THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, February 23, 1996 TAG: 9602220127
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Long : 151 lines
School Board's actions raise many questions
I am puzzled and most disappointed with the School Board's decision to reinstate Mordecai L. Smith as the school district's director of budget development, this being approved after Mr. Smith took part in giving our school district the worst financial deficit in its history.
How much more above a $12.1 million deficit error must a director of budget development have in order to be relieved of his position? $13 million? $15 million?
With a salary of nearly $70,000 in a very responsible financial position, he had assured the School Board days ``before the deficit was discovered that the year would end with a surplus.'' How could a city fiscal director be so far off in his calculations? Of course he blames former Superintendent Faucette for this gross miscalculation.
Yet in spite of his monstrous miscalculation, seven members of the board had the temerity to vote for reinstatement. Are we to give Mr. Smith a second opportunity to go for a greater deficit?
My congratulations to the four members for having the common sense to vote against reinstatement, especially Susan L. Creamer who had the courage to disassociate herself from the ``group of seven.''
Let's not forget their names so that we can vote them ``out'' in the forthcoming elections.
Louis R. Soscia
Virginia Beach
Snow days will cost us
I am writing this letter in reference to the School Board's decision on the snow make-up days.
The decision to hold school on Saturday and on Memorial Day is ridiculous, especially with our budget deficit. I would like to know if the 12-month employees who worked on the snow days will be paid overtime for the snow make-up days. Secondly, to hold school for two hours on a Saturday is a waste of money. The school system is in a deficit because of unnecessary costs and stupidity. We don't even know if the schools will be getting the government subsidies for military dependents. If these subsidies are not received it will further increase the deficit.
What about the children who are Jewish, Muslim and Seventh-day Adventists who observe the Sabbath? Will these children be penalized for missing school because of the observance of their religion? How many children does the School Board think will be in school on Memorial Day?
I think the School Board should have followed Portsmouth's plan for making up the school days by extending the school day by 15 minutes until the end of the school year.
The School Board's proposal to help relieve the budget deficit so we can come out in the black this year is going to make students and teachers suffer but yet the School Board is willing to pay for all the buses and teachers' salaries for these make-up days. The School Board should reconsider its make-up day proposal and come up with a more feasible alternative.
Christine Cerny
Forest Fern Circle
District shot itself in foot
Anyone viewing the school district budget deficit can only observe that we have shot ourselves in the feet several times. First, by getting ourselves into the situation. Second, by reinstating Mordecai Smith who not only had a primary responsibility to keep us out of the situation and failed. Third, by ignoring valid recommendations to keep him out of anything financial and now by our considering measures to fend the future deficits by impacting those programs that directly involve students.
Recommendations made to halt a $4 million plus pending deficit leaves doubt that there was a logical approach to identify discretionary programs to cut. The canceling of spring athletic programs is unacceptable. Recommending that there be unpaid leave and closings to keep from paying employees sounds like a breach of contract. This breach, in the long run, will impact morale and destroy any pride needed to motivate employees. Therefore, the negative environment will impact students.
If the School Board and City Council do not resolve this issue without negatively impacting students, we the voters will put someone into the office who will.
A.M. Diaz
Virginia Beach Let's all pitch in $1
We cannot say to the dedicated teachers of Virginia Beach, that we do not care. We cannot say, to the children, that we do not care. What we can say is NO, NO, NO to the School Board's proposal on how to balance Virginia Beach's school budget.
We as citizens of Virginia Beach must set aside our anger and realize we must take responsibility for their mistakes. We must do this for the children of Virginia Beach.
I know as a community we can come up with some better ideas than taking away teachers' pay or cutting all spring sports.
Some of my thoughts are:
Local bank funds to be set up and next time we go to our bank and give $1.
Virginia Power sets up a fund, similar to donating $1 to help those who need help paying their heating bills.
Local businesses, large and small, set up a box for donations.
Fast-food restaurants can set out a container for your change, similar to Ronald McDonald House containers.
I know we shouldn't have to pay for the irresponsible acts of others, but if we don't, our children will pay dearly. I know no one could possibly want this to happen. If we all pitch in just $1, it can only help!
Patty Callahan
Virginia Beach
Teachers should regroup
Recent letters have contained a great deal of finger pointing relative to the financial debacle in the city's schools. The ultimate cause behind the financial troubles, however, is the 1994 School Board election in which the leadership of the Virginia Beach Education Association (``teachers union''), together with financial assistance from union affiliates in 17 states (even the Juneau, Alaska, affiliate contributed money), skillfully utilized a scare campaign against responsible, conservative candidates in order to elect a slate of easily manipulated, ``politically correct'' candidates.
As a result, the real issues of the 1994 campaign - a budget system in desperate need of reform and accountability; improved academic standards and student discipline; and bona fide parental input - were not considered. Instead, the city was given a School Board that has been unwilling to make the hard decisions to implement much needed systemic reforms, but which has been easily manipulated by both the teachers union and former Superintendent Faucette.
Now that the school division is near insolvency, the same School Board has proposed spending cuts that will directly and adversely impact students. Students should not suffer to make up for the School Board's incompetence. Neither should rank-and-file classroom teachers bear the impact of the school division's financial troubles. Millions of dollars in savings can and should be realized by eliminating unnecessary, overpaid, non-instructional central office administrators. Similarly, many individual schools have excessive administrative personnel that contribute little or nothing to student instruction or achievement.
For their part, teachers can likewise restore public confidence by undertaking a top to bottom ``house cleaning'' of the teachers union leadership. Those who gave the city the likes of ``Dr.'' Charles Vincent and School Board members who approved $43 million in budget transfers must be held accountable. Only then will the taxpayers believe that teachers are sincere in their motives.
The May 1996 election will provide parents and taxpayers with an opportunity to elect a responsible majority to the School Board. For this to occur, however, the public and the media must stay focused on the real issues of the campaign, which are unchanged from 1994, and refuse to be fooled by those who would use scare tactics and misinformation to protect their political power and maintain the status quo.
Michael B. Hamar
Bay Point Drive
(Editor's Note: Mr. Hamar was a School Board candidate in 1994.) by CNB