district. If you allot a certain amount to salaries and have fewer FTEs dipping into that salary pool the average goes up.

[Sparky]

"Still doesn't explain 'burgeoning' class sizes. Granted there may be examples of individual classes or grades with a higher than ideal number of students but the argument for the override seems to be that class sizes across the board are too high and growing. The data does not support that."

Two words: SPED.

Some SPED students require a 1:1 ratio...

[Unregistered]

To "Pay now or Pay later" send your kid to private schools. If you can't then please accept what is free, and stop asking the town to strong arm money from my pocket. It is nothing more than legal theft.

[dvorak]

Oh to the contrary, the numbers you posted practically define "burgeoning".
Over 6 years, 1999 to 2005, there was an increase of 56 students, a ¼% increase per year, whereas in just one year, 2005 to 2006 there was an increase of 126 students, a 3.3% increase. That's a huge jump, an increase of 13 times the growth rate. Class size increases shown on the site, from 12th to K, suggest more to come, though not at that rate.
Now that we have "burgeoning" defined..., let's talk about misleading...

[Unregistered]

126 students across 7 schools = average 18 additional students per school

126 students across 13 grades = average 9.7 students per grade.

Either way it does not demonstrate a need for a $3.5 million override and an additional 19 teachers this year when the scholls budget deficit is less than $200K.

Out of curiosity any idea how we added 56 students over 6 years and 126 in a single year. Is it possible this was just an odd year (maybe the full effects of Gatehouse have now been realized)?

[Unregistered]

What can the Walpole citizens do to help fix this growing funding problem? An override is the only sensible solution at this point.

We must fight for what is ours! Write your legislature, again, if you already have in the past, call them, rally at the state house and talk it up with your community to get the word out that this is unacceptable. It seems to me that we hear of the same people who are out there fighting for state aid and many others in Walpole are quick to place blame on groups in the town that they are accusing of miss-managing funds. I agree that increased property taxes are not the most desirable to fix a problem that the government should be fixing. But do we have a choice at this point? No. We, along with most of the other towns in the state, are being burdened and you can't blame a school department or town government solely. A major part of the state budget that needs re-working is the formula that indicates how Chapter 70 funding (school funding) is allocated. If we don’t receive our fair share, more cuts will happen, in addition to the deplorable ones that are slated to take place now. We lost numerous positions last year. The next step is classroom teachers! How can anyone sit back and with a good conscience say that is acceptable? So the children should suffer more because we are stuck with a Proposition 2 ½ law that doesn’t allow them to receive what they are owed? I continue to hear “we grew up fine with the education that we received”. So we shouldn’t be moving with the times? Is that to say that we shouldn’t have electricity because candles worked fine in the past? Or heat our homes with oil/propane because wood fires worked fine? Or no busing in order to save money because they should walk to school/carpool like people did in the past? With no sidewalks, a much busier lifestyle of people rushing to get here and there, and working parents, how is this a better option? How can we say that our kids don’t need technological advances or foreign language options? The world is changing and these children will be in the work force in years to come. They need to be properly educated to succeed in the workplace. Do people know that the mandarin language is up and coming and the high school currently has a teacher that is fluent in mandarin and willing to teach it? This is not hiring a separate teacher. We have to understand that in the past, children were taught French or Spanish when the United States was focused on Europe. China is no longer a thing of the past...Chinese is the language of international commerce.

I think people forget that your increase in taxes will be tax deductible, as opposed to the bus fee? The best tax is a local tax. Your tax increase could be less than the $500 in bus fees. The bus fees would be eliminated when the override passes. Many have said that the parents of public school-aged children should dig deeper to pay for the shortfalls. The parents of the schools do pay extra, in all the additional fundraising. Public education should give students a quality education that they deserve. If it is state mandated what our children should have, then how can we not provide that? Walpole can't just say "no, we decided not to pay for that mandated program but we'll pay for this one, etc." We are obligated by the state.

As much as an override is not an easy thing to swallow, do we want to wait until we are completely broken or repair it now? You wouldn’t hold off on fixing your oil burner in your home in hopes that it would just self-fix itself. If the burner goes, the cost to repair it is much higher at that point. The same goes with education.

[Unregistered]

I am concerned that the "elimination of fees" is not the end of the fees. Instead of those who use the busses and play the sports paying the fees, the thought is to spread these costs over to all taxpayers. Well, where will there be a GUARANTEE that when the funds run low again....another board would not impose FEES again, as a stop gap measure, before asking for yet another override?? If your kid needs to ride the bus, you pay. If your kid plays a sport, you pay. We have become accustomed to these fees. A ride to school and to play a sport are not part of the "cost" of education. It's called a user fee for a reason.

Along the same lines, trash pick up should not be considered a "right", when in fact, so many of our surrounding towns have had USER fees in place for years. And they work. Just think, everyone has trash, but not everyone has a child in school. There is something that could be fairly distributed among all tax payers (of course, giving the Senior Citizens some kind of abatement, afterall, they deserve them)

Take a look at health care costs and the types of plans this town offers. And what premiums could be lowered, especially if they could eliminate that $5.00 co-pay that all municipal employees ENJOY. Watch that premium fall if the copay were to increase.

[Unregistered]

The only fees I have heard will be eliminated are bus fees, and there is a discussion as to parking fees at the High School. I agree with many that have said parking fees should not go. Driving is a priviledge and if you can afford to have a car then you should be able to afford to pay a fee to drive it to your school. Where did it say that sports fees are on the list to be eliminated?

[Unregistered]

It is time for the townfolk to look at the town critically. Walpole is a wonderful town with committed, active parents. All the neighboring towns have higher property taxes, and consequently nicer facilities. Those that oppose the override depend on the "Walpole public schools were good enough for me and my kids, why do we need to spend more on them now?" argument. Because the state mandates we all have to spend more on special-ed kids. Because the Walpole selectmen have slept at the switch and not planned long-term, instead became more involved in self-dealing with their buddies. Because spiraling health care costs have gone out of control. This override will allow the school system to bail itself out of a hole decades in the making, and will keep Walpole as an attractive site for business and residential relocation. The same seniors who will be asking for an override for an exclusive new senior center suddenly don't want to discuss an override for the school children. Why did the town designate public property for the private endeavor of the new senior center anyways?

[Unregistered]

Talk about tired old arguments:

"Because the Walpole selectmen have slept at the switch and not planned long-term, instead became more involved in self-dealing with their buddies."

This is the lamest. Give concrete examples of what you are talking about if you want your argument to be taken seriously.

[Unregistered]

I have thought about sending my kids to private schools, to ensure they will get the same benefits that public school children received here in town _ on the town dime _ a mere six years ago. Why should my children receive fewer services than their counterparts of six years ago, simply because they were born later?

Classes are bigger, I'm paying bus fees. My kids won't have access to the same arts programs. Tell me, how is this fair in your mind?

[Unregistered]

Does anybody recall the proposed Walpole Mall expansion that never happened? Had it passed, we might not even be discussing an override.

Now a mall expansion is being considered again. People of Walpole, I implore you to accept the FREE MONEY that this will bring our way.

A mall expansion is a no-brainer. It will increase tax base without adding children to our already-stretched schools. In fact, if homes are acquired to make room for a bigger mall, it will subtract kids from our over-stretched schools.

There are drawbacks to a bigger mall, more auto traffic, to name one. But I feel the positives will DEFINITELY outweigh the negatives.

[Unregistered]

I wish more townspeople were pro-active rather than reactive.
It would be great if taxpayers would give the School Committee enough cash to improve the situation NOW....BEFORE MCAS scores and property values plummet.

Why do so many townspeople need to see the blood before they'll call for help?


The School Committee, despite the constant criticism they receive, has done an incredible job at keeping our heads above water. I'm afraid, however, that this just sets the stage for the fiscal over-conservatives among us to believe that our schools can get by on even less.

I guess we live in a town where things have to be REALLY BAD before anything positive gets done, but I wish we could change that.

I support the override. The schools need the money. Our kids deserve a good education.

[Unregistered]

The main thing that prohibits me from sending my kids to private school is this: I believe in the public education system. And honestly, even if I did send my kids to a private school, I WOULD STILL SUPPORT AN OVERRIDE to keep our schools and, thusly, my property values, high.

I do accept, as you said, what's free. I just believe it is fair to expect the same caliber of "free education" that was offered a few years ago.

[Unregistered]

The reason people are questioning, and rightly so, another override request is that some people refuse to accept that 'just give them the cash' is the right answer. How'd that work out in 2001?

If we are in such a budget crunch how did we end up with an immense surplus last year (600k?) even after adding 126 students to the district in a single year?

The anticipated deficit for level services dropped from 900K (600K for schools) to 355K ($250K) to 255K ($170K) over to now a surplus of $250K (+$167K) in two months.

$500k difference between Boyton and school committees estimates for level services. Can't/Won't explain it so we will just throw it in the override.

If this is going to solve our issues why are the putting $1.3 million into the override so that can hold off for three years before another override request?

With budgeting like this how can we trust any of the 'fear factor' numbers being thrown around (18 jobs cut if no override...on a deficit of $170K??).

Now there is evididence that Patrick may restore a lot of local aid that should eliminate that deficit. Hard to justify a 12.5% tax increase when there doesn't appear to be much of a deficit.

The questions point to do we have a revenue problem, a budgeting problem, or a spending problem?

[Unregistered]

Moved back here in 1998. Two kids. Tax bill has increased every year. Had the override in 2001 and I have paid an additional $500 per year for each of my two to ride the bus. We all have to live within our means, including the schools. I would like to see how many kids have left the schools and how much is spent per student vs. the year when we had the biggest population of students. Enough is enough. There is a housing slump, stock market slump and foreclosures are at a record rate.

[Unregistered]

"I wish more townspeople were pro-active rather than reactive.
It would be great if taxpayers would give the School Committee enough cash to improve the situation NOW....BEFORE MCAS scores and property values plummet."

This type of comment regarding property values only implies that you are just passing through Walpole....When are you leaving? I hope it is as soon as possible!

property values will never collapse in Walpole...it is too nice a town...override or not. Stop using that fear tactic. It doesn't work with me...

[Unregistered]

It is too nice a town? Is that your quote? I think the right question is when have you stepped out of Walpole? When are you leaving? It is one thing to respect the town's great history, but quite another to accept the fact that the townfolk who enjoyed the pristine small-town amenities have no desire to acknowledge that Walpole is now in competition with every other Metro-West and South of Boston town for the goods and services of the local economy. Walpole already attracts new potential residents because of the property tax arb compared to neighboring towns because of the "Oh, Yeah, that's the prison" crowd. Now. local denizens want to increase the arb because of the " Hey. it was good enough for me, it's good enough for you Yuppies and your brat kids" defense. Meanwhile, parents of young kids steer their kids through grounders hopping over goose dung, hoops on warped, water-damaged basketball courts, and listen to others wax nostalgiac about the Prom dances in Blackburn Hall. I am willing to pay for capital improvements. There are 75 kids trying to play lacrosse on one field. How many kids were trying when Susan Maquire was a kid? Stop with the small town nonsense!!

[Unregistered]

There aren't going to be any cuts because there is no deficit in the combined school and municipal budget. There is now is about a $350,000 surplus. The $3.9 million dollars requested is to hire 27 more people for the schools and 8 more people for the municipal. The special election will cost about $20,000.

[Unregistered]

In reading the current budget proposed by Governor Deval Patrick, he has added $1 million to Walpole's Chapter 70. Does that mean the override could change?

http://www.mass.gov/Ador/docs/dls/cherry/08/csr08307.doc

[Unregistered]

Does anybody know why the Walpole Times did not publish a story about Tuesday nights meeting in which Mr Boynton projected a 250k surplus?
I read about this on WalpoleNews and was anticipating reading it in the Times but it wasn't there....very disappointing.
On WalpoleNews, it was said that this surplus would not affect the override amount. Why not? I think it would show a lot to override doubters that at least there is some give and take. I was also disappointed when the final override number was set at 3.9 million from 4 million...gee thanks. At least the surplus may offset the 12k that it will cost the town to have the special election.
The impression of non-supporters is if you don't support the override, then you don't support the children. What about keeping a roof over their heads and food on the table and clothes on their back? Believe it or not, this is a struggle for more and more families, not to mention the seniors. This is Walpole folks, not Newton.

[Unregistered]

The "budget surplus" has now reached somewhere between $600,000 and $700,000 and climbing.
A special election at this point is nothing but a money grab by the town based on incorrect information feed to the people.
Good question as to why the Walpole Times won't cover the surplus.

[Unregistered]

Children do not learn well in large classes. The more students a teacher is charged with reaching, the less he or she can offer each child. You are fooling yourselves if you think a failed override will not bring about more staffing cuts.

Support the override if for no other reason than to give each child in Walpole a fighting chance to compete in this world. The children deserve it.

[Unregistered]

To the person who accused me of "just passing thru" Walpole and asked "when am I leaving?" This is my reply:

I am not a townie. I am a yuppie transplant. And you should be glad people like me exist. Because we care about your town, even when you don't.

I've lived here since '92 and have taken an interest in viewing the local politics. At first, it was with amusement. As a newlywed with no children, reading the debates being played out in the Times (schools, sludge dump etc.) was like watching watching a good tennis match. Even before I had kids, I supported an override because I believe it's smart to keep your schools in top form. Now that I have kids, I have a more serious stake in these debates.

Like it or not, we are all just passing thru: You may plan on living in your home in Walpole until they carry you out on a stretcher, but what then? I assume you plan on willing your home to your children/heirs. Don't you want your house to be worth the most it can be? You are fooling yourself if you think you can stand by and watch the schools fall apart and still have something decent to pass on to your heirs.

I may or may not spend the remainder of my life in Walpole, but at least I'll be able to say, at the end, that I tried to leave it nicer than I found it. That's why I support the override...because I believe in improving things that need improving!

[Unregistered]

I admit...I could have had a better choice of words...and I apologize.

By the way: I haven't made up my mind about the override. I just don't like people to use falling housing values as a scare tactic. It doesn't work with me.

Home values are falling all over the country. Lenders are primarily at fault.

Criteria for qualifying for a full mortgage were almost less than that needed for buying a used car!

it is not the fault of the school system....not by a long shot.

Do me a favor: Stay in Walpole. Again I apologize...

[Unregistered]

From Just passing thru:

Thank you for your response. I think what both sides of this oft-heated debate have in common is that we all realize what a special place Walpole is. I hope it remains special.

[Unregistered]

From the previous exchange, I have realized something:

You have now entered a new category....congratulations: you are now......


A Townie....Go out and celebrate :)

[Unregistered]

"Asked Monday night to explain the difference between the town administrator's numbers and the schools' estimate of a $285,000 shortfall, Azar said Boynton's approach is based on revenue estimates while the schools calculate the actual cost of providing services next year. "

This does not seem to make sense. In regards to Boyton's numbers the budget and revenue numbers would be completely different. The town budget for next year is approx. $62 million (i.e. this year's budget plus any additional costs like insurance increases, new hires, etc = next year's budget). Once you have a budget you determine if your anticipated revenues (taxes, state aid, etc.) will meet that budget. Thus based on anticipated revenues we have either a deficit or a surplus.

When it was determined that the healthcare rate hikes were going to be less than anticpated the deficit dropped. This was noyt an increase in revenue but instead a decrease in the budget.

If the approach were based strictly on revenue estimates you would never have a surplus or a deficit because your budget would be based strictly on the revenue you plan to bring in (i.e. I estimate revenue of $50 million, therefire my budget for next year is $50 million).

