Comments for Purvis Outlines Deep Cuts in School Program if Tax Cap Prevails in Scarsdale at http://www.scarsdale10583.com , comment 1 to 71 out of 20 comments http://www.scarsdale10583.com Mon, 20 May 2013 07:25:52 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.scarsdale10583.com/201111232077/schools/purvis-outlines-deep-cuts-in-school-program-if-tax-cap-prevails-in-scarsdale.html#comment-3517 To the Emperor Has No Clothes: So what you are saying is that you value teachers who give your child individualized attention but only because you paid for it, while the staff child did not? If the staff child had paid some kind of fee to attend the very same schools their parents work at, you wouldn't have a problem with a teacher "taking away valuable individualized attention" from your child? - taxpaying citizen Sat, 10 Dec 2011 07:26:12 +0100 http://www.scarsdale10583.com/201111232077/schools/purvis-outlines-deep-cuts-in-school-program-if-tax-cap-prevails-in-scarsdale.html#comment-3432 It's no surprise that Scarsdale administrators equate an inflationary district budget with a priority for deep and rich learning and have been doing so for quite a few years. However, New York State voters have acted and we have a responsibility to meet the state-mandated two percent cap on the property tax levy. Isn't it time our school board recognizes economic efficiencies without the scare tactics of an idea that increased spending equals better education? Surely, Scarsdale produces well-prepared students but living in an interdependent world means adapting to changing economies and cultures. We suggest the Scarsdale school board and residents determine potential and necessary sources of revenue in making up the mandated spending shortfalls. Weighing resource allocation is another top priority. At last count there were 95 tuition-free students who are children of out-of-district employees attending Scarsdale schools for free. This number far exceeds other Westchester districts and is a non-contractual value-added free benefit to our teachers and union employees who are already earning top salaries. At the very least this free employee benefit should be treated as compensation since it currently is an undocumented earning and expense. The district would have you think this benefit costs next to nothing but if we value individualized attention for each student K-12 then that's a lot of time and energy directed at out-of-district students for an uncounted cost. The Emperor's subjects think it is time for fiscal reevaluation and constraint. - The Emperor Has No Clothes Sun, 04 Dec 2011 04:49:07 +0100 http://www.scarsdale10583.com/201111232077/schools/purvis-outlines-deep-cuts-in-school-program-if-tax-cap-prevails-in-scarsdale.html#comment-3430 Go anonymous or bust.... sorry previous writer... - Anonymous and PROUD Sat, 03 Dec 2011 15:32:24 +0100 http://www.scarsdale10583.com/201111232077/schools/purvis-outlines-deep-cuts-in-school-program-if-tax-cap-prevails-in-scarsdale.html#comment-3410 Dear 10583: Please ask people who make comments to sign their names. I know of an online newspaper in Cold Spring, New York that has limited all comments to those written by people who are unafraid to take responsibility for their opinions. I for one, don trust, and usually don't read anonymous postings. - Harriet Sobol Greenacres Thu, 01 Dec 2011 13:53:13 +0100 http://www.scarsdale10583.com/201111232077/schools/purvis-outlines-deep-cuts-in-school-program-if-tax-cap-prevails-in-scarsdale.html#comment-3409 A "toxic" education? Oh, brother. Now, I've really heard it all. - Crazyperson Thu, 01 Dec 2011 13:49:51 +0100 http://www.scarsdale10583.com/201111232077/schools/purvis-outlines-deep-cuts-in-school-program-if-tax-cap-prevails-in-scarsdale.html#comment-3403 scarsdale high school offers one of the most toxic educations available in the united states. professional educators recognize that the only people who like a shs education is scarsdale residents. colleges and professors do not like what they see. my son suffered during school here and continues to suffer in college because of unprofessional conduct on the part of the shs. we have more children attending the schools and nothing would serve the community better than reducing the damage shs can do by reducing their funding. you can have more money in your pocket and completely without guilt. let's do it!!! - reduce the taxes Thu, 01 Dec 2011 10:44:29 +0100 http://www.scarsdale10583.com/201111232077/schools/purvis-outlines-deep-cuts-in-school-program-if-tax-cap-prevails-in-scarsdale.html#comment-3391 School districts across the state have known about the tax cap since