October 5, 2010

Dear neighbors, I just got back from yet another sobering Finance Committee meeting, where we discussed the three budget scenarios we asked administrators to prepare -- one meeting the Challenges for Change (CFC) target (a 6.74% decrease from an FY12 budget that takes account of unavoidable increases), a second at a roughly 2% increase over last year which would require more than a million dollars of cuts (again from a projected FY12 budget), and the third a budget that carries forward everything we are doing now (expensive).

At present, we are pursuing two avenues.  One is advocacy.  Burlington is different, and the CFC target assigned to us (more than 5% of the total State cut) does not account for our enrollment  increases -- totaling more than 45 students just this year.  In a normal year, that would give us additional state block grant funds of close to a half million dollars.  There are many thoroughly insupportable ideas at the State level afloat right now for funding in a way that violates the Brigham decision -- the Superintendent has been with meeting with our lawyers.

Our second path right now is to continue preparing alternative budgets to bring to all of you for feedback.  What are our community values? What are we willing to pay for education in our schools?  How much can we cut  while also preserving the chance our kids have to compete in the 21st century global economy?

One thing is certain.  We could never hope to know how you feel and what you care about without the Front Porch Forum.  I urge all of you who have the ability to help support the FPF and keep open our lines of communication open during what will be (yet another) fascinating and anxiety-provoking year of school budget planning.    

http://frontporchforum.com/about/donate.php

Wishing you a mouse-free transition to frosty weather,

Amy Werbel
Ward 5 School Commissioner
awerbel@bsdvt.org
12 Catherine Street
http://www.amywerbel.info