OMG..I
can't believe you people. Since Miller came to this school WE WARNED
YOU TO WATCH THE BUDGET! We also warned you over and over about Miller.
Templeton warned you and you ignored all warnings! You were also warned
about anyone speaking out against her and now we have lost so many
valuable teachers and administrators. You were also warned she was a
master manipulator. Just out of curiosity are you listening yet?
The first year she was here she moved the offices to the main street and blows 64,000.00 plus dollars which could have been spent more wisely and upgraded the previous offices and have a more suitable building. Instead, she had to be shamed into moving back to the school and then tried to play martyr by saying she moved into a closet area which was, in fact, the Dean of Students office for years! Cathy HH.
The pay increases and amounts for a VP Perry, Principal Bacon and Asst, to the superintendent Healy are ridiculous and should have never been approved when this school had to remove more teachers to pay them and still left the budget a complete mess and the school in chaos.
Miller states
Superintendent Ruth Miller, who also acts as business manager for the district, opposed a new hire.
“If you get another business manager now, that money, that $40,000 or $50,000 could be going to paying off the shortfall,” Miller said, adding that “the least that we can do as a committee for the rest of this year is to try to get the shortfall down as much as possible."
This is not true and Peggy you are wrong . You need to get this Business MGR in here now! Miller does not want him here because she is well aware of her mistakes and they will be brought into the open. You need to do this now !!!
Miller states
“I think the auditors and the (district leaders workshop) panel think to split my position makes sense considering I’m leaving,” Miller said. “They weren’t saying when to do it, they were saying down the road to do it.”
This is Miller manipulating the situation.The auditors saw something and we were not told which is also why the SC members are also slow to decide because they know they screwed up and this is gonna bring it into the light same as it did for Templeton. Sooner or later they will have to face what they have done and us.
Robin L’Etoile
In support of maintaining Miller’s salary, committee member Robin L’Etoile said “we have been basically getting a discount for the last two years,” by only paying Miller, rather than a superintendent at a comparable price and additional business manager.
Wake up Robin L’Etoile you have NOT gotten a discount you have generated a massive debt. Miller should have NEVER been a business mgr and this is also proof how you sadly lacked in your duties when hiring her or you would of know this was a bad decision.
Listen get the business mgr now PVRS cannot go on this way any longer. The destruction has been done its now time to face what has happened and head in a positive direction to fix it. This can no longer wait and I suggest the town SB stay on top of the next hire and involve themselves in resolving the reconstruction of PVRS. Its been clearly seen that the SC cannot handle this job alone.
I have been to the school a couple of times this year, and the lack of support they have for one another was just sad. The students don't seem to support the others and teacher and administrators do not show up to events as they did in the past. The spirit that once ran thru this school seems to of died. The paw prints have even faded. The laughter has died along with its heart and spirit. For many of us past and present to see this is heartbreaking.
Do your jobs for once SC and hire the business mgr. As parents and taxpayers, we demand something to change and not continue down the path its on.
The first year she was here she moved the offices to the main street and blows 64,000.00 plus dollars which could have been spent more wisely and upgraded the previous offices and have a more suitable building. Instead, she had to be shamed into moving back to the school and then tried to play martyr by saying she moved into a closet area which was, in fact, the Dean of Students office for years! Cathy HH.
The pay increases and amounts for a VP Perry, Principal Bacon and Asst, to the superintendent Healy are ridiculous and should have never been approved when this school had to remove more teachers to pay them and still left the budget a complete mess and the school in chaos.
Miller states
Superintendent Ruth Miller, who also acts as business manager for the district, opposed a new hire.
“If you get another business manager now, that money, that $40,000 or $50,000 could be going to paying off the shortfall,” Miller said, adding that “the least that we can do as a committee for the rest of this year is to try to get the shortfall down as much as possible."
This is not true and Peggy you are wrong . You need to get this Business MGR in here now! Miller does not want him here because she is well aware of her mistakes and they will be brought into the open. You need to do this now !!!
Miller states
“I think the auditors and the (district leaders workshop) panel think to split my position makes sense considering I’m leaving,” Miller said. “They weren’t saying when to do it, they were saying down the road to do it.”
This is Miller manipulating the situation.The auditors saw something and we were not told which is also why the SC members are also slow to decide because they know they screwed up and this is gonna bring it into the light same as it did for Templeton. Sooner or later they will have to face what they have done and us.
Robin L’Etoile
In support of maintaining Miller’s salary, committee member Robin L’Etoile said “we have been basically getting a discount for the last two years,” by only paying Miller, rather than a superintendent at a comparable price and additional business manager.
Wake up Robin L’Etoile you have NOT gotten a discount you have generated a massive debt. Miller should have NEVER been a business mgr and this is also proof how you sadly lacked in your duties when hiring her or you would of know this was a bad decision.
Listen get the business mgr now PVRS cannot go on this way any longer. The destruction has been done its now time to face what has happened and head in a positive direction to fix it. This can no longer wait and I suggest the town SB stay on top of the next hire and involve themselves in resolving the reconstruction of PVRS. Its been clearly seen that the SC cannot handle this job alone.
I have been to the school a couple of times this year, and the lack of support they have for one another was just sad. The students don't seem to support the others and teacher and administrators do not show up to events as they did in the past. The spirit that once ran thru this school seems to of died. The paw prints have even faded. The laughter has died along with its heart and spirit. For many of us past and present to see this is heartbreaking.
Do your jobs for once SC and hire the business mgr. As parents and taxpayers, we demand something to change and not continue down the path its on.
