CHAMPLAIN PTO, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2009
www.champlainpto.org
Dear Champlain PTO Members, At our last several PTO meetings, we have had the chance to hear from our Ward 5 School Commissioners, Fred Lane and Amy Werbel, as well as several Champlain parents and our own Principal Leslie Colomb. They came to help answer our questions about the School Operating Budget (Ballot Item #1) and bond proposals (Ballot Items #2 and #5) which we will be asked to approve on Tuesday, March 3rd.
In light of these conversations, THE CES PTO EXECUTIVE BOARD STRONGLY SUPPORTS ALL 3 OF THE SCHOOL BALLOT ITEMS.
Ballot Item #1: School Operating Budget ($49,903,088). There has been much written in the press about Burlington's 9.1% total budget increase (the request for new money from voters is actually 6.3% after accounting for increases in revenue). In the wake of Governor Douglas' call for holding school budgets flat, it may appear that this is an economically inappropriate time for an increase. But after a close examination of the numbers and the issues, we believe that not only is this the critical time to address our schools' (and our children's) needs, but that our School Board and City Council are being fiscally responsible by proposing and supporting this budget. Furthermore, the school tax is income-sensitive which reduces the impact to families whose household income is less than $90,000/year.
Burlington is a relatively high needs district--one of the poorest in the state--with a relatively low school tax spend rate. The overwhelming majority of this year's school budget increase will serve to fulfill contractual obligations to teachers and staff (including the livable wage commitment we passed in a previous election cycle), repay last year's energy and repair overruns (the school district is not allowed to operate in deficit), support rising special education and increasing enrollment costs, and absorb social service costs now falling on schools after state cuts.
Our understanding is that if the budget does not pass, class size may rise dramatically and staff lay-offs could occur. We believe it is in the best interests of our children and community to pass Ballot Item #1, the School Operating Budget.
Ballot Item #2: Safety and Critical Needs Bond. Funds from this $9,700,000 bond would be used to address long overdue infrastructure repairs and improvements in the district's aging buildings. Lawrence Barnes, J.J. Flynn and C.P. Smith have been identified as the schools with the most critical and immediate needs. The bond funds would be used to repair sprinklers, fire alarms, security systems, roofs, walls, windows, heating, electrical and air systems, and ADA compliance at these 3 schools. We are voting YES on Ballot Item #2, Safety and Critical Needs Bond.
Ballot Item #5: Change of Annual Bonding Authority for Capital Projects. Facilities maintenance and upkeep have been chronically underfunded in Burlington Schools. Currently the district has a $750,000 annual bonding authority for capital projects. To put it in perspective, that was the amount it cost the district to replace only half the windows at Edmunds in one year. By increasing the annual bonding authority to $2,000,000, we will provide the district with the necessary minimum support for upkeep. We cannot continue to defer maintenance without incurring catastrophic costs at some point. We support the district's need to keep it's physical plant in reasonable repair, and urge you to pass Ballot Item #5, Change of Annual Bonding Authority for Capital Projects.
If you need more information or persuasive statistics, please contact the superintendent's office at 864-8474 or go to www.bsdvt.org.
If you've skimmed down to this point, we'll leave you with this important message:
PLEASE VOTE ON MARCH 3RD AT YOUR POLLING PLACE, OR . . .
IF YOU WILL BE AWAY ON TOWN MEETING DAY, EARLY VOTING IS OPEN NOW AT CITY HALL.
If you feel as strongly as we do that these ballot items need to pass, you can join a group of Burlington Friends of Education Supporters. The intent of this group is to express support for Burlington Schools and voting yes on the operations budget and bonds. Please help spread the word about this early vote. There will be a Wave the Monday before Town Meeting day at the Rotary, at the corner of Locust St and St. Paul, to show signs of support for the Ballot.
Thank you. Please Vote.In support of our schools,
The CES PTO Executive Board
Jessica Nordhaus and Parm Padgett, Presidents
Melissa McConnell and Russell Beste, Vice-Presidents
Karen Hunt, Treasurer
Chris Allen, Secretary.
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