Bottom line is Boyton and the schools should 'in theory' be determining the budget the same way (what is the cost to provide level services next year), therefore, there should not be a gap of almost $500k between them.

As it comes to light that we are not quite in the 'fiscal crisis' that the school committee has been trumpeting it appears they are trying to play shell games to justify an overly aggressive override request.

[Unregistered]

Since Mr. Ryan has apparently linked the MCAS scores to class sizes at the high school....

"Trends in MCAS scores are one indication that just standing pat isn't enough, committee Chairman Michael Ryan said, noting that this year, there are 77 classes at Walpole High with more than 25 students, more than double the number of four years ago."

....does anyone know how many of the 77 classes that are more than 25 students are in the core MCAS subjects of Math, English, and Science?

By the way...while the percentage of 10th graders proficient or advanced in English has dropped from 85% to 82% from 2003 to 2006, the number of 10th graders proficient or advanced in Math has risen from 72% to 76%.

http://profiles.doe.mass.edu/home.asp?orgcode=03070000

[Unregistered]

I am so angry at the shortsightedness of the school committe and selectman with regards to the override. I have agonized over this override as to whether I can afford to vote for it. Believe or not, 50.00 a month is huge in my household.
I always felt that the school committee and selectman should wait until the numbers were in before setting the override amount. Well guess what? Now that "walpole no longer has a shortfall" the override is sure to fail. Whether right or wrong, people will have the impression that an override is once again chicken little at the helm. I blame the school committee and selectman for this, if they had waited for the numbers maybe they could have set an amount that would at the very least appear that they were not overreaching. I realize the whole layoff issue and all, but would it not have been better to risk this and have an override pass, than now have the certainty of failure?
Their credibility is at stake here and now I can understand the people that say "they always cry poor mouth and nothing ever happens". Unbelievable.

[unregistered]

I am confused by all of this, and in the face of confusion, I am going to vote NO.

If two town organizations staffed by adult professionals can't come to an agreement on finances, how can you expect the average taxpayer to be able to make a decision?

I vote NO for this year. I am sorry, but you lost me



The Raven

[Unregistered]

What's unbelievable to me is that tone leaders would jeopardize their teaching staff's jobs by not working just a little bit harder to find $285,000 in the school budget. This is a very small amount compared to the size of the budget and they may have to cut back on an expense or two.

Instead, we will read about the annual spring ritual of the pink slips to teachers and sometimes come the fall, the teachers aren't even cut. Government by self induced crisis is getting old.

Is this any way to run a business?

[Observations]

I have gotten to the point that I am about 85% sure that I will be voting yes. My reasons being that just about everytime that I have read something about this issue, those who back the override seem to have made points for their arguement. Meanwhile, the majority of people who have been posting against the override seem to be inflammatory, or miss informed.

The most significant points that I have read for the override so far
1) Class sizes throughout the district have gotten above the 25 student recommendation. This had gone from a few classes to more than 25% at the high school. I did not come accross actual numbers for middle and lower schools, but I am sure that the upward trend is the case there as well. Seems logical that it is in the best intrest of the town to not let this get even further out of control and students lose out.

2) Program cuts that have been limited to "non-classroom" positions will start effecting "classroom" positions soon. It is bad enought that the librairies are only staffed because of Parent volunteers, losing teachers is only going to further speed up the increasing size of classes.

3) The building boom in Walpole is the big reason. You bet it is. The town issued permits to builders who have made fortunes carving open fields and woods into McMansion communities. These housed brought in people from out of town who had kids who went to the schools. Since there was little to no business expansion at that time the residential base must now accept the higher cost, you didn't make the selectmen stop th builiding, but now you want the School Committee to deal with the influx of students without additional money.

Some of the more inflammatory points that I have read from those opposed to the override.
1) The School Dept. is making empty threats. If they were into scare tactics they would lay teachers off and then rehire them. (By not doing this they are saving the town thousands in employment costs by the way)

2) Teachers are just trying to line their pockets. During the last contract negotiation I thought that the teachers were really crying wolf about pay and going to "Work-to-Rule" was unreasonable and had the same opinion about the teachers that I read in the paper and on this board from those oppesed to the Override. Then I looked at the numbers. Walpole teachers in the lowest 10% in each of the school districts that the School Committee used for comparrison. That shouldn't matter though since their contract is not a part of this override anyway.

3) There are fewer kids now than my class in the 1970s/1980s. I have a couple of questions for those people. What was the technology budget the year you graduated? How many AP classes were offered?

4) We don't need to offer Chinese or forgien languages. A quarter of the worlds population speaks Mandarin Chinese. Do you really not think that getting a basis in this a good idea?

5) The Tax Rate. Google Mass Property Tax Rates. I am not saying that Walpole in the lowest, it below Norwood and Dedham which suprised me given some of the "facts" that I have read here.

[Unregistered]

I have lived in Walpole since 1999 and moved here because the commute to Boston is reasonable and the school system was rated better than average in comparison to other towns. I liked the idea of having a back yard and the easy living that comes with having your own driveway and space as opposed to the cramped living quarters in the City of Boston. I also liked the fact that Walpole was known as a good sports town.

I'm a concerned Parent of a child who is now part of the Walpole School system.

I'm a highly educated individual(Master's Level) and I'm so confused on what to do about this override vote.

Part of me feels an obligation to vote for the override in the "hopes" that this YES vote will in fact, be used to reduce class sizes for my child.

I also believe strongly that maintaining good schools is a necessity for elderly and young families alike in this town. Property values are definitely negatively impacted with weaker schools. Your house is a big part of your retirement and all of us would like to protect this investment, including the elderly.

Maybe, there can be a special calculated exemption for those with fixed incomes and over the age of 65 to reduce the burden that an increase in taxes could present.

I understand that surrounding towns are all dealing with similar questions on overrides because of less funding from the state.

I would like to maintain Walpole's standing as a good place to raise a family and retire some day.

However, how in the world can some one make a financial decision to spend more $$$, when the town and school committee have not agreed to an independent audit of all budgetary line items?

Excuse my ignorance if they have agreed.....If they have agreed, then let's wait and see what the audit finds before voting on the override issue.

I would postpone the vote until a Full Audit of Town and School budgets was completed.

If no postponement is possible, I will be voting NO on the March 31 override.


NOT WILLING TO BE TAKEN FOR AN OVER-RIDE! PROVE IT TO ME!

[Unregistered]

To #81:

Fact: The schools are seeking what amounts to a 12.5% tax increase on a deficit of less than 1% ($285,000 on a $31 million dollar budget).
Opinion: Excessive

Fact: The school department has ended every year recently with a six figure surplus (although the specifics are hard to come by)
Question: How can we trust their yearly projections of a deficit?

Fact: They are adding $1.3 million to this override to avoid another override request for three years.
Question: Does this show that they are making any attempt to resolve the issue long term?

Fact: At the time the override request was made the anticipated deficit was at least $500k more than it is today (walpolenews.org).
Opinion: The override request is now excessive. Since there is no option for a smaller amount the only option if you see it excessive is to vote no.

Fact: MCAS scores are based on English, Science, and Math.
Question: While a well rounded education is important shouldn't the focus be on these core classes?

Fact: At the high school there are more teachers in the Foreign Languages department than there are the Math Department and as many as in the Science department (
http://hs.walpole.ma.us/info/staff.html). The numbers are 11 for foreign language, 10 for math, 10 for science.

Fact: There are six levels of Spanish, four levels of French, four levels of Latin, and two levels of German being taught in the school district.

Fact: There is a 3 year requirement for Math for graduation and a one year requirement for foreign languages.

Now you look at the last 4 FACTS and ask yourself whether we need to spend more money or spend the money we have more wisely.

[Unregistered]

Do a little research for yourselves on this subject, as I did. You will find that chinese is NOT the language of international business. English IS.

I am not against persons learning new languages, but to fund a special class that teaches Mandarin Chinese seems out of line, considering the budget concerns we have.

To use the excuse that it would be an advantage to learn it due to the overwhelming population in China that speaks it, seems to ignore the fact that English is and will continue to be, the language of choice for international business.

What level would Walpole students learn? How to say hello? Or how to conduct complicated business matters? I think certainly it would be the former.


The Raven

[Unregistered]

Can we give the Mandarin Chinese argument a rest please!

The principal has explained that one class of Mandarin Chinese has been offered to be taught by a current teacher who is fluent.

This sounds like a 2 for 1 special to me.

[Unregistered]

I too have mixed feelings about the override.

I think that is important to keep the elementary school class sizes within the guidelines. I think that larger class sizes at the High School level are not unreasonable. Many of these students will be going to colleges where some class sizes will be 100+; larger class sizes (30 - 35, not 100) in High School may help to better prepare them. I also think that class size guidelines should be different for core English & Math classes versus electives (where larger class sizes are more reasonable).

I think we need to define our priorities. I think that the High School curriculum needs to be reviewed. Are all the current offerings reasonable and appropriate when faced with a budget shortfall. For example, should the High School offer 13 Art classes (3 AP level); or would those resources be better deployed reducing class sizes at the Elementary school level. Is offering 4 (possibly 5) foreign languages the best use of resources?

To respond to the previous post re the Mandarin Chinese class
The High School currently has 77 classes that exceed 25 students; and reducing class sizes is one of the primary arguments being used to support the override. Unless 25 students elect to take Chinese instead of a social studies class, this will require the remaining classes to absord this reduction in teaching capacity. Offering 1 session of Mandarin Chinese isn't a deal breaker for me, I merely question whether we would be better served to use this teaching capacity to reduce class sizes. A similar agrgument should be used to justify other non-core class offerings.

[Unregistered]

Does anyone else feel that that the School Committee is just asking for too much? I am torn, I feel that some of the line items in the $3.9M are justified, but some are not necessary. This amount will be a considerable burden for many taxpayers.

I think bus and activity fees make sense. It is appropriate that these costs be borne by the users, not the general population. I agree with the previous post that larger class sizes at the High School level are acceptable.

To the best of my knowledge, the school administration has provided little justification that the existing budget monies are being spent wisely (I'm not saying that they aren't). I think the taxpayers deserve to see some comparative data such as class sizes by school, grade & subject. We have been told that 77 classes at the High School have more than 25 students - how many have less than 20 (or 15)? I would also like have a better understanding of how the aides are being used in the school system & the impact they have on the student-teacher ratios (I suspect aides are included in the teacher counts on the school report cards, since the student-teacher ratios and reported classroom sizes are inconsistent). I suspect that this is the type of info residents are looking for in the call for an "audit". I imagine this data could be prepared by school administration resources.

It's too bad the override request isn't a la carte...

[Unregistered]

To poster #82, The school department undergoes two audits per year, both performed by an independent accounting firm. They have never found anything amiss. This fact has been published and repeated many times at public meetings. The school department and the town have never disagreed on any issues involving audits (as you mention in your post.)

One selectman repeatedly calls for a performance audit, but no one else ever joins in those calls. Here's my own perfomance audit -- Walpole spends well below the state average on education per student, but perfoms above the state average on the MCAS. We do more with less.

Please look at the figures yourself. Educate yourself. Go to a school committee meeting. The need for more money screams out. Walpole has good schools. Let's maintain them

[Unregistered]

As a wise someone once said, "Be careful what you wish for."
I am quite certain that an audit might prove to everyone that there is not one dime being wasted and that, in fact, the town comes up short on a few items mandated by the state. The "big audit" you ask for could very well turn out to be a Pandora's box and may actually cause the state to force us to address and FUND things we've been getting away without doing fully up unitl to this point. There is NO WASTE in the schools.

Your master's degree-level education and instincts should be telling you that money spent on education is money well-spent. Go to the polls and cast a vote for your child's future! If the high school loses its accrditation and AP classes are cut (as they were in Westwood when that town's override failed) the colleges your child may one day apply to won't care that AP classes weren't available to your kid. They'll give your kid's spot to a kid from some town who DID have the AP class.

[Unregistered]

Please don't vote no. I implore you to not let your frustration with the administrators force you to cast a vote against our kids. All B.S. aside, Teachers are being laid off and class sizes are growing. MCAS scores are slipping.

My fourth-grader couldn't take a musical instrument this year (I've already been giving her private lessons since she was 5 at great personal expense. This was the year she was going to add a second instrument). She can't be in the band next year if the override fails.

Don't let the little ones get the shaft because the grownups aren't providing you with clarity.

Sincerely,
Formerly "just passing thru" and now a proud "townie"

[Unregistered]

So the only way we can consider the schools successful is to spend the same as everyone else per student? You said it yourself we are spending less per student and are well above the state average on MCAS.

THAT should be the goal of all school districts.

If we can spend the money we have more wisely (more teachers at the grade school level, less in electives at the high school) we can maintain that success by enhancing learning at a younger age when the one-on-one attention is more critical.

You cannot convince me that a student will be irreparably harmed if their advanced placement arts class has more than 25 students.

You cannot convince me that six levels of Spanish need to be taught in the schools when there is only a graduation requirement of one year of a foreign language. I am not saying you limit to only one but maybe two levels of each language at a public school is sufficient. If a student wants more than that there are private options that they can explore.

[Unregistered]

This is not meant to be a put down to citizens who are going to vote YES for the override, but it's ashame they do not start a donation drive like they did for the high school field. They are obviously passionate about the Walpole School system and have the money to support it. We then could eliminate wasting money on a special election. Single citizens and senior citizens could afford to pay that Nstar bill and water bill that rises every time one comes in the mail and not have to worry about the real estate tx rising more than it already has.

[Unregistered]

I have a suggestion: Lets all log-on to the "hamburger helper" website.

Leave comments about how poor walpole is (don't mention the SUV's everywhere, the cell phones, cable tv, proximity to Boston, McMansion houses).

Maybe the Hamburger Helper Company will respond with some cash!

[Unregistered]

I don't have any extra money BUT I am voting YES.

Comments like .....starting a fund raising campaign is not the answer. The funds that are being raised for the track/fields will benefit EVERYONE in the town but is being primarily raised by families with children. It seems that more and more fund raisers are being sent home with the children to help raise money to fund enrichment programs and other needs of the schools. I have lost count of how many I have received this school-year but I give when I can.

Raising money privately takes a lot of time which Walpole does not have. Everyone goes to school (at some point in their life) and others have helped the system operate. Why punish our children of Walpole. There are many struggling families living in Walpole that do not benefit from tax breaks and unfortunately cannot afford to send their children to private schools. One reason that I chose this town 12 years ago was for the schools. I did not have children then but knew I wanted to live in a town with good schools.

The schools cannot lose anymore teachers......We are in a crisis!

Please help the children and grandchildren of Walpole. Vote YES.

Sincerely,
Mother of two school-aged children

[Unregistered]

Did poster #92 really imply that the wealthier citizens among us should raise funds to improve the public school system? Doesn't that go against the whole purpose of a PUBLIC education?? The wealthier families are already contributing more with a higher percentage of taxes. Yet their child is getting the same school experience as the next kid from more modest means.

I believe in making the public schools a great place, not just an adequate place. (Where we are now without the override passing, however, is LESS than adequate.) That way EVERY kid -- no matter what economic situation they hail from -- gets a fair shot at success. When you cut instrumental music at the fourth- and fifth-grade levels, you take away the ONLY chance a lot of kids from poorer families will ever get to play an instrument. The kid from a family of more means will still get cultural enrichment from outside of the school environment.