NORTHFIELD — Hoping to get a better handle on the Pioneer Valley
Regional School District’s finances, the School Committee voted to
pursue hiring a part-time business manager for the rest of the fiscal
year.
The 7-to-4 vote at Northfield Elementary School last week followed debate as to whether the district could stay afloat for the rest of the year without sinking more money into a new position, particularly considering the need to cut $282,514 to balance this year’s budget that was announced in September but hasn’t been reconciled by the School Committee.
“We’ve never resolved the $282,000 shortfall between actual revenue and our budget,” said School Committee member Peggy Kaeppel, who voted against hiring a part-time business manager. “Now we’re going to make that a bigger deficit.”
Though the budget subcommittee planned to make recommendations on additional cuts to the full School Committee, members and administrators emphasized a need to have input from each principal on where cuts could be made in his or her school. Getting that information, however, hasn’t happened.
Superintendent Ruth Miller, who also acts as business manager for the district, opposed a new hire.
“If you get another business manager now, that money, that
$40,000 or $50,000 could be going to paying off the shortfall,” Miller
said, adding that “the least that we can do as a committee for the rest
of this year is to try to get the shortfall down as much as possible.”
When Melanson Heath auditors Tanya Campbell and Patrice Squillante shared their audit findings regarding last fiscal year’s budget, the two recommended hiring a temporary business manager, which School Committee member Sharon Fontaine noted during Thursday’s meeting. Additionally, the four district selectboards presented a letter in support of getting a business manager.
However, Miller and School Committee members disagreed as to when hiring should happen.
“I think the auditors and the (district leaders workshop) panel think splitting my position makes sense considering I’m leaving,” Miller said. “They weren’t saying when to do it, they were saying down the road to do it.”
Miller announced in June she won’t be looking to negotiate a new contract once her current three-year contract is up. If nothing changes, Miller’s last day as superintendent will be June 30, 2018.
The majority of committee members emphasized the need to get a business manager as soon as possible.
“I think we have to find this money, as painful as it’s going to be,” said School Committee member David Young. “I think that a business manager with fresh eyes can more than pay for themselves in the first year.”
School Committee member Sue O’Reilly-McRae wondered if Miller would be willing to reduce her $141,714 salary, given that she’s paid to be both the superintendent and business manager. Fontaine suspected if a part-time business manager is hired, Miller’s hours might be reduced given fewer responsibilities.
Miller said she’s not willing to reduce her salary as she is under contract, bases her life around the set salary and is “not in the financial position” to cut her pay.
“This district also has a budget,” Fontaine replied. “We’re faced with the same things you are … I would support you taking a good look at what you could do if you would take a reduction in salary.”
In support of maintaining Miller’s salary, committee member Robin L’Etoile said “we have been basically getting a discount for the last two years,” by only paying Miller, rather than a superintendent at a comparable price and additional business manager.
Though no decision was made regarding on hiring, the committee floated ideas on possible candidates, including Daniel Haynes, who serves as administrator of finance for the Ralph C. Mahar Regional School District and once audited Pioneer’s budget, making him familiar with the district.
The 7-to-4 vote at Northfield Elementary School last week followed debate as to whether the district could stay afloat for the rest of the year without sinking more money into a new position, particularly considering the need to cut $282,514 to balance this year’s budget that was announced in September but hasn’t been reconciled by the School Committee.
“We’ve never resolved the $282,000 shortfall between actual revenue and our budget,” said School Committee member Peggy Kaeppel, who voted against hiring a part-time business manager. “Now we’re going to make that a bigger deficit.”
Though the budget subcommittee planned to make recommendations on additional cuts to the full School Committee, members and administrators emphasized a need to have input from each principal on where cuts could be made in his or her school. Getting that information, however, hasn’t happened.
Superintendent Ruth Miller, who also acts as business manager for the district, opposed a new hire.
When Melanson Heath auditors Tanya Campbell and Patrice Squillante shared their audit findings regarding last fiscal year’s budget, the two recommended hiring a temporary business manager, which School Committee member Sharon Fontaine noted during Thursday’s meeting. Additionally, the four district selectboards presented a letter in support of getting a business manager.
However, Miller and School Committee members disagreed as to when hiring should happen.
“I think the auditors and the (district leaders workshop) panel think splitting my position makes sense considering I’m leaving,” Miller said. “They weren’t saying when to do it, they were saying down the road to do it.”
Miller announced in June she won’t be looking to negotiate a new contract once her current three-year contract is up. If nothing changes, Miller’s last day as superintendent will be June 30, 2018.
The majority of committee members emphasized the need to get a business manager as soon as possible.
“I think we have to find this money, as painful as it’s going to be,” said School Committee member David Young. “I think that a business manager with fresh eyes can more than pay for themselves in the first year.”
School Committee member Sue O’Reilly-McRae wondered if Miller would be willing to reduce her $141,714 salary, given that she’s paid to be both the superintendent and business manager. Fontaine suspected if a part-time business manager is hired, Miller’s hours might be reduced given fewer responsibilities.
Miller said she’s not willing to reduce her salary as she is under contract, bases her life around the set salary and is “not in the financial position” to cut her pay.
“This district also has a budget,” Fontaine replied. “We’re faced with the same things you are … I would support you taking a good look at what you could do if you would take a reduction in salary.”
In support of maintaining Miller’s salary, committee member Robin L’Etoile said “we have been basically getting a discount for the last two years,” by only paying Miller, rather than a superintendent at a comparable price and additional business manager.
Though no decision was made regarding on hiring, the committee floated ideas on possible candidates, including Daniel Haynes, who serves as administrator of finance for the Ralph C. Mahar Regional School District and once audited Pioneer’s budget, making him familiar with the district.