last year and while planning the 11-12 school budget were able to foresee how the teachers contract, benefit contribution and the tax cap were going to impact the budget for the 12-13 year. This is old news and I am sure that Boards and Administrations across the county had discussions last year about how districts were going to maintain programming while covering their fixed costs and staying within the tax cap. So why is it that Scarsdale is one of very few Westchester districts who is taking the position that we must override the cap? Again it is time for hard choices. We have had children in this district for over 18 years. Our oldest had 25 students in his elementary classes and 30 students in his high school classes. We have supported this community with both our time and our money and have not blinked as tax dollars were used for a copper roof on the High School gym and slate roofs on the elementary school addition. Now it is time for the Administration to at least show a good faith effort to demonstrate fiscal responsibility and show us that the years of supporting the very generous STI and teacher contracts has resulted in a district that can do more with less and maintain the quality. - concerned citizen Wed, 30 Nov 2011 23:33:33 +0100 http://www.scarsdale10583.com/201111232077/schools/purvis-outlines-deep-cuts-in-school-program-if-tax-cap-prevails-in-scarsdale.html#comment-3389 My property taxes have skyrocketed from $42k in 2002 to $64k this year. They're up 50 percent while the stock market is flat to down over the same period and i can barely get 1 percent interest on my savings. Enough is enough with the school budget increases. - Butterflies are Free, my property taxes are not Wed, 30 Nov 2011 16:27:29 +0100 http://www.scarsdale10583.com/201111232077/schools/purvis-outlines-deep-cuts-in-school-program-if-tax-cap-prevails-in-scarsdale.html#comment-3387 Butterflies, So you agree with me (and refute so many claims made by others) that the Mandarin program has not been paid for by our property taxes. Thank you. Whether or not it remains will of course be determine over the course of the next several months of budget discussions open to all members of the community, and finally put to a vote of all registered voters in the community. Democracy in action! And yes, although I have never met Jeff, I admire his knowledge of the issues and more importantly the process. - The Mandarin was free! Wed, 30 Nov 2011 15:29:18 +0100 http://www.scarsdale10583.com/201111232077/schools/purvis-outlines-deep-cuts-in-school-program-if-tax-cap-prevails-in-scarsdale.html#comment-3386 People are painting the picture that the taxes in Scarsdale are significantly more burdensome than they are in other area towns and that is simply not the case. Look at the tax rates for equivalent homes in Bronxville, Ardsley Mamaroneck or even White Plains. The taxes nearly as high or just as high for equivalent homes and in many of those towns the schools don't compare to ours (try going to White Plains High School). My point is not that this is justification for our high taxes and that we shouldn't strive to be judicious with taxpayer money, but let's also be realistic. Our town is not less desirable or less affordable to outsiders due to our tax rate. In fact, our relatively similar tax rate to other communities with far inferior school districts is exactly why I decided to buy a home here. If we continue to invest in our schools while other towns don't, I would argue that this would only enhance the reputation of the school district and further increase property values in the village. I would rather pay $35K in taxes here than $28K in taxes in White Plains or Mamaroneck. - Greenacres Resident Wed, 30 Nov 2011 15:21:59 +0100 http://www.scarsdale10583.com/201111232077/schools/purvis-outlines-deep-cuts-in-school-program-if-tax-cap-prevails-in-scarsdale.html#comment-3385 So be it, Do you seriously think we can make up an 8.5 million dollar shortfall by firing the administrators? I wasn't aware that they made that much. A good school system, like this one, spends the bulk of its discretional funds on one thing - teacher salaries. If you need to cut $8 million from a $125 million budget, you have to get cut teachers. There is no other way. And if by giving them a chance to educate their children here for the cost of some textbooks and desks we retain high quality teachers who might otherwise decide not to put up with year after year of the kind of verbal abuse from the parents (or at least the taxpayers) of the district that I have seen here, then great. And it seems that the "corporate response" of cutting everything