[Unregistered]

We obviously have different definitions of crisis. When I look at the MCAS scores and see that Walpole scores better than the state average (across all grades) as follows:

Advanced/Above Proficient: 12 of 16 grades/subject mesurements
Proficient: 14 of 16
Needs Improvement: 9 of 16 (in this case a lower percent is better)
Warning/Failing: 16 of 16

http://profiles.doe.mass.edu/home.asp?mode=o&so=-&ot=5&o=1707&view=tst

When I look and see that we have a graduation rate of 91.3%....

When I look and see that 91% of last year's graduates planned to attend college....


http://profiles.doe.mass.edu/home.asp?mode=o&so=-&ot=5&o=1707&view=enr

that is FAR from a crisis. Some areas need improvement, sure I'll give you that but this is not a $3.9 million dollar (per year) crisis. I am speaking for myself but I believe that the 'no' override crowd agrees that there may be some budget issues. The argument being made is can these be solved by asking tougher questions instead of just constantly throwing money at the problem which doesn't seem to be solving anything (see override of 2001, see $1.3 million in this override to avoid another one for three years, see the fact that the anticipated town deficit has gone from almost $900k to a surplus of $250k yet the schools claim the need for a full $3.9 million dollar override are 'undiminished'??)?

[Unregistered]

"I don't have any extra money BUT I am voting YES":

comment #94: Obviously you are of the new generation, where negative savings rules.

Let me teach you something: If you don't have any extra money, you should not go out and say that you are willing to spend more.


"I have no money, but I want it anyway" is essentially what you are saying.

Signed...

Shaking My Head...(In Total Dis-belief)

[Unregistered]

To the unregistered person who doesn't think we've reached "crisis": #1 You're in denial. 31 kids in an elementary class is a crisis.

Let things continue the way they are going and those happy statistics you quote will look drastically different in a matter of one or two years. Things are already slipping. Why do you have to see it bleed before you'll fix it? If you fix it now, before it gets worse we'll be better off in the long run when it may be "too little too late!"

[Unregistered]

#97 shakes his head while he waits for the town to plow his roads, pick up his trash, educate his kids, and pay for his meds. The saving generation? You are totally dependent on government handouts known as Social Security, where you will take much more out than you ever put in. The town needs certain basic services, including police, fire, and a strong school system, to educate the youth and make the town a viable concern. This is not wishing for something unattainable, it is investing in the future, something the last generation forgot to do. How much preventive maintenence has been done around town in the last 30 years? How much money is being spent cleaning up the rivers and dumps?

[Unregistered]

"You are totally dependent on government handouts known as Social Security, where you will take much more out than you ever put in."

No.99: I come home from a very long day at work, and read this statement directed at me. (I had to laugh). Whatever made you think I am retired? I really wonder! (Due to the nature of this message board, it is understandable why this can occur.)

I will, however, defend the older folks in this town who are on fixed incomes (Social Security too), who paid into that system all of their working lives, payed taxes for most of their lives, and helped educate thousands of children through the years here in Walpole (including me). I find it a very low comment indeed to make persons on Social Security seem like a burden to you. Very low indeed!

ps: My expensive health insurance, taken monthly out of my paycheck, covers any meds I may be on (which, by the way, are NONE).

signed,

not an old codger (still shaking my head, though)

[Unregistered]

How much money will the town save if sports were eliminated?
The families pay fees for sports but how much does the town kick in?
How many teachers could be hired?

[Unregistered]

The school department should host a tour of the school facilities to help demonstrate what tax dollars can do! People would probably be amazed at how well our students considering some of the facilities they go to school in! Fisher and Johnson are a mess and have not changed since many of us attended there in the 70s! The Johnson PAC was paying for windows to be cleaned/replaced because the old ones were covered with mold and moss. Fisher is finally getting networked and internet access - thanks to the capital budget committee! Then take a look at Elm Street, Boyden or the High School, beautiful, state of the art facilities with libraries that we can't afford to staff!

I applaud the school committee for pushing for this override vote. This town needs to follow through with the investments that it makes.

[Unregistered]

You misunderstand the comments. The comments are based on your perception that if we all "tightened our belts" and lived within our means, we wouldn't need an override. This is simply not true. The town needs more money from the townfolk to provide a quality education to all the kids. We live in a nanny-state, where we are all dependent on the state and town to provide basic services. Those who object to paying more for a better school system are also using the public services. I don't begrudge or belittle anyone living on a fixed income. I just don't want to hear the same people complain when tax revenues are raised for an endeavor that they do not directly receive a benefit.

[Unregistered]

A classic defense mechanism...

First the people questioning the need for an excessive override are accused of rhetoric instead of facts (post #81). Subsequently facts are presented, some from the schools own website. These facts support the 'no' override position of maybe we should examine how we are spending our money today before we spend even more.

Oops. There are facts well then it must be denial that we have a problem.

I have never stated that we do not have a problem. I have questioned the solution.

Is it critical that the three AP arts classes being taught at the high school maintain class sizes of 25 or less?

Is it critical to teach six levels of Spanish when only 1 year is required (district mandate not state mandate) to graduate?

It is time we decide what our critical needs are (I would argue smaller class sizes at the grade school level as #1, MCAS success 2nd) and adjust our resources accordingly. I would argue that can be done by adjusting the district curriculum and not constantly dumping more money at the problem, especially when you design an override in such a way that you will be looking for another in three years. That is a clear sign that there is no effort being made to examine WHY we might be in the 'crisis' we are in and HOW we can avoid it going forward.

[dvorak]

"A classic defense mechanism..." i.e. #104 please spare us the lesson in rhetoric. If you simply can't resist, I suggest you avoid straw man arguments (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straw_man_argument#rhetorical_use), and use a login ID so your 'facts' might be separated from all the rest of the garbage tossed out here. It might be helpful if YOU actually stated the problem that you admit we have.

[Unregistered]

How sad is this? This Web forum is the highlight of my day. I get more belly laughs from the sniping and character assasinations I view here more than any joke emails that come my way.

But for me, the bottom line is this. I moved to town 15 years ago. I paid taxes, without complaint, long before I had kids. In those days the only town services I took advantage of were the library and trash pick up. I paid taxes so that the kids in my neighborhood could have musical instrument instruction in fourth grade and be in the band in the fifth grade. I paid taxes so the high school could be improved, even though I didn't have a teenager. And I paid taxes that support a senior center (I have no elderly parents in town to use this.)

Now I do have a fourth grader. I drive her and her little sister to school and pick them up so I don't have to pay $500 in bus fees (something the neighbors NEVER had to do). My 4th grader CANT'T take a muscial instrument this year because it was CUT. Next year, if the override fails, she won't be in the band because there is none. IT TOO WAS CUT. I simply want her to get the same services the kids before her got. I've been paying for 15 years and not that it's our turn, it's not there.

VOTE FOR THE OVERRIDE> IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

[Unregistered]

http://profiles.doe.mass.edu/ppx.aspx?mode=&year=2005&orderBy=TOTAL_PUPIL%20DESC

I was poster #82.

I have attended a few school committee meetings over the past year and was able to speak as many others did against the crazy idea of "shifting the kids around to different schools"

I have attached a link that shows the per pupil expenditure for similar sized districts..Go to the link to see more towns. (the cost numbers, from the left, are average per pupil for 1)regular ed 2)special ed 3)occupational 4)all daytime programs. 5) total cost and 6) number of pupils)

WALPOLE $6,535 $13,925 $0 $8,222 $31,150,890 3,789
BELMONT $7,064 $16,527 $0 $8,214 $30,541,249 3,718
WINCHESTER $7,359 $14,886 $0 $8,835 $32,668,882 3,698
HINGHAM $6,937 $12,630 $0 $7,895 $28,924,874 3,664
RANDOLPH $6,914 $9,337 $0 $8,410 $30,549,714 3,633
NORWOOD $7,780 $12,800 $0 $8,899 $32,250,749 3,624
MELROSE $5,612 $12,491 $0 $7,142 $25,820,614 3,615


MILTON $7,127 $11,616 $0 $8,378 $30,111,188 3,594
MIDDLEBOROUGH $6,770 $11,865 $0 $7,910 $28,294,684 3,577
SHARON $7,198 $19,187 $0 $8,931 $31,680,813 3,547
WESTBOROUGH $8,050 $18,908 $0 $9,638 $33,858,418 3,513
WAKEFIELD $6,889 $14,671 $0 $8,457 $29,677,716 3,509


It looks to me that Walpole is pretty much right on target with what other towns are spending per pupil...I would like to see the numbers from 2006 because these are based on 2005. Has the number of students increased or decreased? What is the spending per pupil in 2006?

If we assume that Walpole has 3,789 students and we'd like to spend $500 more per student, then 1.89 Million dollars is required as an override.

I'm sure that most parents of students wouldn't mind voting for an override if they knew where the money was being spent.

I personally would like to know how much the town is paying toward a Teacher's medical plan. Is this cost similar to what other town's are paying for benefits for teachers? If the cost is not in line and is extremely high, then the contract with the teacher's union needs to be reworked. How about a line by line comparison of teacher perks/benefits compared to other towns?

When I called for an audit, this is the kind of information that I would like to review.

The person that posted that the schools are audited twice a year. Is this benefits information available for public viewing? Or is this not even included in the audit?

I would have no problem voting in favor of an override if upon review of these line items, the numbers were reasonable ie similar to what other towns are spending in these areas.

Any information that someone could post would be great appreciated. Please note where the information was obtained ie your source.

On another matter........Does the Town do enough to attract businesses, which could generate more tax revenue, which could possibly help maintain town services??????

If you work for a private company, the company makes decisions to increase shareholder value. They look for ways to become more efficient at what they do. They are constantly looking for ways to cut costs ie save money. This contributes to long term profitability and sustained growth. This fiscal responsibility allows the company to thrive when the economy takes a downturn and consumers stop spending....This company can weather the storm.

The Town of Walpole needs to get creative with the tax revenue that the town generates from local businesses....What is being done in the town to attract businesses to locate here? Towns like Norwood are thriving with businesses.


It takes time, effort, and patience to discover the facts.....Remember..Everyone has their own agenda in this override vote...
I can feel for both sides on this issue...The elderly can barely afford the current tax situation...The younger generation (parents with small children) are living paycheck to paycheck....This is why I can't in good conscience vote in favor of an override without seeing the whole picture.

I may not feel like spending more $$$ to lower HS class sizes....or spend more $$ on the health curriculum......If I want my son to learn how to play an instrument or learn Mandarin Chinese, I'll utilize the power of the internet and have him take a class on line or home school him in that area...

Others may feel differently....But that is what makes this country so great...We all have the right to our opinion.....God bless the USA..

Thanks for your time.....

STILL UNDECIDED

[Unregistered]

I don't have any extra money BUT I am voting YES":

comment #94: Obviously you are of the new generation, where negative savings rules.


You are right in the sense that everything costs more....oil, elec, cable, food, gas, insurance, etc.. It is difficult to build a large nest egg when everything around me continues to increase and not at the same pace as my salary. I won't be fortunate to draw on Social Security when MY turn comes around because it will most likely not be around for me to draw from, yet, I still pay SS taxes. Go figure!

I WILL make sacrafices to pay the additional taxes if the override passes. I will also sleep well at night knowing that my children and all the Walpole children won't suffer.

Sincerely,
A hard working parent

[Unregistered]

To #94 and other vote YES folks
While not saying vote NO directly...read into the comments made by our Town Administrator and FinCom Chairman.

Reported on 3-18:
TA in meeting with FinCom , based on the governors budget , Walpole no longer faces a shortfall

Reported week of 3-12:
By FinCom Chair ..I have been waiting for weeks for a response from the schools ( on his written request ) for an estimate of how much money they expect to have left over when the current year ends

Reported on 3-15:
TA says that the state aid impact is obviously very positive

Reported on 3-18:
By FinCom chair, the school department has been ending it's budget years with 6 figure surpluses , ( thus far ) there is no estimate for timely review

Reported on 3-18:
TA , when asked how state aid ( prision mitigation funds )could impact the override decision...he declined to comment

I DO HAVE EXTRA MONEY ...AND I AM VOTING NO !!!

[Unregistered]

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/03/18/a_nobel_champion_enters_fray/?p1=MEWell_Pos4

Thank goodness there are no Nobel champions here Walpole.....
> Right or wrong on this same debate, anyone driving around with a bumper sticker on the back of his family SUV that reads, "I may be wrong... but I doubt it" wouldn't get my support.

Whether you are for the override or not, after spending allot of time reading this thread, the Walpole WINS site, and some of the various links provided by posters, it does seem like there are allot of people who care about this town.

I've got a few nieces/nephews in the system, and a little one at home to think about. However, I just don't think the right proposal is on the table for this March, and will most likely vote no. Throwing more $$ at the schools with no real action plan to address the real problems (unfunded mandates, SPED / chapter 70) isn't the right solution.

However the vote turns out at the end of the month, I do hope to see this topic continue to get the attention it is now and everyone working together on long-term solutions that will benefit everyone.

[Unregistered]

A previous poster said to eliminate sports. Considering that to play football, a young fellow has to have $500 (is that right??) to play, it seems that at least footlball has already been eliminated officially. We are fast coming to a situation like that in Stoneham, where they eliminated sports at their high school.

The town form of government that we have been enjoying since 1724 is fast showing its inadequacies in this new century. It is time we really start collaborating with surrounding towns to share our resources to save costs, including police, fire, education, etc.

Override or no override, sports or no sports, something has to change. I am sure it will be for the better when we all realize this. The problem: special interests (the heads of those previously mentioned organizations), for self-preservation purposes, may not be to open to this concept. Or maybe they will...its time to consider all of this.

We live in an affluent area, adjoining some fairly well-off communities. Why can't we work out some things with Medfield, Wrentham, Norwood, Norfolk?

District Police and Fire Stations, even athletic fields!

The Raven

[Unregistered]

Dear Raven,
Our police/fire station in Medfield or Dover or Westwood? If I lived in South Walpole, I don't think I'd want to wait that long for emergency help to get to me if I needed it...Unfortunately, we live in a region where things are expensive. That means we have to dig deeper into our pockets -- or move to the middle of ohio, where it's very cheap to live.

And FYI - the schools already do, somewhat, coordinate and pool their resources. That's why several SPED kids are bussed into Walploe for certain services and why we bus a few Walpole kids out to surrounding towns for other amenities. The school committee has done an excellent job of milking every dime, but they are tapped out. They can't cut anymore. If they do, I'm going to have to tap into college savings and send my kids to private elementary schools. It's wrong for them to be in an elementary class with 28 other kids!

[thefactsplease]

Below are some facts to consider on the school department.

I have also added some suggestions.
The school department payroll is the largest expense for the operation of the schools. There are many cost saving measures that can be taken before anybody looses their job.
Don't shoot the messenger. Ask for your own copy of the budget and explore areas where you see some potential cost savings. This fiscal year they requested over 60 thousand dollars for all telephone charges system wide? How about paring down the cell telephones and looking at take home vehicles, etc.

