Variety Show 2008
Click below to jump down the page to read the following:
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See Important Budget Charts
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Important Dates
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How the Budget Process Works
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FAQs Related to the Budget
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Want to Get Involved?
(Sept. 18, 2008)
A
Building Committee was organized in order to investigate and plan in connection
with the proposed
Karen
Bergin, Board of Education Chair
James
Bruner, Board of Finance
John
Dean, Board of Education
Robert
DeMorro, Resident
John
Hambrook, Board of Education Vice-Chair
Robert
Lessard, Board of Selectmen
Robert
Neil, Board of Selectmen
Jason
Norris, Resident
Don
Palmer, Board of Selectmen
Leslie
Shea, Deputy First Selectman
Edward
Steele, Board of Finance
Bruno
Simonetti, First Selectman
The
Building Committee has been meeting for over a year gathering
From
this, the Committee has proposed a long-range plan that addresses the needs of
the high school.
A
survey was mailed to residents in order to gauge their interest in and opinions
regarding the proposed renovations. A newsletter with the findings and additional
The
High School has served our children for nearly 50 years but it no longer
meets building compliance regulations, space requirements and service
efficiency needs.
Efforts
to address and solve our town building needs have been ongoing for over 10
years.
The
Building Committee has indicated that this is an opportune time to borrow money
for projects because of low interest rates and the town has an exceptionally
good bond rating. State reimbursement rates for school projects are projected
to decrease in the upcoming year, which means that if we wait until the future,
we will be paying more.
There is a big concern that if we do not
address the needs of the high school now, it may result in a loss of
accreditation for
Issues that Impact the
School no longer meets building compliance
regulations, space requirements and service efficiency needs.
BHS is also being reviewed for accreditation this
fall, which involves an evaluation of the building and curriculum.
Students must be well prepared in math, science and
technology to compete in today's global economy. This requires facilities that
can accommodate modern program curriculum.
Only limited upgrades since it was constructed in the
1960s.
Science rooms cannot support new state curriculum
standards for hands-on labs.
All classrooms, including two portable modular
classrooms, are used every single period of each school day.
No dedicated classrooms for math classes
No room
for teachers to provide help for students during the school day.
Special education instruction has also increased and
has taken over rooms that were not designed for students with special needs.
BHS needs to be equipped to accommodate changing
technology as the building is not presently wired nor set up with technology
as a focus.
BHS is also not in compliance with federal and
state building regulations – related to the Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA) and Title IX - that mandate equal accessibility.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The
Building Committee has determined that the most cost-effective option would be
to renovate the existing school “like
new” and to build an addition.
Renovation
and expansion would add approximately 46,000 square feet to the school's
existing approximate 52,000 square feet. This plan will provide a cost savings
of approximately $6 million over building an entirely new school and includes
an auditorium space, which would be beneficial to both the school and
community.
There are some “optional
projects” that are being considered. These include the following:
Addition
of a second gymnasium and natatorium (pool)
ESTIMATED COSTS
(Includes optional projects)
Specific costs are still being
determined, but we do have a range of costs supplied by the architect.
The cost estimates for the
project as a result of state reimbursement would be $16-18 million for the BHS
project.
If the BHS project included a
second gym, the net cost to the community would be $19-21 million.
If the BHS project included a
pool, the net cost to the community would be $20-22 million.
If the BHS project included
both a second gymnasium and a pool, the net cost to the community would be
$23-25 million.
Although
the renovation project was originally scheduled to come up for referendum at
the time of the November elections, it has been postponed. We will continue to follow the Board of
Finance, Board of Selectmen and Board of Education as they work on this project
and will update you as the project progresses to referendum.
If
you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please contact
Here's how the education budget is developed each year:
1. School administrators submit their proposed spending to the school superintendent, who adds to or deletes from these requests.
2. The superintendent then submits a proposed budget to the Bolton Board of Education, which is comprised of members of the Bolton community who were elected to serve in this volunteer capacity.
3. The Board of Education holds a series of workshops to consider each line item in this budget. Residents are invited to these workshops to discuss areas of support or concern.
4. The Board of Education then submits a final budget to the Board of Finance, which also receives a town budget at the same time from the Board of Selectmen.
5. The Board of Finance holds budget hearings that all residents may attend. Residents are encouraged to speak at these hearings on the proposed town and education budgets. The tax increase necessary to support these budgets is discussed.
6. Based on what they hear from residents, the Board of Finance may order the Board of Education and/or the Selectmen to make cuts in their budgets, or it may allow to budget to stand as is. According to town charter, the Board of Finance cannot make specific cuts to the education budget; for example, the Board cannot say "eliminate one teaching position" or "eliminate sports." The Board of Finance can only order a certain amount to be cut -- it is then up to the Board of Education to designate where those cuts will be made.
7. A town wide vote (referendum) on the final proposed budget is held each May/June. Referenda will continue to be held until the budget is approved. After each failed referendum, the Board of Finance can put forth the same budget or a lower budget for the next vote, but according to town charter they cannot propose a higher amount.
