Last week saw most school districts' yearly school budget vote. And, as in year's past, the worn, dog-eared "Vote Yes" signs came out of the closet, from behind the workbench, or down from the attic storage to be used yet again, for the children. It's always for the children. Never do the signs display the truth, that its For the Administrators or For the Teachers or For the Unions. Sure, it's disingenuous, but it also perpetuates the stereotypical blight that our schools claim to find themselves in at each school election cycle.
The Journal News, nowadays reduced in physical dimension and content to the size of a flyer, reported that only three budgets were rejected. One that was rejected but wasn't mentioned in the article was the Greenburgh Central 7 school budget. The vote was 403 to 398. The budget lost by five votes and will require a re-vote on June 21. But that wasn't mentioned. Add to the defeat that the sitting Board members don't want to have an austerity budget prepared and voted on. Rather, they just want this same budget re-proposed, knowing that the public won't come out en masse and it will pass as is!
The Journal News could have done more with this story but didn't. It's not that I want them to knock Greenburgh; rather, I simply hope they would do their jobs and report all aspects of what is going on, investigating where required and not be stenographers for any politicians. Just do your job!
The 2011-12 spending by the Greenburgh School Board will increase by 1.8%, based on an estimated tax rate of $435.77 per $1k assessed value. This will result in a 5.8% school tax increase! The only "No" vote was from the President, Lloyd Newland. Why? The other Board members voted yes. Out of the three incumbent candidates who ran, two, Charles Bronz and Terry Williams were re-elected and one, Monique Haygood-Massey was defeated. Perhaps voters decided it was time for a bit of a change. I know all of them and know they are nice people. But after being in office for so many years, they all may have gotten stale and should be rotated out. Out of those three, I think the voters got it wrong. New blood, new ideas and new solutions? It could just work.
I had a conversation with one candidate campaigning outside the Woodlands gymnasium and asked why should I vote for her? She said there were a number of things she would like to see change. One of the greatest challenges is the amount of administrators the Greenburgh system has. I agree. She also said the pension system is cause for concern and needs improvement. I agree. She said we can't keep operating with business as usual. I agree. Two of my concerns was that if she's elected, will she a) be able to challenge the incumbents who tend to feel more bulletproof after an election; b) will continue on her proposed track when times turn around. We'll see.
The school taxes are the real killer for Greenburgh tax payers. Politicians who pander to the next feel-good cause, as our Supervisor does when he feels it's time to get his name out there, don't really serve the public, but themselves. It's why term limits are so attractive to many. If we're really concerned about rising taxes in Greenburgh, lets hold the school board members feet to the fire. If they ignore us, let's clean house and start with a new slate. Don't buy into their spin that only they know how the system works and should remain. Good people will learn the ropes in short time, as they once did, and be able to bring about real change - not for the children, but for their parents!