Some other thoughts;
• FROM 1995 TO 2007 THE TOWN CONTRIBUTION FOR THE SCHOOL BUDGET INCREASED BY APPROX. 13 MILLION DOLLARS, over 1 million dollars per year!
• FROM 1995 TO 2007 THE TOTAL IN SCHOOL POPULATION INCREASED BY 276 CHILDREN, EXCLUDING HOME SCHOOL AND OUT OF DISTRICT.
• FROM 1995 TO 2007 THE TOTAL NUMBER OF STAFF MEMBERS IN THE SCHOOL DEPARTMENT INCREASED BY APPROXIMATELY 179 STAFF.
• WE CURRENTLY HAVE APPROXIMATELY 1 STAFF MEMBER FOR EVERY 6.79 CHILDREN.
• We currently spend 28 million plus 14 million for a total of 42 million on the total cost of running the school department. The per pupil cost is really 42 million divided by the current school enrolment of 3853=over $10,000 per student.
• We have a Business Manager for 98k per year, Director of Curriculum, For 95k per year, Dir of pupil services for 93k per year. Fire these staff and save 286k per yearly We currently have over 500 School department employees, why would you lay off a teacher?, they make up less than half of the employees?
• The entire school budget should be posted on the School Department web site, separated by location, to include the administrative staff.
• School department payroll should be listed by school location, to include administration. The payroll for each location should include the names, position or title and annual salary. Citizens can then see that the School department payroll is significant and many positions are non teaching.
• The last person laid off should be a teacher, Administration and support staff should be the first positions eliminated.


see the attached chart

[Unregistered]

#99. That was pretty callous to say that social security is basically a government handout. I'm embarassed for you if that is how you really feel.


#106. I also would not pay bus fees if I could drive my child to school. Plenty of people do pay the fee and wait at home for the bus to pull up.
I think they should have eliminated the bus fee cost from the override, just like the parking fees, why one and not the other?

As far as the "right thing to do "...the right thing to do is vote. Period.

Whatever the outcome, as one man said, defeat of the override will not mean Armageddon and passing of the override will not bring Utopia.

[Unregistered]

A significant cost to any police station is the setting up of secure areas for booking of criminals (a complaint at our present police station), and the dispatching area.

I can imagine that both of those services could be combined to cover at least the towns of Wrentham, Norfolk and Walpole. A bonus from that would be that we could have one central booking/dispatching facility, (how about at Walpole Prison...its centrally located).

We could then have smaller police stations at more locations. The fire departments could be broken into small east-walpole styled stations too. Centralize the training, manpower and maintenance, and you may find a savings there.

How about shareing healthcare costs with other towns? And the building of centrally located athletic fields?

the raven

[Unregistered]

Thank you very much for posting this information on the BUDGET for the School Department.....

I'm poster 82 and 107...I'm interested in the numbers..Thank you very much to poster 113!!!!! That is exactly what I was looking for....

I had a feeling in my gut that the School System wasnt efficient! These pork belly positions should be eliminated!!!


100% voting against this override.....This override is a vote to keep rewarding an inefficient school system with overpaid hacks running the show!

VOTE NO and that will be a vote to save your schools! MAYBE THEN the town government will realize that some of the administrative hacks will have to go.......

That is the way real companies are run......Cut out the middle managers....and hire more of the folks that do the grunt work...ie teachers!!

[Unregistered]

When was the last time anyone was interviewed that they asked you what sports you played in High School?

[thefactsplease]

My post of the facts below comes from the school department.

Open the attached word document at post 113. Schools in town that lost several hundred students due to the opening of Elm street added staff with the loss of students?

The town pays approximately 14 thousand dollars per employee in benefits, this money comes from the municipal budget. Therefore, every employee adds 14k to the municipal budget, this money is not included in the School budget.

The addition of 179 staff members results in a drain on the municipal budget of approximately 14k per employee!

The cost of the preschool program is supposed to be completely self sufficient? Is it? The school department needs to post all income from tuition and grants and list the FULL cost of this program, the salaries and benefits paid by our tax dollars.

The 31 million dollar school budget is NOT the full budget, that is simply the town tax side of the school budget. the REST of the school budget amounts to approximately 14 million dollars?

Ask for the budget, it should be posted on the WEB. Ask for the payroll information for the entire school system.

Become informed with the information that is yours. The town report is a what was document. Every department in town should have an accurate and updated budget posted online to include payroll figures, IE. Names, position and salary.

ALL collective bargaining contracts should be online, with all side agreements and salary schedules. We need this information now to make informed decisions. Call the Selectman and School committee and demand this information be posted now. All this information is already in electronic format and can easily be posted.

Every department in town has some sort of technical staff!

[Unregistered]

Do you know what the breakdown of part-time versus full-time positions are held for each year you posted? Back in '95 there weren't too many part-time positions and now there are many. Remember part-time doesn't get the same benes as full time.

[Unregistered]

You are right. This override will not make this town either Utopia or Armageddon. Most of us live in Walpole because it is a safe, pretty town filled with decent people and that is Utopia enough.

And if the override fails it will not be Armageddon and it probably won't effect most of the voters in this town.

It won't be Armageddon and the High School won't get a new guidance counsellor. Their caseloads are very high right now, which means they have less time to spend with each student and on each of next year's seniors college applications and reccomendations. It won't be Armageddon yet one or two or more students may have applications that won't be a good as they could. It won't affect you, but it will affect those students.

It won't be Armageddon, but I know of two terrific teachers that were hired this year. They will, probably, be the first ones cut. They won't wait around to see if Walpole gets more state aid in August. They will find new jobs and it will be a loss for our town because these teachers are GOOD. And, if on the chance we do get more aid in August, the town will hire repacements for them from a greatly diminished pool of candidates and will be stuck with the costs of orientating them (that's efficient!). And if we don't get any money....

It won't be Armageddon, but there will be kids whose class sizes will increase greatly or slightly. I have had kids in classes of 16, 18, 23, 27, 28. Believe me, class size matters. The kids in large classes will have learning experience that are not awful, but they won't be as good as they should be. That is a whole class of students that have a year of lower quality education. Multiply that by 5 or 6 (or more) classes around town. Are we willing to say that is OK?

And it won't be Armageddon, but one or two of those kids will struggle enough that the town will have no place else to put them but into more expensive special education, to pay for that more money will be taken from regular education and the cycle continues ....


Stop and think about how this override will effect others. It will effect everyone's tax bill, we know that. But please investigate the many ways it will positively impact so many. This Utopia deserves that.

[Unregistered]

#114 You are embarassed for me because I consider Social Security a government handout? Huh? What is it? Do you actually think you are going to receive a check from the government that pays you back from the pool of money you paid into it? Hooboy are you misinformed. On this topic, I agree w/ my darkwinged neighbor, the Raven. The Neponset Watershed communities need to combine forces to cut costs. Do Norwood, Walpole, Norfolk, and Medfield all need holding cells, police and fire chiefs, Superintendents, Principals and Vice Principals in each school and town? Yes, the town needs to cut costs. But the town needs to pass this override. The same seniors who are against it are the ones who sent their children to a better, cheaper Walpole school system. The infrastructure of the town's school system needs to be updated. Striving for mediocrity is not a sound educational philosophy. If we want pay-as-you-go, ala carte school services, then the town's very fabric will be torn apart.

[Unregistered]

The positions listed in post #113 above are FULL time positions. There are many more part time positions!

Call the school department, better yet, look at the attached chart to post #113.

Just the facts!

[Unregistered]

If this override does not go through I hear that the whole Sister School Concept will be revisited. Remember it was only shelved for a year.

There are slots up for re-election on the School Committee in June. Anyone
interested?

[To Everyone]

So many of you are such experts on civic management and have wonderful ideas for this town to do it all better.
Raven, you need to run for office -- maybe 5 or 6 years from now a few municipalities can be joined together to provide shared services and save money. It will take hours and hours on your part to convince all the towns involved and figure out how the system will work. Go to it.
So many of you know so many ways for the School Dept to do it better. I go to many school committee meetings, I sit and listen to budget meetings. It is sometimes as though they are pushing nickels and dimes around the table, robbing Peter to pay Paul. And here everyone on WalpoleWords can do it better. Please come to the meetings and offer your solutions. Run for office and implement your solutions.
Don't just sit back and complain about the problems and refuse to chip in a dime when someone, who has spent months and months working (unpaid) on the problems, offers a solution.
I look forward to seeing you all at the next meeting.

[Unregistered]

Run for Office? As what? Though I may chime in with some ideas, I don't think I really am qualified for public office. (on second thought, if George Bush can be president.....!)

The override has gotten a lot of attention, both pro and con, and it will be up to the voters to decide this. I think that both sides have presented pretty good arguments.

I do appreciate the time and effort volunteers put into our town government. I am quite impressed with all of it, and wish that I could take part but it would be impossible for me to do so.

regarding a comment about me being a "dark-winged neighbor": I did consider "Bunny Rabbit" for a pseudonym...!

Raven (the bunny rabbit)

[Unregistered]

Hey Smokey, Raven, Negative Savings and Everybody Else...

I've got a great idea! Let's all meet the day after the March 31 vote and have a big group hug. We can grab lunch, discuss our other political views and either celebrate an override victory or mourn its defeat. We can compare war wounds, share pictures of our kids and grandchildren and discuss ways to fill our free time now that we won't have the Walpole Words Override Thread to amuse us. We'll call our fete the "Override is Over Gala."

It's gotta be held somewhere accessible to all...I know.... Blackburn Hall. Let's make if formal like the good 'ol prom days. See you at noon sharp!


Don't forget...the Day after March 31 ...oh yeah, what's April 1?....April Fool's!

But seriously, you'll all be missed!

[Unregistered]

This override is not going to pass....You said that you have attended many meetings at the school committee. Has anyone every questioned why we need a Director of Business Management, Director of Pupils,etc. Sounds to me like there are too many chiefs (hack manager positions) and not enough indians(teachers). Hopefully, this phrase doesnt offend anyone....I apologize in advance if it does....I love all people....
Anyway,,,,Walpole citizens deserve better from their school system. $41 million dollars for 3800 students?

How much money is enough for you? Let's shoot for $50 million. I'd like all of the school department administrators in the town to be able to lease Lexus ES400's equiped with Satellite radio, Cell phones, and GPS Navigation systems.

Other towns are doing it much, much better with less $$$. Look at the chart posted earlier and you'll see some of the other towns...

Things need to change....ie eliminate middle manager positions and hire more teachers...Run the school department like a business. Cut manager positions in lean times, not teachers...

If you were truly concerned about the kids, you would cut the manager positions....This would save money and allow for more teacher hirings...

Look at other items in the budget..Cell phones? Why are these necessary?
Cut them....

Maybe when the override fails...you'll look at these things...

I'm afraid you'll cut more teachers...and keep your hack positions....Very sad...If this kind of mismanagement continues,,,you'll see a mass exodus from town and that is a shame...Because Walpole is a great sports town with alot of great, caring people.

Vote NO on the override to send a message that we will not tolerate any more hack positions in the school budget.

[Unregistered]

Sister school concept will come back once the override fails and it is not such a bad idea folks just need to get use to it. Sports and music and art will be gone too once the override fails but what did they ever have to do with education in the first place.

[Sparky]

One of the problems with the Prop 2.5 override system is that proponents must pursue an override package that will keep the ship afloat for several years, since they know that overrides are distasteful and can only be sought periodically.

I think that's the case here. An override is needed to avoid teacher cuts, but the proposed override includes actual "addition" of new teachers. They are smartly trying to look ahead, but these abrupt tax increases are harder to swallow than more frequent, smaller increases.

I will comment that the situation, although needing a shot in the arm, is not nearly as dire as that faced in 2001, and a shorter term (read: lower request) would have sufficiently stemmed the tide. I suspect that's what we will be voting on this summer...

[Unregistered]

I like that idea....how about we meet on the second floor of Bird Hall, East Walpole, at Midnight, March 31st?

I will be there waiting for you all!

Bunny, The Raven

[Unregistered]

Please please please tell me your post was tongue-in-cheek. But just on the off chance it isn't and you might for one second believe that art and music aren't related to education, let me educate you: Music is one of the multiple intelligences. And, countless studies have shown that music actually makes children more intelligent by carving out neural pathways in the brain. As for art, don't get me started. It may not make you smarter, but it is essential to the soul. And some children won't get art appreciation anywhere but in the schools.

On sports, I am for following Stoneham's lead. Not because I am anti-sports but because I believe that this is one threat that will actually work. Threaten to eliminate all sports and you hit people where they live. People who otherwise wouldn't give a darn whether their kid ever picked up a book, could add 2 and 2 or tell you the capital of California. Cut sports and even Jimmy Taylor might pony up with a yes for the override.

[Unregistered]

It's amazing to me that override supporters still think that overrides fail because seniors don't vote for them. Guess what? There may be YES signs on some lawns but that doesn't mean that every displayer of that sign votes Yes at the polls. All parents with school aged children don't vote for overrides either.

[Unregistered]

You are absolutely right. We have a number of senior friends who quietly support our cause and rightfully so. Sure it would be great at a time when income is fixed to not have to see taxes increased, but it's money worth spending to keep the children of Walpole on par with the best in the state. What a legacy to leave behind!

And shame of those parents of children being educated in our schools who refuse to support an override because it's "too much money," but don't have a problem driving those brand new SUVs. What's more important than the kids?

Thank you for your wisdom and for making the point!

[Unregistered]

If the Yes sign people are voting No does that also mean the No sign people are voting Yes?

Eliminating sports would mean that all the kids would have the same set of rules when they get busted at a drinking party. It would put them all on a level playing field, pun intended! How could the town justify putting over 30 children in a first grade classroom and not hiring additional first grade teachers and spend money on a football coach and athletic director?? What is the percentage of children that play high school football? Compare that percentage to the percentage of children in town that need to pass first grade. Eliminating sports is a nobrainer.

[Unregistered]

#121

I guess we have different definitions on what a government handout is.
My understanding of a gov't handout is that the gov't gives money to people in need (however that is defined) regardless of whether they have paid into the system or not.
My understanding of Social Security upon retirement is that the gov't gives money to people that have paid into the system (albeit at a diminished rate in the coming years) How is that a handout?
And by your comments, it seems you consider this a most distasteful transaction, so should we assume that when your turn comes to receive this "handout" you will turn your back on it?

[Unregistered]

yes #134, eliminating sports is literally a nobrainer idea! I'm sure the real estate values would hold up well, when every parent who believes that athletics are a positive experience in their kids' lives all rush to move to another town that has been a little more proactive in planning for smart growth. I'd bet people would flock to buy all these homes and move to this town so their kids won't feel the pressure of competing in physical activity. Just think of how attractive the town would be to local industries, like New Balance and Reebok! But at least you get to pocket an extra $500 a year. Good for you!

[Unregistered]

I'm torn on this one. I'm a supporter of the override. I recently had a couple of friends tell me that they were on the fence but will probably not vote for it after learning that the school PACs donated to the WIN2007 group. They feel that it wasn't their place considering it can be assumed that not all of those who contributed to the PAC's budget via donations..and fundraisers support the override. They feel it didn't warrant a vote.

As I said, I'm voting yes, but I think they have a point and wish that the PAC's hadn't done this. Aside from the issue with the override, some are going to now be thinking twice before contributing in other ways to support PAC and the great things they bring to the schools.

Any thoughts?

If proof is necessary to post this - One contribution ($250.00) is stated in the PAC minutes of the Feb. meeting found on the JMS website. Go to edline then PAC link.

[Unregistered]

PACS are often asked to make donations to outside groups/causes. I believe most if not all of the PACs were asked for a donation from the WIN2007 committee. I know that Elm Street was asked and did vote to make a donation after following the procedure for allocating funds outlined in their bylaws.

