GilfordGrok

As we enjoy the lazy days of summer in Gilford, the department heads are getting ready to submit their budgets. With no apparent direction from the town’s leaders, such as spending increase limitations issued by Meredith leaders, one wonders what kind of a budget we might see. Last year the budget season was relatively uneventful because the selectmen and School Board presented lean budgets to fund the town’s needs. With prices rising for just about everything in sight, this year could be a big challenge. Not to mention the rumors I’ve heard that some, if not all, of the deleted “outside” agencies are looking to get their fingers back into the taxpayer’s pockets. What might we see from the “free’ library building that is being accepted with known moisture problems? With funding approved for football, will we hear a similar request from the long waiting hockey team? The school board should be commended for returning a sizable amount of money back to the taxpayer. This money could go a long way to offsetting the upcoming hefty increases in heating oil and other rising expenses. Will this unspent money be requested by the Meadows committee that still plans on even though a growing majority of Gilford residents would prefer to see sports fields developed at the High School where it makes the most sense?

Clearly, the upcoming budget season for Gilford is going to be interesting. I’m hoping that the campaign speeches from the newly elected officials were more than just words of political convenience. The newly elected Selectman believed that he could find ways to increase revenues to offset spending and nearly all the Budget Committee winners ran on “conservative” platforms. Hopefully, all will be mindful of the taxpayer’s desire to fund a limited number of “outside” agencies. This can only be viewed as an obvious message that the people need tax relief.

Posted by Terry S. at 08:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It certainly has been a while since I've posted anything here at GilfordGrok - there's been a lot of stuff going on in other areas that have needed my attention.  However, now can be the time to play catch up on things that have gone on and just put my (albeit, late) 2 cents in.

*****

Congratulations to both Mr. Ruggles and Mr. Dunn for being appointed to their new positions (Finance Director and Town Administrator)!  It will be good to meet with and get to know them during the upcoming Budget season. 

*****

Speaking of the Budget season - there will be a lot of concerns expressed this year that rising costs will be affecting both the Town and the SAU.  Framed by the question of "what is the proper role of government?", it will be interesting to see where the leadership of both entities (Selectmen, School Board) believe the priorities of the town should be. 

Not everything that people will want can or should be funded.  Let's see which holds sway during the presentations - the needs of government vs the needs of the regular taxpayer.

Me?  I always take the side of the latter - after all, their priorities should be to see to the needs of their families first.  Government is an expense, a mandatory (and needed) expense.  But when push comes to shove, whose budget should, and will, be honored first?

*****

And I would be remiss if I thought that the issue of the non-profits / NGOs / professional services organizations seeking taxpayer monies was over with the voting done by the townfolks in the last election (the warrant articles which you, the townfolks, voted only to keep 2 NGOs in the budget).  

I'm quite sure that the pitches to the Selectmen have probably started, they will start with the Budget Committee again, and once more, the Letters to the Editor will fly.  I just wish for one thing to happen:  that the NGOs would stop equating the use of Town Taxpayer money with measuring the level of support from that particular Town. 

The true measure is not by persuading a handful of politicians (of which I am one) that property tax money should be used for their organization.  Rather, it should be the amount of TIME and funding that individuals and voluntary organizations (e.g., Rotary, Lions, Elks, you name it) offer.

Yeah, THAT'S going to happen real soon!

*****

The land sale to the Gilford Village Knolls (and then the money to the Library Trustees)

I, for one, was glad to see it fail.  While the Selectmen were granted the authority to conduct the sale of the property by warrant, I still maintain that I would have preferred to see it go to the highest bidder.  That said, I would still like for the original donors receive their money back (with, perhaps, a bit of interest) to do with as they wish and then the rest of the proceeds used to offset the tax burden.

Oh well.

*****

Posted by Skip at 10:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It's always for the teachers union children!

Most peoples' reactions to the word "teacher" is the kindly school marm (apologies to the other gender) smiling broadly at her little charges, apple on the desk (at least, that's my reaction).  For the individual teacher, for the most part, it works.