to the bone is not the majority view here, for which I am grateful. A large part of my decision to move here was to live in a community that would support the public school system, even during a few difficult years. I have full confidence that Scarsdale will continue in its outstanding educational philosophy and you, not so unfortunately, will see several of your tax cents pay for textbooks for a few children of staff members. - The Mandarin was free! Wed, 30 Nov 2011 14:48:48 +0100 http://www.scarsdale10583.com/201111232077/schools/purvis-outlines-deep-cuts-in-school-program-if-tax-cap-prevails-in-scarsdale.html#comment-3384 Hey Mandarin, why don't you check with your hero, Jeff Blatt, before wrongly making the riduculous statement that the new Mandarin program is free. What actually happened is that last year the District obtained a one-time federal grant and used some of those monies to fund Mandarin for the first year. The idea was to get the program going, while claiming it was costless. The federal grant is over, and now we taxpayers are stuck with footing the bill for an unnecessary and costly program. - Butterflies are Free, Mandarin is Not Wed, 30 Nov 2011 14:37:40 +0100 http://www.scarsdale10583.com/201111232077/schools/purvis-outlines-deep-cuts-in-school-program-if-tax-cap-prevails-in-scarsdale.html#comment-3383 Hey, count me in with the anonymously "vocal opposition"! I've got no qualifications to judge the educational merits of various school programs and policies, no expertise in the area of public education, no experience serving on the school board, no substantive experience volunteering in the schools that might give me an insider's broad perspective, I know the cost of everything but the value of nothing, I keep forgetting that the board and the school administration have been doing what the majority of voters here have wanted for umpteen years, and I don't like to take personal responsibility for my public criticisms of others! What rock is the first meeting under?! - Nattering Nabob of Negativity Wed, 30 Nov 2011 14:36:49 +0100 http://www.scarsdale10583.com/201111232077/schools/purvis-outlines-deep-cuts-in-school-program-if-tax-cap-prevails-in-scarsdale.html#comment-3382 Then let the teachers send their kids to their own schools. Enough with the freeloading. We either need to cut spending (ie be smarter on how we deploy our assets and have fewer overpaid admistrators) or raise revenue (guess what, taxpayers are tired of frivolous spending - 50+% increase in past 7 years). It is not a corporation. I agree. But we have to make smart business decisions - which we have failed to do under the past boards. As much as we know that house values are supported by good school systems, they DECREASE when tax bills are unaffordable. Please all - let's get the school system to start making the right decisions. Or we too will be the next Greece. We needed a $10mm refurbished police station with the "best" shooting range like a hole in the head. Let's make the right decision now - So be it Wed, 30 Nov 2011 14:14:09 +0100 http://www.scarsdale10583.com/201111232077/schools/purvis-outlines-deep-cuts-in-school-program-if-tax-cap-prevails-in-scarsdale.html#comment-3380 Correction - 2011-2012 budget - for the nitpickers... - The Mandarin was free! Wed, 30 Nov 2011 12:29:11 +0100 http://www.scarsdale10583.com/201111232077/schools/purvis-outlines-deep-cuts-in-school-program-if-tax-cap-prevails-in-scarsdale.html#comment-3379 I have been reading these comments with amusement turning into indignation at the comments, knowing that I cannot do better than Jeff Blatt with his deep knowledge about the issues and the realities of running a school system. The latest one about the Mandarin program was the last straw. If any of the commenters had looked at the 2010-2011 budget, or even read any of the articles in the paper about the issue, they would know that the Mandarin teacher is paid for by an outside program, not the Scarsdale taxpayers. Mandarin was indeed slated to be added a few years ago but was immediately cut when the economy went sour. It is only there now because IT IS FREE. Also, anyone who thinks that charging tuition for children of staff members is a revenue source, think again. I think most of the kids would end up in their home school systems after all. Jeff is right, it is a small marginal cost perk that helps us hire and retain our excellent teachers. A school system is not a corporation. There are things that you can't do, like save thousands each winter by lowering the thermostats a single degree in our overly warm classrooms. There are lots of laws that very few of the