From the Elm Street PAC Bylaws:

"Allocations of funds will be guided by suggestions from parents and staff.
Requests for funds will be made in writing and submitted to co-chairs at least two weeks prior to the next scheduled PAC meeting. It will be placed on the agenda for discussion and possible vote.
Spending will be authorized by a majority vote of those present, provided the proposed item has been publicized in advance of the meeting at which the vote will take place."

All parents are members of the PAC and have a right to vote, they just need to show up to the meetings to do so!

[Unregistered]

Does anyone have an organization chart of the schools so we can see what positions there are? Or does someone have a list of all the jobs at the schools? Links on the web? This will shed some light on whether or not there are too many layers as people are accusing!!!???

[Unregistered]

There's the problem some have with it. It wasn't publicized in advance (agenda is posted). It wasn't tabled for discussion for a future meeting, it was voted on that evening.

We probably both know that not many people attend the meetings. However some of us do keep up with things through the newsletters and posted agendas.

[thefactsplease]

Please go to post #113 to see the school facts. I have also posted an attachment of the school numbers in Word.

Clearly the schools have spent there way into this mess. We have plenty of money going to the schools. Look at the chart and the facts.

If the PAC spent money to support a political cause, IE WIN2007, that is wrong!

I do not want my PAC donation or fund raiser going to a cause, I want it to go to the Schools. Unions even have a law that prevents union dues from being used in a political way.

The school figures speak for themselves. You want to cut positions, there are plenty of non teaching administration positions that can be cut!

[Unregistered]

The PACs each have their own set of bylaws that outline how the groups will be run. While the bylaws are somewhat similar there are variations from group to group. Elm Street and Fisher have their bylaws posted on their websites. For example, Elm Street's bylaws say that amounts of $250 and less can be allocated by majority vote of the co-chairs and treasurer (without a vote from the group). However in this case they did put this decision to a vote. Fisher's bylaws state for amounts in excess of $200.00, one month's meeting notice will be given for deliberation and then a vote.

It is no secret that the PACs make donations to outside groups (based on the suggestion of their members), The WCF, the Middle School Move UP day, The Defibrulator fund, Destination Imagination. I have no problem with this so long as the work within their bylaws.

What do the Johnson bylaws say?

[Unregistered]

to post #113. How many of these positions are due to SPED?

[Unregistered]

Do the PAC groups meet in any town buildings? Do they meet in the schools? If they do and they are giving money to a political campaigns then it is a pretty clear violation of law. Town assets and facilities are not allowed to be used to forward a political campaign.
The money should be returned to the PAC and the PAC need to start looking at what they are doing.
Unless this happens the PAC groups should be banned from meeting on town property.

[Unregistered]

The PACs are run by parent volunteers. People, some single parents, that work part or full time jobs while raising their children, that volunteer their time and energy. Volunteer being the key word. I am assuming Mr. or Mrs. "Facts Please" that you will be stepping up to volunteer for your PAC in a leadership role next year?

I was at a PAC meeting where they decided to donate funds to the WIN group. It was a discussion followed by an unanimous vote to make the donation. If spending $250 to WIN2007 would result in more teachers in the schools and Media Specialists back in the libraries (without the override the school libraries will be CLOSED next year), then it was money well spent. Money spent FOR THE CHILDREN. To repeat, money spent FOR THE CHILDREN. Please remember that the School Committee is for the override.

Always remember that the buck stops with the Town Administrator and all budgets go through the Finance Committee. (I am assuming for the sake of the argument that you are already attending all School Committee budget meetings).

Have a nice day.

[Unregistered]

I'm amazed at the number of facts both real and imaginary floating here. Let's cut to the chase: The state keeps mandating but does not pay*. The commerical tax base errodes as every business that closes has to fight to sell the land to another business instead of housing, and either gives up or loses. The pupils increase. Costs for everything go up too, no matter how many kids. 40B stuffs more housing down our throats, increasing pupils and often with a disproportionate number needing services. (after the last one, mandated language services went from a handfull to dozens) We can't control it. We are at the mercy of the state and the federal gov. No Child Left Behind made us cough up money to carry out requirements, but didn't send us a check. All of these make costs go up, and there is no cap on how fast or how far. But taxes are controlled. You either keep up, or play catch-up, or you ignore it until it implodes. We never do the first, sometimes do the second. If you are advocating for the thrd choice, you better start keeping your eyes closed, because you don't want to see it when it happens.

I've never seen anything the size of a school system that didn't have some waste- no organization that size is perfect. But for every cent of waste, there's about $10 in legitimate increases.


* Just as an aside- the comments about too many administrators like curriculum directors. Do any of you know what they do? forget SPED-Do you have any idea the number of state and federal mandated administrative and reporting functions that a public school system is obligated to perform? It's staggering. You should see the regs on MCAS adminstration, and the number of man-hours it takes just to handle the materials according to guidlines, and the penalties if you don't. And that's just one example. Cut the administration in half- and then sit back and wait to see how long before your school system is in non-compliance, the remaing administrators are buried in a heap of paper, and the state, federal goernments and the courts are knocking at your door.

[Unregistered]

Thank you for your post. It is really easy for someone who knows nothing at all about education to make a statement like "Well if we're spending $44 million, the administration must be top-heavy. Let's cut administrators."

That's like a father of five teenage boys looking at a weekly supermarket bill being shocked to see $250 receipts and telling the wife: "$250 is WAY too much money!!! Stop buying toilet paper."


While it's true that the toilet paper cannot be consumed to fill the stomachs of the growing boys, it is still a greatly needed resource.

School administrators, please accept my apologies for comparing you to toilet paper!

[Unregistered]

All of us have more regulations to deal with and less staff to do it with.

Deal with it! Suck it up....We are all overworked and burdened with more regulations....

Do you think companies spend more money to keep up with regulations when they dont have the money?

They definitely do not....They just pass this responsibility on to the current work force. What do you know? They find ways to become more efficient at what they do and productivity increases.

How about trying to find a better way to do something? The School System is clearly running inefficiently when you have 1 job per 6.67 students. Also, 41 million dollars for 3800 students?

Go to the Department of Education web site and look at the facts..

There are other towns that are doing it much better and more efficiently.

Do yourself a favor and vote NO to restore some accountability to the system.

The waste in Walpole School system is being exposed..just in time for the March 31st vote...

[Unregistered]

I agree with Poster #141; I truly admire the work of the PACs and the people who volunteer their time for PAC. And yes, I am guilty of not attending meetings, but I DO contribute financially.

However, I am FURIOUS to know that MY financial support may have been used as a Contribution to the Walpole WINS 2007 group!!

Surprisingly, I SUPPORT the override, BUT I DO NOT want my PAC contribution to be used for ANY town government and /or political campaigns - PERIOD!

[luckyduck]

Hi. Can someone out there help me out with this one? I hear from and read those who are in support of the override cite the fact that Walpole spends less per pupil than a number of "comparable" local towns. Printed/viewed on many sites.

On the other hand, I hear from and read from those who do not support the override point out that Walpole's calculated per pupil numbers are artifically low because unlike the cited "comparable" towns, Walpole does not factor (add) costs such as building maintenance, utilities etc.. to this number. These instead are part of the municipal budget.

Put aside the need to state that no matter what the money is needed. (I think I agree). I just want a better sense as to whether the latter is accurate.

If it is, someone on WINS may wish to reword the newsletter on their site citing utilities as a cause for the need for more money FOR THE SCHOOLS. Someone who believes this is a municipal budget item may argue that the statement is misleading?

Any clarification would be helpful in discussing this with others.

[Unregistered]

Utilities are in the municipal budget. As are all insurance costs for all school employees. The Municipal budget handles the increases to those budgets.
Many towns have those costs in the school budget. Many don't want to let the schools manage those costs as the increases would skyrocket under school department control.

[Unregistered]

If anyone has been "on the fence" with this issue, please read the Letter to the Editor in the March 22, 2007 Edition of the Walpole Times titled: "We're not getting our money's worth". It can be found on Page 8.

This is the BEST letter I've seen to date addressing reasons for voting NO.

I work for a major financial firm based here in Massachusetts and after years of 'soft layoffs' of phone reps, my firm finally got it right and started looking within to see where better cost-cutting measures could be made; i.e. MIDDLE MANAGEMENT!

So, instead of impacting the customer or end-users by cutting jobs on the "front line", a more thoughful solution was sought and the resulting impact is seemless to the customers.

In this case, the teachers are the FRONT LINE and the customers or end-users are the tax payers, whether you have children in the school system or not. Taxpayers should demand that any cuts start with internal management at the Walpole School Department, NOT with teachers.

When this effort has been exhausted, THEN come to the voting public and ask them to support an override.

[Unregistered]

Poster 148 won't be happy (or willing to cough up any cash) until all 3,800 of our school children are all huddled together in one unheated, unlit auditorium learning from 20-year-old textbooks supervised by one teacher who reports to one administrator.
The only thing that will bum his trip is when he finds he can only sell his Cape for $200 K because no one on God's green earth will want to send their kids to our schools.
Just keep on fooling yourself, 148. It may surprise you to know that that job-per-student ratio you quoted is high because STATE LAW dictates that some special needs kids require their own personal assistant. It sucks, yes. But without a change in state legislation, we can't fight that, we simply must pay for it.

[Unregistered]

According to their website, JMS PAC can vote to donate up to $500. without publicizing it beforehand.

The problem I have with these kinds of donations is that it clearly does not DIRECTLY go to student enrichment. It's too hot an issue. They chose to gamble $250. of parents money regardless of whether the parents are for or against this vote. How many of those who may not support the override are going to as enthusiastically jump next year to buy those magazine subscriptions?

[Unregistered]

The PACS were within their bylaws and within the election laws that govern the Commonwealth of Massachusetts when the donations were made. They did check with the State House before making those donations. Each PAC has a document from the Office of Campaign & Political Finance office which authorizes such donations.

PAC budgets are voted on at PAC meetings by those who attend. If you care strongly about what your school PAC is spending money on you have to make the effort to go to a meeting. Yes it is easier to not go but if you care strongly about what the PACs are spending money on you need to take the time to go. Most pac meetings last one hour or an hour and a half. I have seen children at pac meetings so you do not need to spend money on a babysitter. Some PAC meetings even have free cookies.

PAC meetings are also a great time to talk to the principals and to ask them questions about MCAS, etc...

[Unregistered]

Such nonsense. One thing is certain: you never investigated any of this in person except from your arm chair. Your "facts" and assumptions are incorrect and misleading to others who do not know any more than you, but might assume that you do. No business has had the quantity of regs thrust upon them that the public schools have had in the last ten years- in fact, deregulation was all the rage, except in public schools. None. And name me a type of business that eats it's cost increases instead of passing them on to the consumer. Sorry, your generalizations don't wash.

And remember your ratio is just that, a ratio, not an average. Don't marry yourself to it. It counts the mandated nurses, ,the mandated one-on-one SPED or mobility aids, the mandated services director, the mandated English Language tutors, it includes the minimum number of guidance and adjustment counselors who are required to maintain accreditation, the custodians who are stretched too thin for the number of square feet and the number of bodies that they have to clean and clean up after, and we don't get to choose. You can demand we throw this one overboard and make that one do more, but with no actual working knowledge of the current people, workload and requirements your demands are smipistic and misleading to others who have also not investigated for themselves.

[dvorak]

I find it utterly bemusing that time and time again the NOs quote numbers, in particular those registered at the State website, and each and every time conveniently leave off the corresponding state average.
That's right:
Teacher salaries in Walpole less than state average.
Numbers of students per teacher, greater in Walpole than in the state.
At least be fair!

[Sparky]

I'm torn on this override...

I don't think either side has made a very good argument.

On the YES side, the claim is that the school situation is dire. Yet the request is not to simply rescue the budget from dire straights (avoid layoffs, cover rising health costs, etc.), but also to add additional jobs to return to previous levels, and to operate with an emergency fund in anticipation of future growth, and to eliminate some existing fees. This attempt to be forward-looking is admirable, but may not be achievable in one step. The points are all valid (e.g. money spent on a town's school system is certainly a wise investment), but the attempt to accomplish so much in one increment may not be practical, in light of other needs.

The arguments presented by the NO camp are even less practical. The idea that the problems are primarily due to waste or mismanagement, or that an audit will reveal something we don't already know, is worn out rhetoric that has never been demonstrated in spite of perpetual scrutiny. You want to see waste? Look where your state and federal taxes go.

Furthermore, numbers get thrown around by the NO side with absolutely no frame of reference. For example, the "outrage" that the town spends $2.2M on salaries for "central office personnel". Why is that figure outrageous? Because it has the word "million" in it? What amount should be spent? What do towns of similar size spend for "central office personnel"? Just because it sounds like a big number, it doesn't mean it's unreasonable. Or that the new superintendent will start at $165,000: what does the manager of a $40M budget make in the corporate world? What do you think superintendents of other towns are getting for offers? Just because these numbers seem big to you, it doesn't mean they are unreasonable.

I feel for both sides. My guess is that we will be voting on this override again in June or November, probably at a $2.9M figure, which will probably have more of a chance.

[Unregistered]

Nonsense?

I've been to several school committee meetings...Not that its any of your business....

I'm not against voting through a legitimate request for an override....Prove it to me...

I'm just not going to vote for one until I can be certain that a complete Performance Audit from an independent source is conducted like Winston has requested...

Its great that you think my view is nonsense...Most of my neighbors feel the same way that I do...I guess we will find out how nonsensical my views are on March 31.

If I was in your position ie a strong interest in hiding the budget items from the good citizens of Walpole..and in keeping my cushy 90K$ Plus position....I may feel the same way..:))

Good luck with that!

[dvorak]

I doubt seriously there is anything that anyone could say or demonstrate to you sir, that would constitute proof. Nonetheless, let me ask you this simple question: During the past 25 years of Propostion 2½, how many times has the COLA (http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/COLA/colaseries.html) applied to Social Security Benefits been less than 2½%?
Answer: 5
Go a step further, take the numbers, put them in a spread sheet.
Take a dollar and grow it by 2½% for 25 years, what do you get? $1.85
Apply the COLAs, what do you get? $2.20
Who makes up the 35¢? (If you answer the 2001 override, only about half that amount is covered.)
Now I grant you COLAs aren't absolute indicators, after all they're applied nationwide. I'm sure in many instances those increases don't match the true increases in costs to living here in greater Boston, as say compared to living in Detroit. And I'll event grant that the budget process and numbers have far more nuances then the simple comparison I make above. But this fact cannot be disputed, 2½% does not keep pace with inflation. It cannot be surprising to anyone that these overrides take place all things being equal.
Proof is just your word for ignoring all the information that's out there which more than adequately justifies the need for the increase.

[Unregistered]

Interesting use of partial information in posting #157. When teacher salaries are discussed on average they do not include the benefit package. Many surrounding towns are paying 50% of the insurance cost of teachers. Walpole pays either 70% or 80%. The school department always sites insurance cost (which they don't pay) as a reason for the override but want to ignore the significant benefit to teachers when discussing compensation.
As to the Student teacher ratio the school department says they have either 300 or 311 (depending on how you count teachers) employed this year the current student teacher ration is either 1 to 13.05 or 1 to 12.58.
We have enough teachers to do the job in Walpole. What ratio will be good enough for the union 1 to 10, to 9,8,7..... where does it end?

[Unregistered]

I called a school committee member and was told that there are two audits that happen annually. The first is required by the MA Dept of Education focuses on expenditure accountabiity and is done by an independent accouting firm. We passed that audit. The second is under the Single Audit Act (federal requirement) and this looks at the integrity of revenue and expenditure controls for each department. The town passed that audit. I was told that anyone can look at these audit reports at the Treasurer's Office at Town Hall.