However, teachers unions, it's a different story.  No longer is it an individual face that a parent interacts with during parent - teacher conferences.  Now, it is one of the largest unions in the country and they do like to throw their weight around.  Perhaps others in town may not know, but the overall budget of the NEA is $345 million dollars.  Of that amount, the national organization will spend up to 1/3 of that on political stuff (e.g., ballot initiatives, media, et al).  The average compensation per NEA employee is around $196, 000 for over 560 people - not bad for "it's for the children".  And your tax money is the fuel for this salary structure.

And then this in the Citizen from a couple of weeks ago (Citizen, 7/17/08) concerning the Laconia School District:

Schedule spurs dispute with LEA

Article Date: Thursday, July 17, 2008

As students prepare for this fall's implementation of a new block scheduling program at Laconia High School, the district's teachers union is urging the state Labor Board to squash the plan until school district negotiators are willing to bargain over the changes proposed in it.

"We wrote to them three times in three separate letters from mid-February through the end of March (asking them) to bargain with us ... they refused to do it," said Dick Coggon, a consultant to the Laconia Education Association and the union's co-grievance chair.

So, is this an expression of "it's for the children", or "it's for the union"?  I keep hearing that teachers only wish is to do what is in the best interest of children's education; here's an example where management believes that for this to happen, a change has to happen.  If one is to believe the first expression, why is not the union agreeing and try to put its best foot forward for those children?

Because it becomes quite obvious it is not for the children.....it is about who has the power.  Nothing more, and nothing less.

[snip]

An unfair labor practice challenge filed against the Laconia School District by the Laconia Education Association (LEA) concerning the new "block" schedule was brought before a state hearings officer on July 15 and that individual's recommendation will be forwarded to the state Public Employee Labor Relations Board for its review.

Teachers' union leaders say the decision on the matter is expected to come in mid-August.

On April 24 the LEA filed an unfair labor practice against the school district for allegedly refusing to bargain over a block schedule change will increase the number of classes students can take each year to bolster the graduation credit requirement.

On the same day the union filed a formal grievance with the school district on its implementation of a block schedule it contends violates three sections of the collective bargaining agreement.

Teachers union officials say the new block scheduling requires them to teach more classes and argue items relating to wages, hours, terms and conditions of employment are all a mandatory subject of collective bargaining.

Under the former schedule teachers taught five classes throughout an entire year. The new block system has them teaching three classes in two semesters, totaling six. There has been debate over whether the change produces more teaching hours with students based on the length of classes and free periods...

There is often the mantra from the teachers that they want to be treated as "professionals".  Well, there seems to be a few things missing, as in "not getting the concept":

• In general, teachers make about the same wage when translated to an hourly basis as most other professionals. 
• Professionals who are salaried are generally are expected to "get the job done" - the work load may require more hours and / or effort than normal.  I've worked a 30 hour week a few times.  More often, is been 60 - 100 hours in a week. Professionals know that this will happen from time to time.  Whining about having to do more (above and beyond the normal grumbling the rest of us do) when needed doesn't help your cause, as you'll still be in school about the same amount of time. 
  
• And yes, we all put in unpaid overtime, so don't start in with me - you'll lose that battle from the get-go.
  
• If you really feel that way, that you want to be treated like other professionals, why the heck are you staying in a union?  Professionals in the private sector, whose salaries you covet, go to the highest bidder / employer - that's what capitalism is and rewards.  None of this wanting white collar wages and acting in a blue collar style.
  

Can't have it both ways.But the NEA does try as it shows in the Wall Street Journal editorial:

Teachers' unions are expert at presenting the interests of their members and of public school students as one and the same. Which is why it's always illuminating to see how the nation's largest teachers' union, the National Education Association, spends its political money.

Each year, NEA members pay into a "Ballot Measure/Legislative Crises Fund" that allows the union to spend tens of millions of dollars on all manner of state and national political issues. Mike Antonucci of the Education Intelligence Agency [Note: the unions hate this guy, but he is seldom proved wrong  -Skip], a longtime union watchdog, has tracked this fund's spending. In the 2007-08 fiscal year, not surprisingly, the NEA spent $2.3 million -- on top of $1 million spent the previous fiscal year -- fighting a school voucher referendum in Utah.

How many textbooks would $3.3 million dollars buy?  How many new classrooms could be built and equiped?  Man, that would be a lot of classroom materials, wouldn't it?