The town of Bolton has failed to pass 3 budgets over the past few weeks. Only 32 to 36% of Bolton residents voted in the past 3 referenda. Please consider exercising your civic duty and vote!
Sylvia Ounpuu, PTA Legislative Advocacy Chair
Q: What if we pass
the budget but then get more money from the state than what had been
expected? Can lost programs be restored?
A: Unfortunately, no. If the town gets any increase
in state aid for education after the budget is passed, this will result in
a decrease in taxes and NOT an increase in spending
and reinstatement of programs for the education budget (per town charter).
Q: Will large tax
increases be the norm from year to year?
A: The need to pay off some short-term loans this year is contributing to
the tight budget situation. The Board of Finance expects next year will be
a bit easier for the town. And with sewers going in around the Bolton Lake
area, the town hopes for some commercial development to follow, which will
help ease the tax burden on residents.
Q: Town spending has increased at a
nominal rate over the past 10 years or so, keeping pace with inflation. Why has education
spending increased at a higher rate?
A: If you remove special-education costs from the education budget, the spending increases
over the years for education have kept pace with town spending increases. What has driven
it up is the cost for special education programs, which has skyrocketed in the past few
years. These excellent programs are mandated by law but, unfortunately, the government does not
provide enough funding to help small towns such as ours to pay for these programs. In
other words, we are told what we must provide (and we agree with the need
and responsibility to provide them) but are not given the money we need to
fund them -- so town taxpayers must pay for these mandated programs.
Q: Many people don’t want more
commercial development in town. How does this impact taxes?
A: Each voter must decide for himself how to weigh three major issues that are
interrelated – preserving the town’s rural qualities, maintaining quality in
Bolton schools, and paying higher taxes. If we do not want certain types of commercial
development, then we as residents will continue to shoulder the tax burden. If we want to
continue to maintain open space, we must be willing to pay for it.
Q: Are Bolton teachers highly paid? And
how much in insurance co-pays do they contribute?
A: If you look at all teachers' salaries in the state and divide them into thirds (highest
salaries, middle salaries, and lowest salaries), the salaries of Bolton teachers fall in
the top half of that lowest third. Also, teachers’ co-pays for insurance are between
13% and 20% – among the highest in the state.
Q: Why do kids need things like
computers in schools, when they never had them before?
A: Because today’s world is a different world. We’re a global society
now, and students need new types of knowledge in order to succeed. In Bolton, our kids
don’t have the best of everything. What they have is a good, solid foundation of the
things they need to learn.
Q: If I don’t have kids in the school
system, why should I care about the schools?
A: Any Realtor will tell you that the quality of the schools is directly
linked to property values. For most people, their home is their major investment, and
in Bolton that investment continues to appreciate.
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The PTA & the Bolton Community – A Recipe for Success
When someone mentions the Bolton Center School PTA, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Is it the back-to-school barbeque, the ice cream social and camp fair, the Scholastic book fair, the variety show, or maybe the Genevieve’s or Munson’s fundraisers? All of these events, which are sponsored by the PTA, allow us to provide Bolton Center School with “wish list items” not provided for in the school’s budget.
Since 2005, the PTA has gifted more than $70,000 to Bolton Center School on items that include the following : a wireless mobile computer lab ($25,000); stage lighting ($10,200); a new washer and dryer for the cafeteria ($550); 140 calculators for the math department ($600); reimbursements to teachers for classroom supplies, continuing education, software, and computer training ($10,000); support for the eighth grade class trip and promotional activities ($7,900); and we contributed most of the funds needed to purchase of a new kiln for the art department ($2,500).
The PTA has also spent $13,190 to bring enrichment into the school days of all Bolton Center School children. We have been fortunate to be able to host numerous book author visits from favorites such as Bolton’s own Paul Catanese, Andre Garant and Diane deGroat, Dr. Raouf Mama (an African storyteller), and Hawkwing North American (Indian storytelling). The PTA has also provided the children with numerous other assemblies and fieldtrips throughout the school year.
Whether financially or through volunteer efforts, it’s your direct support that makes the Bolton PTA a huge success. We are delighted that we have been able to strengthen our school community and provide support where it is most needed. We look forward to continuing to support the teachers and children of Bolton Center School.
If you would like to become involved with the PTA, we'd love to meet you! There are numerous ways to be a part of the PTA volunteer network:
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If you have younger children and want to work from home, we need individuals to sort, proofread, make phone calls and perform research.
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If you are artistic, there are bulletin boards to decorate or flyers to create. If you have ideas on speakers or activities, please consider becoming part of the Enrichment Committee.
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If you would like to help with fundraising efforts or assist with educating town residents about an upcoming budget referendum, then think about our Ways & Means or Legislative/Advocacy committees.
We are all volunteers working for our children, and we could use your assistance! If you'd like to volunteer, write to us at boltonpta@boltonpta.org.