There is a Performance Audit scheduled for 2009. This type looks at academic achievement. The MA Office of Educational Quality and Accountability schedules these. They do each town every six years.

The individual was quite informative and said that anyone with questions can call them or attend meetings and there is a portion of each meeting that is called Citizens' Comments. Anyone who is a citizen of the Town of Walpole can go and talk during that time.

[Unregistered]

I think that the problem this time around for a lot of folks is that we DO agree that there is a serious lack of funding for the schools, BUT the hesitation comes when we are seeing some of the job titles and salaries of Administrators posted in the Walpole Times and on this mesage board AND knowing that at the moment, there is actually a surplus of funding.

To those who work for the School Department in whatever capacity, I would venture to say that they would argue that every conceivable cut has been made.

For those of us who may be perhaps more business-minded, while acknowledging the long-term fiscal shorfall of the schools, we are looking for a "drilling-down" of every expenditure the schools make; i.e. via a Performance Audit. Seeing the new Superintendant's salary, monthly travel allowance, cell phone stipend, etc. is a huge RED FLAG!

[Unregistered]

The Walpole Times letter had the new Superintendant's salary wrong. It is actually in the 130,000's. Still a lot, but no more than surrounding towns pay. The Globe recently had a big article on superintendent's salaries. I am sure it can be googled, and I think Walpole was once again below average.

[Unregistered]

I know the bus fees are eliminated if the override passes but what about the sport fees? Are they gone too?

[Unregistered]

I will continue to lean to a NO ...especially after seeing the "body language "of two of the most knowing folk in local gov the Town Administrator and the Finance Chairman...it screams vote NO.
There words, couched better than a potatoe ,keep shouting...VOTE NO!!
Will they be quoted before the vote...will anyone from the press show up at the meetings....all suspicious of an informational freeze due to an ever emerging VOTE NO !!!

[Unregistered]

This year families had to pay to send their elem ed students to ride the bus if they lived within 2 miles of school. I thought this was ridiculous. What 6 year old can walk 2 miles to and from school. I paid 500 for my two children to ride the bus.

Will they reduce the 2 mile radius of home to school to determine who pays the fees next year?

[RFL]

We have lived in Walpole for a little more than 12 years having moved here from Boston. We have no children in the school system but our neighbors all do and these kids are smart, well adjusted and don't seem deprived of anything that the neighboring towns children have. It seems that year after year we are told of the dire straits of the schools, and the very visible budget items such as the bus fees and the paper shortages and the potential layoffs of some "young and enthusiastic" teachers are paraded before us in the papers as well as in letters sent to our homes. Then we are given figures from many different sources reflecting shortfalls and surpluses tweaked for whichever side of the issue the source is in favor of. I completely understand that my property value is in no small part a reflection of the school system,as well as the municipal services and the general state of affairs in our fair town. I also understand that to vote for this overide is to say to the school department that they can once again go to the well without penalty. It's not that I am unsympathetic to the schools needs but enough is enough.

I have to refer to the letter in the March 2nd Times from Ron Mariani. He served on the Board of Selectmen for a fair amount of time and is certainly familiar with this overide process. He states that even without the overide the salaries will increase by over 7%. I don't recall the last time I got a guaranteed increase in my salary of that much without some sort of proof of performance. Just because we increase the funding for the schools is that in the best interest of the kids. Please vote no for the overide to get some semblance of reality back to the buget.

[Unregistered]

"In addition to making up what had been seen as a shortfall of $849,000 (including the schools' $500,000), the $3.9 million override includes $793,000 to hire 20 new teachers and other school staff next year, three additional municipal employees, $291,000 to eliminate bus fees, $312,000 for fringe benefits for new employees and $1.3 million to carry the town for three years without another override."

Source:
http://www.walpolenews.com/forums/showthread.php?p=309#post309post309

[Unregistered]

So basically, if you plan to spend the rest of your life in Walpole, you can expect a request for an override at least every three years. Pretty sad that we elect selectmen/women to run to town and control the spending, but they let the school committee dictate where our tax dollars go.
Funding for a new police station was voted down, but when the crying from the school commitee happens, let's decorate our yards with ugly YES signs and pass that override. My sympathy to the police department. I guess eliminating bus fees (which they should not) is more important to the people of Walpole than funding a new police station.

[Unregistered]

I feel that here are other very pressing matters in town to deal with, ergo the woefully inadequate police station.
Having this special election was obviously a way to beat the police to the finish line for citizens dollars..
Our seniors have nothing and our library is in dire straits.
Time for chicken little to move over and think about somebody else for a change.
I will be voting NO this time

[Unregistered]

I think that there are really too many "moving targets" with regard to numbers coming from BOTH camps. In that case, I would venture to say that most people would vote NO simply due to the uncertainty of the issue.

[Unregistered]

That two mile radius marker is set by the state. The state mandates that the town bus all elementary children who live outside that radius to school.

If the override fails, any elementary child that lives less than two miles from school and all middle and high school students will be charged for bus service.

If the override passes, all bus fees will be eliminated.

Walpole went years and years with no bus fees. No one paid them in the past.

For many, the increase on your tax bill will be less than a bus fee. (And local taxes are tax deductible on your federal income tax)

[Unregistered]

While reading articles, editorials, and this discussion board, I thought I would never make up my mind about which way to vote. However, after reading the win2007 newsletter (http://www.win2007.org/newsletter.pdf), I finally found the bit of information that convinced me to vote Yes, despite the fact that I have no children.

In the section explaining the burden on the town to fund public education, I read this: "Further, only 14% of the tax base in Walpole is from commercial enterprise, compared with a commercial tax base of 44% in Norwood (the state average for commercial tax base is 27%)."

One poster to this discussion board in January said he or she is voting No because Walpole does a poor job of raising revenue and planning. For example, he would prefer to see a golf course in place of Adams Farm (as if we need another golf course in the area).

As someone who values green spaces and clean air, I'd rather fork over several hundred extra dollars a year in taxes than see, hear, and smell commercial enterprises. I'm sure the children of this town, who may one day pay for services I'll receive as a senior citizen, would prefer the same.

[Unregistered]

I would ask the public to examine the disinformation that swirls around all town politics. The Town of Walpole has been unable to plan for the future due to a few residents who believe it is their sworn duty to shoot down any attempt at a rational plan. In doing so they hurt anyone in their path private citizen, elected official or town employee who tries to put forth new ideas.
They don't research or present any data to support their opinions. They simply spread enough fear to kill any initiative. It is sad that a 3 year plan that attempts to address the future should be the target of their venom. When citizens ask themselves why the town didn't address the problems that beset us now maybe they should examine who shot down those ideas and plans years ago. The less a town takes its fate into it's own hands the more will be mandated by state and federal government. Think if saving a few tax dollars in Walpole (dollars that STAY here in Walpole.) aren't better spent here than being mandated to pay them through your state and federal rules and regulations. It would be sad to see a few "pot stirrers" take away another opportunity to be proactive rather than reactive.

[Unregistered]

I agree with much of what #175 has to say, but I would also take it a step further. I think we (citizens of Walpole) need to start choosing selectmen/women who can make decisions for this town that are based on information and facts provided to them by the committees and boards that they appoint. I am tired of watching these groups present viable plans that are shot down by TINY groups of individuals who the selectmen say are the pulse of the town. The last place I would go to take the pulse of the town would be a selectmen's meeting.

[thefactsplease]

Some on the forum have made some accusations that citizens of this town just want to shoot down any positive steps to bring the town into the future. Some may have that mind set.
Let me offer this. See my post on #113 and the associated graph attached to the post. This information is facts I obtained over the last 2 years from the Superintendents office.

Now, if the school department was serious in showing the town the dire straights they claim they would provide ALL the facts and figures to the citizens.

Post the budget and show a comparison over the last 10 years.
Post the number of students and the number of staff, this information is the most telling!
Post the payroll for each location to include the administration. If all positions are legitimate or are required by law or mandate then cite the regulatory requirement.
Everybody in town should be sold on the need through facts, complete and clear. We are not as stupid as some would think. In business and industry the departments of a corporation compete for funds by showing a compelling need. Leave the feelings and compassion out of the financial picture and avoid any punishing moves.
Laying off a teacher when you have over 500 full time employees is nothing more than punishment and an injection of emotion into the debate.

Show the town physical cuts that you have made and the reason why. The internet is a great place to show all this information. We have a web site for every location now.
All the above information is in electronic format, just link every page and put all the school contracts online. Post the payroll with names and position titles, in real time.
Post all the costs. What about the pre school program? Is it totally self funded? Who pays the salaries and benefits? School utility costs, etc?


Information, Information, information. That’s the key. It is misleading to show that we spend 28 million on the schools. We REALY spend a total of over 44 million on the Walpole public schools! That is a fact. Show the real per pupil expense by dividing the REAL total budget number.

I believe that the school department and the school Committee have done a poor job in management of the schools. I also believe that the School department can not say they have to lay off teachers; over half the employees are not teachers? They have hired many more than needed so they can lay them off and show the cuts?

I base this on FACTS. Since 1995 they school payroll increased by over 179 positions, full time positions. In the same time frame the TOTAL student population only increased by 279 students! They hired almost one new employee for every new student?

The school department town funded portion of the budget has increased by over 1 million dollars per year! The municipal portion is much larger. Why? Every person hired causes the Municipal budget benefits to increase by over 14 thousand dollars!

We have many positions over 90 thousand dollars, they are not teachers?

The allocation of funds is the problem. Post the budget? Post the payroll? Demand the FACTS from the school department and the school committee.

It’s not about the kids. I have 2. It’s about the problem of mismanagement and poor allocation of funds. Knowledge is power. The facts always beat the fiction.

We need to be educated on the issues and speak the truth. I have devoted many hours to obtaining the facts, most often I get the run around. I would be happy to share ALL my documents and letters with you?

With all the facts we can make a sound decision. Let’s base the decision on reality and take out the emotion. Stop the nonsense of “what about the kids” It’s for the kids!
What about our property values? Realize that when you elect a member of the school committee they must have some business experience. The Selectman must hold the school department accountable.

Attacking Cathy Winston for her honesty is wrong. At least she asks the questions.
We should all be asking them right beside her.

[Unregistered]

You are right! I never looked at it this way. People probably did try to do something about impending problems in past years and were shot down and here we stand with even bigger problems. Thank you.

Also, good point about all local tax dollars staying in Walpole. They are the best taxes to pay in that they have the most direct impact on our quality of life. How much do we see back of our dollars sent to Washington and Boston?

[Unregistered]

To #175 & #176: You are both on the right track as far as those tiny little groups who seem prevail with regard to what does or does not get done in this town.

However, I'll take it ANOTHER step; you need to go to those Board of Selectmen Meetings. Why? Because the only ones that are showing up are those TINY LITTLE GROUPS who are the nay-sayers in town, shooting down every initiative presented to the Board, thus the perception that they are the pulse of the town.

Whether the override wins or loses, we all have an obligation to make certain that our elected officials are doing everything that they can to bring new ideas and much-needed new capital to our town.

[Unregistered]

I've lived in Walpole now for over a decade, and it's been my plan all along to rasie my kids here. I love the town, the people, my church and - yes - the schools.

It saddens me to think how reactive this town is when making decisions, always thinking in the short term.

I've been through a couple of over rides in my time, and quite honestly, I echo much of the concern that my fellow Walpole residents express. I voted against the last one, and was on the losing side. But I took my lumps and moved on.

In that time, the schools haven't gotten any better. In fact, I'd argue to the contrary, and I have and still am putting kids in this system. Like many people I'm very happy with the elementary level, somewhat satisfied with the high school, but entirely disgusted with the two middle schools though it appears that Mrs. Esmond has worked to improve things at Bird. Alas, I'm at Johnson.

I will not send another child to the middle school.

Having said all of this, I was fully prepared to vote "YES" on the upcoming override.

Until I picked up the Walpole Times last week and saw that Walpole Woodworkers is in the process of selling it's 16 acre parcel on East Street to an out of state developer with the intent of building 250 - (That's right - two hundred and fifty) affordable housing units on that location.

This turns my yes vote to an emphatic "NO".

Why would or should I (or any of you) accept any increase on our taxes when clearly the value of our property will continue go down & the quality of my life will decrease? 250 units! Assuming - based on precedent set by "The Preserve" - an average of one child per unit. That's 250 more kids. This translates to about half of one of the existing elemetary schools.

Where's that money going to come from? You know the taxes generated from the 250 units will not subsidize the increase in the cost to educate these kids. In fact, it probably won't cover the cost of safety (Police and Fire) that will undoubtedly be called upon to this location on a routine basis. (Also, see precedent set by "the Preserve"

Am I biased? Sure I am. I live blocks from this site. But don't think for a second that your life will not be dramiatically impacted by this propsed development. Someone - that means you - will have to pay for this development in the form of another override in the next 3 -4 years.

I will not pay more and more to live in a town where my house is worth less and less.

Do not think that these two issues are separate. They are "cause and effect" defined. Too many kids, not enough money. Same goes for police, fire, you name it. I believe that they need this money, why they need it, and will need much more sson, is what gets my goat.

[Unregistered]

My son figured out that we would pay a little over $300 additional taxes and figured out that my additional taxes would be less than a dollar a day. I looked at where my money woulld be going: police training, fire dept expenses, the library staying open more hours, more teachers, school libraries not being closed next year, restoration of DPW services (now there are folks who are not appreciated enough!!), ..etc etc etc. How could I possible vote No?

I love this town and wish to stay. It's worth the dollar!!!! I will vote Yes.

[Unregistered]

If you saw the alledged wisdom and alledged knowledge of proper parliamentary rule being practiced last eve at the selectman's meeting ( RTE 1A car lot ) you would easily decree that they HAVE NO PULSE!!
OUT OF ONE SIDE OF THEIR MOUTH THEY CRY FOR THE "BEAUTIFICATION " OF RTE 1A....THEN VOTE TO PUT 12 USED CARS AS ROADSIDE PLANTERS

By the way...not a mention of the override...MORE BODY LANGUAGE...vote along with the TA...FINCOM CHAIR..and others who exhibit a vote NO posture

[Unregistered]

A careful reading of the FinCom chair letter leads me to the most clear vote NO decision I have ever had to make..
Cited ..
The municipal side ( with no override ) will be not only balanced but also able to restore lost positions..and they get only 34% of the pie

School side shortfall can be covered by the anticipated surplus...REPEAT..SURPLUS in their budget

If passed the plan is to "BANK" 50% of the ( your ) money..
A...does this mean they asked for way too much?
B...Do we get to NOT PAY while they have our money sit in the bank?
C...Did they ask for $$$ to use for NEW contracts coming up
D...It has been stated that the schools WILL ASK FOR ANOTHER OVERRIDE
( even if this one passes ) IN THREE YEARS

VOTE NO...IT'S THE WAY TO GO!!!

[Unregistered]

To: "I finally made my decision"; Agreed. It is disheartening to see such a low percentage re: business tax revenue (14%) for Walpole, but MY fear is that if the override passes, it gives our Selectmen an opportunity to breathe a BIG sigh of relief and approx. 3 more years to do NOTHING about fixing this very problem!

A "NO" vote will send a message that the BOD needs to get to the root of this issue; Walpole must to stop rejecting every new business venture that it is presented with.

[Unregistered]

On so many levels, poster 180 hit the nail on the head.