commenters here other than Jeff understand, and I applaud him for his thoughtful, informed responses and his patience. Thank you Jeff! - The Mandarin was free! Wed, 30 Nov 2011 11:54:07 +0100 http://www.scarsdale10583.com/201111232077/schools/purvis-outlines-deep-cuts-in-school-program-if-tax-cap-prevails-in-scarsdale.html#comment-3378 Scare tactics? Try reality. It is a $135 million dollar budget. You don't get to below the tax cap without massive teacher layoffs. Every district in the state is saying the same thing, so do you contemplate that all boards and administrators state wide are in a vast conspiracy to use scare tactics? We have employed professionals, not professional liars. Mike McGill and Linda purvis are not liars. The board is not lying. Could it be that you just want to vote no on any budget above the cap and are now in the process of figuring out how not to blame yourself if the system is decimated? - Jeff B Wed, 30 Nov 2011 11:47:52 +0100 http://www.scarsdale10583.com/201111232077/schools/purvis-outlines-deep-cuts-in-school-program-if-tax-cap-prevails-in-scarsdale.html#comment-3377 There is no doubt that the allure and attractiveness of Scarsdale is due to its wonderful public school system . Having said that - successful institutions (whether for profit, or not for profit) must be able to function within their means and spend within their budget, and this includes the Scarsdale school system. It is an unfair expectation of the administration to hold the community hostage to maintain its programs. If a corporation had outside factors that impacted its budget that it could not control, the board of directors would tell them to work with what they have or seek employment elsewhere. I would hope that all the talented minds that are working on this budget will figure out a way to make things work, without asking for more from the community. - Almost Empty Nester Wed, 30 Nov 2011 09:19:53 +0100 http://www.scarsdale10583.com/201111232077/schools/purvis-outlines-deep-cuts-in-school-program-if-tax-cap-prevails-in-scarsdale.html#comment-3375 I completely agree with Concerned citizen. Last year it was irresponsible to foist Mandarin on the taxpayers and it was done to get this fixed cost in in advance of the cap. The Administration in particular operates in a fantasy world unconstrained by the economic strains facing many in our community. The school property burden is crushing and ever increasing. It is simply unfair and unsustainable and will force many to leave town. Rather than making a good faith effort to try to comply with the cap,the Administration just criticizes it, tries to scare the community, and proceeds like it is business as usual. This year it is not. And the Board and the Administration should expect a vocal and organized opposition to any attempt to exceed the cap. - Concerned citizen is spot on Wed, 30 Nov 2011 05:44:26 +0100 http://www.scarsdale10583.com/201111232077/schools/purvis-outlines-deep-cuts-in-school-program-if-tax-cap-prevails-in-scarsdale.html#comment-3368 I think that the discussion has been derailed- The real issue the Board of Education and Administration and their inability to recognize the financial constraints of the community. I find it insulting that last year we broadened our educational offerings to include Mandarin- This was done to increase the tax levy so that this year we could be starting from a higher levied amount compensating for the 2% cap. Now to add insult to injury the Administration is positioning this community to override the tax cap without even trying to cut spending. During the tight financial times we have increased our High School Administration, increased our course offerings, and kept class sizes at an incredibly low level. All luxuries. While many of us work 2 jobs just to be able to live here and are counting the days until we have to move our Board and Administration have taken the position if the citizens can't afford it let them move! The reputation is that Scarsdale compensates their employees well because we are an entitled community with high expectations. I would ask what came first the chicken or the egg. The Board and administration should realize we are not a private school and start cost cutting measures immediately just like the rest of the districts around Westchester County. Other districts have frozen administrative salaries, cut administrative positions and made hard choices regarding class size and professional development.- I would suggest that our conversation no longer focus on overriding the tax cap but rather how will we live within our means. - concerned citizen Wed, 30 Nov 2011 00:40:40 +0100