The middle schools are a disgrace. Particularly Johnson, a dank, dark place where I DREAD to send my 4th grader in two years.

I don't know much about politics. Are we entirely powerless if the state approves 40 B at Walpole Woodworkers?
Our town cannot withstand having another 40 B shoved down our throats. Just read the police beat and see what the Preserve has done for our fair town.

Is this a democracy or a communist regime? Do we have a voice against this proposed 40 B?

Just tell me what to do to help stop it and I swear I'll show up to meetings, call my legislators and shout NO!

[Unregistered]

Mr "dollar a day" is right where I was before the injection of the 40b issue. I to feel like a buck or two more is worthi it if it buys me and my kids a safer town with better services.

But whether it's the towns fault or not, my house is worth thousands less now with this 40b crap. This just isn't about money. I don't want to pay more to live in a town where it is not as safe, clean as it is today.

These are very real issues here folks - you need to think of the big picture when castin gyour vote.

[Unregistered]

This override will not cost us all just a dollar a day. The override pushers keep saying that it is only going to cost an additional 300 dollars. My bill will be going up somewhere around 650 dollars, I'll be voting no on Saturday.

[Unregistered]

I wonder how much all those economic development plans that find their way to Walpole would have enhanced property values. The cogenerators, landfills, propane farms, regional trash recycling facilities, power plants, and used car lots that town officials have supported.

So your solution is to vote NO so we can encourage more of the same economic development? You might want to think that over a little more carefully.

[Unregistered]

So we should throw the children of this town under the proverbial bus (that we pay a fee for) because a local business decided to make a quick buck before getting out of Dodge? Why can't you support the override AND fight the 40B housing for all the same reasons - you Walpole to be the a great place for you and your children to grow old in?

By the way - there is a meeting at town hall tonight at 7pm about the Walpole Woodworkers site and the proposed housing planned for it.

[Unregistered]

This Monday, Sudbury voters passed a $2.5M general operating budget override to increase funding for the schools, municipal services, and capital expenses, and to add to their stabilization fund for use in future years. Also this week, Lincoln and Concord followed suit with “yes” votes for investing in their respective towns.

On Tuesday, Randolph voters weighed in on a $4.16M general override. In Randolph, the school budget has remained at $29 million for the last five years. Nearly 60 teacher positions have been eliminated over the last four years and an elementary school closed. Even if the override passes, the school’s allotment will be $600,000 less than what it would take to keep current services. Without the override, the schools continue to stand to lose the most - nearly 50 positions, including 32 teachers. Also recommended for elimination by school administrators is all extracurricular activities, including school sports. The municipal side & library has fared no better. Once again, Tuesday's override question did not pass. Voters in this town have turned down property tax increases every time they’ve been asked. Last June, voters rejected a $3.3 million override to help pay for services. Sadly, it just keeps getting more expensive. It is hard to imagine how they can ever recover. What has come to pass in Randolph looks eerily similar to what is projected for Walpole in two to three years without an override.

With Monday's successful vote, Sudbury, Lincoln and Concord voters have done much to contain their exposure to the current economic trends. Randolph, on the other hand, is an example of a town that is a few years ahead of Walpole in the economic spiral, where all of the significant service cut projections have, in fact, come to pass. With every vote, the gap between the "have" suburbs and the "have not" suburbs is widening. Three years from now, how will Walpole have defined itself?

[Unregistered]

While a supporter of the school system and past overrides, I'm still outraged that we're spending between 12-17 thousand dollars to hold a special election on Saturday. As noted by earlier posters, we need selectman who can solicit input from the various committees, make decisions, and not pawn them off on the voters.

With a surprise bump of $1,014,768 over last year’s level of funding from the state that subsequently came in, it's clear we should not be voting on this subject until all of the revenue numbers were in and all of the needs could be evaluated together.

While I recognize the stress the school system is under (unfunded mandates, chapter 70, SPED, insurance), a 12.5% tax increase is a tough pill to swallow when 1/2 the money will be sat on, and we still have the police/fire station on the table.

Currently, the average homeowner faces the following increases next year:
o Regardless of override, will face about a $120 bump in taxes
o With override, $400 (if home is assessed at 450,000)

Has anyone seen what the expected impact of the police/fire station would be on our tax bills if passed?

[Unregistered]

I have kids in the system but I need to make sure I can pay for the roof over their heads and keep them fed.

I may have voted yes if not for the fact that we are SOON going to be faced with an override request for a police and fire station followed by according to the Selectman's meeting Tuesday a projected 6 million dollar override for the library as soon as possibly 2008-2009?

Contrary to what some think, I AM thinking of the children. I want mine not see their parents lose the house.

[Unregistered]

To Poster #187 --

You stated that you will be paying in the neighborhood of $650 if the override passes. I'm assuming you got your figures from the chart and that you home is assessed in the area of the upper $600's. As we know, local property taxes are deducible on your federal tax return, so the after-tax cost will be closer to $460. If the override fails to pass, your taxes will be going up by
2 1/2% or approx $200 anyway. So, really you are looking at about an increased cost to you of about $260. Don't you think that sounds like a reasonable investment in our town.

Now, it is possible that you got your figures correct, and you will actually be paying $650 more next year in taxes, but then that means that your home is valued at close to $1 million.

[Unregistered]

This a what, in my humble experience, is going on:
We are right back to the same old clash of the interested parties wanting more monies and the tax payers asking why it is needed.

On the side against the override, I see their point of view as concerns accountability.
I understand that they need to know where the money is being allocated.
Empathize with these folks concerning their need for details, not a cursory general overview.
I do not believe that these very people are mean spirited regarding the children; I do think they are tired of the same way that this issue is presented to them.

On the side of the override, I also see their point of view, regarding their children’s education. The children in town are important and they have been used like sacrificial lamb.
I really believe these folks have been manipulated. They fear their children will not get the education that they need because every time monies are needed, they pull the ‘teacher shortage card’.

I am all for a good education and mind you I am one of those people who have never had children. Yet I like many others understand it is our obligation to supply an education to children.

I know if the override fails it will be back again very soon.
That’s ok; let us hope that when they do come back they with arm themselves with the information that has been requested since the beginning.

[Unregistered]

just the facts please, maam.

[We Need This]

This override provides a MULTI YEAR approach. Has that ever been done before? This town has always just gone from one budget cycle to the next never looking forward a few years and planning it out. This override proposal is actually a sound manangement plan for the next few years.

With a plan in place, there is no more inefficient crisis management, and everyone can focus on solutions for the future. It will costs us more, but it will be worth it, and may even cost us less in the long run.

VOTE YES!

[Unregistered]

to posts #191 and #192, thank you.

#191 brings up an excellent point regarding the town spending 12-17 thousand dollars for a special election, especially before the all the revenue numbers were in. Just on that fact alone, this override should not pass.
What were the selectman thinking? It seems the school committee and selectman need to get their act together, they now appear as if they are in a money grab. Cathy Winston was right and the others were wrong to allow this vote to happen.

#192 "Contrary to what some think, I AM thinking of the children. I want mine not to see their parents lose the house"
Excellent point for those of us already struggling to make ends meet. Thank you for saying it so well. Both my husband and I work. We have old cars and a small home for a reason, it is all we can afford, so a tax increase over and above what we will already have (2.5%) is a stressful thought.

Thank you both for your thoughts.

[Unregistered]

We can keep ignoring the problelm, denying it exsists, muddying the waters whenever a solution is discussed(ie: too many administrative costs, PAC should not contribute, etc, etc any excuse to avoid opening the wallet) and let the system fall apart piece by piece by piece.

Or we can recognize reality and all chip in and maintain the system.


Vote Yes on Saturday.

[Unregistered]

The School Committee has spent hours and hours for months and months trying to make this budget work. They have tried countless different ways to allocate resources to make the money work and work harder.

All seven members agree that this override is desperately needed. They have studied the situation, they care about our children's education, they know what is needed.

I have decided to trust the School Committee and respect their hard work. I am voting for the override. I urge all parents to do likewise.

[Unregistered]

What is Selectman Winston for? I noticed in today's paper she voted to deny a liscense to a small business here in town (used cars on Rt 1A). She was against applying for the SmartGrowth grant from the state, she was even quoted in the Times as saying she would like to see that land stay vacant. She is against the override.

So she appears to be against commercial development and is against increasing the residential tax base.

What is her solution?

[To poster 194]

Please visit www.win2007.org, click to access the newsletter. Both are filled with facts, figure, charts and graphs. Much effort was made to make this issue understandable to all. The information is there.

[Unregistered]

I second that!

[Unregistered]

On the side against the override, I see their point of view as concerns accountability.
I understand that they need to know where the money is being allocated.
Empathize with these folks concerning their need for details, not a cursory general overview.
I do not believe that these very people are mean spirited regarding the children; I do think they are tired of the same way that this issue is presented to them.

Vote against the override to restore some accountability....

The School Dept's MO is to "threaten that it's for the kids...and guilt you into forking over extra dollars to cover their 7% raises ...."

Well...the buck stops here! Let's publish all of the pertinent information...Salaries and duties of everyone in the school department and compare it to other towns...If there is waste,,,it will be as clear as a Sunny afternoon...

As long as the School Department hides budgetary line items,,,,I'll continue to vote no....

Finance committee talks about a surplus...School Committee's "Business Manager" talks about a deficit....

I'll agree with the Finance Committee on this one since the School Committee is trying to "use" the children to promote their position...

Show me where all of the money is going and I'll happily vote for the override...Hide it and you are getting a big fat NO! vote.

[Unregistered]

I give to disaster relief funds around the world, feed children in third world countries, help rebuild New Orleans, assist in research & support for more diseases than I can count, and contribute to college scholarships for needy children I don't even know. I can do this for my own community and the children who live right next door. I'm voting yes.

[Unregistered]

Has anyone thought about approaching Hamburger Helper to help us with the current pending disaster before us? It may be worth a try...

the head cheeseburger

[Unregistered]

"I give to disaster relief funds around the world, feed children in third world countries, help rebuild New Orleans, assist in research & support for more diseases than I can count, and contribute to college scholarships for needy children I don't even know."

I give to needy causes too. I challenge anyone to drive by Walpole High School, and take a look around you. You are not in a third-world country! To compare your charity causes to this Override is preposterous.


A Thousand Times: NO

[Unregistered]

I simply want my two elementary schoolers to get THE SAME LEVEL OF SERVICES that the kids were getting three years ago. I have beeen paying taxes for 13 years in this town. Now that it's our turn in the schools, the wheels are falling off. That's not fair.

And yes, I'd be prouder to hear Walpole lumped in with Concord, Lincoln and Sudbury, than Randolph and Norton, where the schools are getting a horrible reputation.

If our schools follow that trend, Walpole will see some flight. The McMansion families will move out or switch entirely to private schools. I know some townspeople would applaud that. But when those vacancies are replaced with kids from the new 40Bs, that will really have a great impact on the MCAS!

People who don't believe all of this will affect their property values are in DENIAL!!

Good schools make a good town. Structurally, our middle schools are a disgrace! 28 fourth graders under one teacher with no aid is NOT GOOD.

If the override fails, I think we should consider reassessments. Those homes assesed at $289 that would sell tomorrow for $419 should be zapped with a closer-to-actual-market value assesment. It's only fair. Our kids deserve better!
Vote Yes!

[Unregistered]

I suggest that those of you on the fence with regards to this override read the Letter to the Editor on Page 8 from Charles Hayes, North Street and Lawrence Hogan's information on Page 7 about the contract negotiated by the stooges on the School Committee on behalf of the Town of Walpole or on behalf of the teachers!!

After seeing this numbers, I don't want to hear these clowns spouting the same BS that teachers are underpaid!


These gentlemen and scholars summarize all of the reasons to vote NO on this override.

An informed choice is a NO vote on March 31. Protect your interests against these naysayers! The doom and gloom crowd is laughing all the way to the bank.

[Unregistered]

To #204
I too like to give what I can to help out in this world.
I only have so much money that I can give.
But I will not give it all to an organization that just keeps its hand out wanting more.
It is like a black hole of mis-management.
That is the issue.

And when you only have so much money, you need to be careful were it is spent.
Everything has gone up in price and my income has not increased.
That being said, I realize that there are other issues in town that need to be addressed.
I have voted for the schools consistently and they keep coming wanting more.
When does it stop?
This time I will be voting NO.

[Unregistered]

I tuned in to their budget presentation by a very nice lady..Mrs. Oneil
I was really looking for a cogent reason to vote one way or the other...
Based on the presentation and information displayed ..I will vote No!!
She showed a chart that stated that the schools would lay off 111 staff in 3 years if the override does not pass....
I can no longer allow my intelligence to be abused and insulted...they have actually "convinced " me to VOTE NO!!!
Memo to the school committee:
STOP THE B.S.

[Unregistered]

In response to posting from 189 "So we should throw the children of this town under the proverbial bus (that we pay a fee for) because a local business decided to make a quick buck before getting out of Dodge?

Having the 40b in town - without a question, no doubt about it - kills the value of homes and endangers - that's right - endangers - both my kids safety and the ability of the town to operate efficiently. Additionally, If I vote yes, and the development occurs - which sure as you're born it will - the town's gonna be right back after me in 2 years to tack on another 5- 600 hunder a years to my taxes.

Tell you what, if the development doesn't happen, I'll vote for the next override - promise. If this town proves to me that they will fight to prevent this kind of develpoment - I'll give them 2 bucks a day - not just one.

And by they way, I'm thinking of your kids, my neighbors kids, and eveyone else in this town. not just me.

For now - it's NO on Saturday

[Unregistered]

We accept nothing less the being the best in sports. We take tremendous pride in having the best 4th of July fireworks around. But for too many of us schools that are good enough is good enough. I believe that we can do better. Let's set the bar high for education in Walpole. I'll be voting yes.

[Unregistered]

I am saddened to learn that Mike Boynton, the Town Administrator, may be leaving. See the article on WalpoleNews.com. Maybe if the town could afford more competitive salaries we would not be losing all our bright talent.

[Unregistered]

I want our schools to continue to be good schools but without this override we put our schools in a SERIOUS predicament. I will be voting YES. The children that will ultimately suffer will be from middle class families if the override doesn't pass. The higher income families will be able to provide enrichment, arts, band, and possible private schooling while the middle class kids will end up going without. I feel the pinch of increasing costs but I will make sacrifices to help keep this town in shape.

I am sick about the news of another 40B. 40B is inevitable, but the location of this new addition to our town is terrible. What can we do to stop it from happening??? I see more overrides with this complex coming.

[Unregistered]

The full page ad in the Walpole Times was horrible, horrible, horrible. I had a headache after I had read it because I felt like I just got screamed at. Like the other full page ad, posted by someone who seems to have no problem spending $1300 (more than the tax increase), it seemed to be a rambling rant. Not sure what purpose these ads served.......

[Unregistered]

Well, tomorrow is D-day folks!
I want to thank all of you for your postings. This site has been a great forum for discussion and I have learned alot. I had been wanting to discuss this issue without the stress/judgement that comes from talking/questioning either sides ideas.
Thank you also to the administrator of this site for all his/her hard work.

[Unregistered]

Please read the FinCom Corner article in the paper or in the Walpole News section of this site. It appears that this advisory group does see validity in the override AND supports the plan to 'bank' a portion of the monies for future year's budgets. They also clarify that while there will be surpluses in this years school budget, they are one time monies that will not be available for the upcoming school year and the monies will be spent on items like text books and other supplies. The Finance Committee is appointed by the Moderator to make recommendations on the budget and other matters to Town Meeting. Their description of how the school department plans on spending the money sounds like a well thought out plan. Isn't that what many have been faulting the town for not having?

I want to have a plan - I am voting yes!

[Unregistered]

Yes. Thank you to Tom for providing this forum and ensuring the integrity of the discussion. All of your hard work this year has not gone unnoticed.

And to those of you who will be voting yes tomorrow based primarily on the conviction that you also want to do your part to make a positive difference in your community. Thank you! You are the reason I live in Walpole. You restore my faith and teach my children the lessons that I care most for them to learn.

[Unregistered]

Just re-read the fincom letter; very well stated position that gives me a higher level of confidence to entrust 1/2 the override monies into a stabilization fund (if approved by town meeting).

One question regarding this comment in the letter:
"If the override is successful, the Town would be permitted to raise an additional $3.9 million through property taxes in FY 2008"

In trying to determine the impact on my tax bill (assuming average $450K assessment), would it be fair to assume that I would see:
o Approx. 120 increase due to annual 2.5 increase
o Approx. 432 increase to due 3.9 mil override

[Unregistered]

Regarding post 217. It should clearly be noted that the Fin Com did NOT vote to support this override. It was never even brought up for a vote. Also the Fin Com has not taken a position on banking money for future years. This issue also never came up for a vote. The fact that there is no crisis meaning the override brings in more money than can be spent does not mean the banking of money is a "plan", it means the extra money had to be put somewhere.
Also note that the current "plan" is to promise no additional override for three whole years, if that's the plan people should be ready for an override every third year. Not much of a plan.

[Unregistered]

To poster 219. You are correct that you will see the normal allowable tax increase in any case, and the override monies will be tacked on additionally. After FY2008 your tax bill will go back to increasing it's normal 2 1/2% over the previous year.

It is actually a little more complicated than that though. How your property is assessed year over year in relation to the other houses in town also makes a difference. For example, when houses are reassessed in a down market, where the values of the big, expensive houses in town have plummeted comparatively more than the average size houses in town, the owner of an average house tends to take on a greater share of the overall tax burden. The owner of the million dollar house whose value has fallen substantially may actually see a tax decrease.

To my mind, the FINCOM did an admirable job of articulating the trade-offs associated with the override proposal. My only criticism is that in their zeal to portray only what they could say with absolute certainty, they chose not to focus on the structual deficit ,and how it manifests itself over time, as much as I would have liked to see. The reason we need a stabilization fund is because our shortfalls get so frighteningly big in years 3, 4 & 5 of the long-term strategic plan.

The concept of a multi-year fiscal plan is being embraced in many other Massachusetts communities who also are concerned with the current climate where the cost of fixed obligations is rising faster than Prop 2 1/2 revenues. Sudbury, North Reading, East Bridgewater, Marshfield and Arlington are taking a long-term approach in their override proposals.

[Unregistered]

I'm not a BAD parent! I moved into town shortly after the last override. We bought a house that we could comfortly afford with out streghting the budget too much. We put all our children into WPS and have been very happy. I chose to work part-time because I want to be home with my kids when they get home from school. This decision was very important to my family. In the five years, the cost of living has gone through the roof! My husband bears the responsibility of keeping a roof over our heads and food on our table. I want my kids to getr the best education that we can afford, but I don't want to be taxed out of this town. One thing that is pushing me towards a NO vote is the smug attitiute of the YES crowd, especially the ad in yesterdays Walpole Times. They really shouldn't use scare tactics to stress their points-We are all smarter than that- I hope!

[Please Vote]

As so many posters have pointed out, this override provides a plan. A plan to deal with all of the cost increases, mandates, etc. over the next few years. It also requires a sacrifice, higher taxes for all. But every town around us is faced with the same plight -- encroach on education quality or pay more. I do believe there are programs in place to help those in danger of being taxed out of their house.
This is our community, let's support it by voting yes.

[Unregistered]

Explain what programs are going to help a young family not get taxed out of their house.

[Jules]

I was on the fence concerning the override.
I read all the letters and then I came face to face with the ad.
Bold face words : Killing the Town
The kind of histronics sealed the deal.
it will be a big fat bold NO.:eek:

[Unregistered]

Our real estate taxes have increased by a couple of hundred dollars each year. How much more does the town want to confiscate from us? I think that the leaders in our town government (and also at the state and federal level as well) forget that the money they are spending is not theirs; it comes from the hard work and labor borne by the citizens of the town. It seems that our town leaders have fallen victim to the belief that "it's only a few hundred dollars" each year out of someone's pocket-everyone can afford that. Well, I and many others can tell you that $300-$600 a year is a lot of money to a lot of people.

The government of Walpole needs to be more fiscally conservative-every town has a wish list, but the reality needs to be faced: some programs are not neccessities and therefore need to be removed.

And, in reference to comment #212, I agree with his assessment of the 40B issue. If you think the town is asking for more money now, wait until 250 low income residents move into town. Does anyone really believe that the tax revenues generated from that kind of housing is going to meet the town's increased needs resulting from the new residents? Please vote No tomorrow.

[Unregistered]

Thanks for clarifying that the tax increase imposed from the override would be in addition to the annual 2.5% increase for FY08, and then 2.5% over that thereafter.

Also, many thanks to the moderator (Tom) of this forum and the time/work he put in to ensure the integrity of the conversation. This forum has been a great area to allow for open/honest debate on this topic.

.....Now, it's up to the voters to decide this one!
Everyone; please get out there and vote today. Many local overrides have been decided by a small amount of votes.

[Unregistered]

Does anyone know who paid for the ad ?? I always thought that it was necessary to have this as part of the ad not a simple paid political ad
It was smug...aloof ...arrogant and I just wanted to say thanks for making me significantly more comfortable with my vote NO decision.
To : Tom....well done with this and other threads...you are on to something

[Unregistered]

As the sun rose over the sleepy little town, the villagers gathered at the polls to cast a ballot: Yes/No, were the choices.

Verbal stones were thrown for months...letters to editors raged "Yes", Others screamed "NO"...the town was divided. Signs proclaiming the same appeared on lawns throughout the town, like early blooming spring flowers. Blue for Yes, Red for No.

Angry glances at coffee shops, mumbled remarks in school hallways, worry over rapidly diminishing property values in the face of what may turn out to be an economic collapse.

The old town is not what it used to be, and never will. The new town is sure to change: more people, hopefully not more problems. Some fear low-income residents: Wasn't Abraham Lincoln of that economic class at one time?

The little town feels like an island to some, but its residents have always done the right thing in the end......all love it as I do, I am sure of this.

And as I look down on the little village, I can only urge you on....do your duty, it is your right. Let your voice be known today!

The Raven

[Unregistered]

Thanks to Tom for this forum....It was a great way to communicate with other members of the town...

Get out there and vote to save your town by voting NO.

You owe to yourself to and future generations to STOP the power hungry hacks at the School Committee!


Surplus in the Town budget and School's budget means vote NO.

Thank you and God Bless America!

[Unregistered]

I thought the ad in the Walpole Times was really over the top. It reminded of that old song, we're on the Eve of Destruction. The town doesn't face economic ruin and the good people of this town are not killing the schools.

We have become a bedroom community. As the mills and the factories closed, the town began to change. Residential development boomed over the past decade. There's nothing wrong with that.

What we have to collectively agree upon is how much funding EVERYONE can comfortably afford for education and then prioritze programs. There is nothing more important than a good education and that education should include the arts and sports. Every child is blessed with different talents.

However, for parents to continually cast gloom and doom on our educational system is counterproductive and demoralizing. Could there be more courses offerred? Maybe? Are they all essential? Probably not.

Parents contribute in whatever way they can. Sometimes it's through volunteer work at the school, donations to athletics, joining the PACs etc. The fact that some aren't shouting through the rooftop to vote YES or don't have their lawn covered with vote YES signs does not mean that they do no support education. They may not support the plan that is offerred. In the end, they may vote yes anyway.

Viewing the issue as a simple yes or no vote is simplistic. Placing blame for override failures at the foot of the senior population only serves to alienate this population group further. Implying that parents who have reservations and are really torn on the issue are cheap or meanspirited is counterproductive.

The sun will rise again tomorrow morning and we will all live with whatever the outcome of the vote is.

[Unregistered]

I just got back from voting at the high school.

Looks like the YES folks age getting out the vote, poll checking to make follow-up calls of targeteed YES voters.

Hopefully the NO folks can mobilize.

We will never have a new public safety facility if this passes!

[Unregistered]

Vote for what???

[Unregistered]

I thought it would be a much closer vote.

[Unregistered]

HI
If they are not tax payers---
don't give their views on taxes

[Unregistered]

There is no question, the NO votes dominated the election today. Walpole wins!

[Unregistered]

As Of 10pm

Yes 2937

No 4545!!!

[Unregistered]

Could we please have some new voices on the school committee. It is time for people on the committee to say something other than give us more money. Time to start really looking at how they operate rather than constantly telling the voters to give them more money. This should be a time for the school department and school committee to look inward and start to change. I can hope but I suspect it is just a dream and they will start the drum beat for more money on tomorrow.

[Unregistered]

Please note: There are a number of us out here who were willing to support an override, but thought this amount was just too high...

[Unregistered]

It's time that we as a people come together and look at how this community can move forward in a time when funds are tight and demand for better times are upon us.
It's time for the people of this community realize we need to look at the way this town is being run and step up to make the appropriate changes to make this town an affordable, desirable place for people to live.
Casting more apartment style housing in this community will only bring us further down a road that many of us do not wish to drive down. The numbers just don't add up for more 40b housing.
Some very reasonable ways the town may be able to right the ship might be...
Charge an additional school tax to families with more than 2 children on the walpole school system.
Take a look at how the town municipalities are run. Put more town projects out to bid. This erases over runs on budgets and puts more money back into the town.
While feeling the need for librarys in a time where technology has clearly evolved to be the leading source of reference, we need to take a look at the possibility of combining the library to co-exist at the high school. This will save money and add to resources that already exist to a fairly new library at the high school.
This town cannot be afraid to take loans to build new infrastructures to accomodate new public safety buildings. We should be able to manage the budget without a fear of constant overides looming over us. There are many ideas that should be put forward by the people to make this town the thriving desireable place we all want it to be. No elected official should be able to make decisions for us unless we all can be heard. And today the people have been heard.

[Unregistered]

Scratch My Back With A Hacksaw!!!

[HEATHER WAITE]

I have to say I believe the citizens of Walpole all worked hard to get their point across and I commend them. I do not agree with the "no" vote. (unregistered?)

Let us just look at the points, not that we can immediately change them...


I looked at the "headlines" of these comments. I firmly believe that there are a majority of folks that do not understand the effects of this override. As I read many of the journal entries, I am shocked by the entries that do not hold the value of the Walpole community.

Frankly, you say you win with an "NO VOTE" and that is your right, however, I say, you may be disappointed when your children/grandchildren/great children are effected by this.

Comments such as:

Why do we need five different languages?

~sets them apart from other kids, keeps them involved in school: enables them to be apart of something they are interested in more importantly

~ having computers at home increases the chance of them getting on the internet as we have all heard (if anyone is listening) computers in school increases their capabilty of listening, following directions and increasing awareness of how to use the internet as a learning tool, since we do not have librarians in some elementary schools

~ personally, I have worked in many elderly homes and will always dedicate my time, I had a wonderful experience with my grandfather who was 94 years old. He gave me a great lesson and said, "Heather, make sure you care for the children, yours and mine, because they will make the difference in the world. God Bless You".

~ I am (have to say) annoyed with the comment that "yuppies" want to work. Are you kidding me? I will leave that for your thoughts.

I am so thankful for all the parents we have running so many fundraisers and the local businesses that contribute as well. If it were not for them they we would be in a more difficult position than we are already. It is a shame for those who think it just comes from the ATM machine...


Again, eveyone is entitled to their opinion, but I will say I think this is a huge mistake. Perhaps all of the "NO VOTES" would like to sit on our committee to get the field's project done. It will bring the town together for everyone!

Thanks again to the "YES" committee!!

P.S. why do so many people register as "unregistered"-

[Unregistered]

I am saddened that the people of Walpole let the kids down. Especially sad that the poorest support for the override came in one of the wealthier sections of town: Precints 6,7 and 8.

I guess when the MCAS scores continue to spiral downward and the s--- hits the fan -- and make no mistake, it will -- they can all afford to send their kids to private schools. For the rest of us, we better start writing our lawmakers for more money. The town cannot bear the burden of keeping our class sizes down without some $$ help from the state.

[Unregistered]

Thank God . It appears to me that the taxes in Walpole are starting to effect everyone. We had approximately the same no of people voting on this election as previous ones. By this account, many quietly voted no whom in the past voted for yes. Now, all we have to do is defeat it in June, or July, or August. You know the town politic. If at first you don't suceed, try try again.

[Unregistered]

Obviously, this web site is reaching many, many Massachusetts residents today based on a lengthy article in today's Boston Globe on the plight of 2 1/2 overrides throughout the state. The Walpole web site and results were identified and quotes from these threads were written.

The communities have had enough! Gas prices skyrocketing, 401K pension plans decreasing, health care costs outrageous and foreclosures on the rise; we are out of control here in Massachusetts.

The mandate last night is going to have far reaching impacts on decisions by other towns to start tightening there belts because the state is not going to help any longer. We have a Governor who's more concerned with his public relations issues than he is with dealing with the financial crisis of the cities and towns.

Walpole will weather the storm but the arrogance of some will further jeopardize the direction and outcome of how this town will deal with its problems.

[Unregistered]

Thank you to all of the educated and concerned voters of Walpole for voting down the override yesterday....

Let's hope that this is the beginning of the restoration of accountability for the School Committee....

I know the Walpole wins crowd is disappointed...but you did a very poor job of convincing hard working families that this override was necessary when the town budget and school committee budget is running a surplus!

Congratulations to the elderly in this town...Your burden will not be increased unnecessarily.

[Unregistered]

When you ask taxpayers to vote to increase their own property taxes, you'd better be ABSOLUTELY sure of the amount of money that you need!

This effort was doomed as soon as it was made known that there was actually a surplus in the coffers. And even at that, the surplus was not well-publicized, which gave the impression that it was purposely being kept "hidden" from the voting public.

When the suprlus was discovered, the town should have halted the 3/31 special election.

I'm afraid that some very hard-working citizens may have permanently hurt their own reputations by pursuing this as militantly as they did.

[Unregistered]

The people have spoken NO loud & clear on override issue. Don't let town officials put this issue on ballot again in fall or next spring like they have in past. Taxpayers have had enough of scare tactics.

[Unregistered]

I wonder what the spin will be now. That voters didn't understand? That every single senior citizen voted no? That the yes voters forgot to vote? The money that was spent for the $12,000 special election, and the $2680 that was spent for two controversial ads in the Walpole Times, and the money that was spent for automated dialing to remind residents to vote, and the money for signs and balloons, and the money for the Walpole in Need 2007 newsletter, and the money for......and so on and so on. The money could have been allocated for a school need. Instead, the no expenses spared campaign just reinforced the perception that money is no object. Money doesn't grow on trees for the average voter. Those who ran the campaign don't or refuse to understand it.

[Unregistered]

A reminder that this is not over and will be an on going battle; the library need about six million and public safety 16 in addition to the soccer mothers coming back for more school money year after year after year. Carpe Diem