But other expenditures reveal this national NEA cash -- which is separate from PAC contributions that must adhere to federal campaign-finance laws -- as a fund for various and sundry left-wing political causes. Mr. Antonucci reports that during the current fiscal year the NEA sent the Hawaii State Teachers Association $20,000 to conduct polling on a state constitutional convention. It sent the Massachusetts Teachers Association $60,000 to oppose a state income-tax repeal. And it sent the Florida Education Association $200,000 to oppose property-tax cuts in the Sunshine State.

In other words, the NEA actively lobbies to keep your taxes high!  Why?  Simple - more taxes generally means either higher salaries or more bodies to belong to the union.  And then the cycle positively feeds back on itself.

That's one reason why trying to protect Jane and Joe Six-Pack's income can get so difficult - so many special interests, teachers among them, clamoring for a bigger slice of the pie - your pie.

Expect more of the same going forward in a state near you. "Unlike most previous years," writes Mr. Antonucci, "NEA finished 2007-08 with a surplus of nearly $5.9 million, which means the union will enter the 2008-09 school year with almost $20 million available to spend."

It's a shame the NEA doesn't spend as much money and effort trying to improve lousy schools as it does trying to keep taxes high.

Oh, another thing - professionals generally do what their bosses say, instead of always retreating to a union steward when business conditions change.  Or, they move on to greener hills.

And that's why school vouchers are so unappealing to the NEA and the AFT - it threatens their power when parents can use the power of capitalism and consumer choice to send their kids where they think it best.

Every child deserves a publicly funded education.

Posted by Skip at 05:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I try very hard to thank all of our veterans whenever I can (and when ever I know).  This one escaped at the time of me spotting it in the paper, for which I apologize.  He certainly is due this acknowledgement - Thank you for your service.

From the Citizen (7/15/08) / Gilford Steamer (7/24/08):

The attached letter will reveal something else about this citizen of Gilford. To those who already know John, this revelation shouldn't come as a surprise, nor that he recently decided to pay for the replacement of an aged town square flagpole, which honors Gilford Veterans, with a new fiberglass flagpole. Thank you John, for what you've done and continue to do.

Vic Jones
Laconia

Ms. Barbara Lippette
Rahway High School Reunion Committee
www.rahwayhigh.com

Dear Barbara,

I have a favor to ask and I hope you will consider it. Provided I had my running shoes on (you'll figure this out once you read this letter), by asking to borrow the microphone I would do this myself, had I been able to attend the reunion. You are welcomed to read this letter or to make this acknowledgment in your own words, regarding a member of Rahway High School who is in attendance at the reunion. While I understand a reunion is meant for fun and getting caught up with classmates, it should also be a time for revelation. Accordingly, this is not a somber request but rather one of celebration.

Amongst all of you at the reunion is an authentic hero. A brave man, whose humility often limits him from revealing something about his past. I have been his best friend since we were four years old growing up in Rahway New Jersey, and if it hadn't been for my father reading me a Rahway Record news article on the telephone back in the early '70s, its possible I never would have ever known about his award. That phone call was the first and last time I ever remember hearing my father cry.

For you see, John T. (Tandy) O'Brien, Rahway High School class of 1964, while serving as a U.S. Army Warrant Officer and helicopter pilot in Vietnam during the early '70s, was awarded The Silver Star, our nation's 3rd highest medal for bravery and courage in combat. Only two other medals are rated higher for combat valor above and beyond the call of duty, the Distinguished Service Cross, and ultimately the Congressional Medal of Honor.

My father, a lifelong Rahway resident, was a bit of a historian, and especially enjoyed Rahway history. He also worked for the Army at Picatinny Arsenal in the last years of his career and was reasonably sure, after years of research that John was at that time, and perhaps still is, the most highly decorated combat veteran to come out of Rahway, New Jersey. More than that and not to diminish his Silver Star, my father also suspected, based upon reading John's Silver Star citation and listening to him describe the events of that day, that he was probably deserving of the Congressional Medal of Honor. Afterwards, through his Army network and with the assistance of his childhood friend US Senator Clifford Case, also from Rahway, he tried to determine if his suspicion was correct but passed away beforehand.

Whether one agreed or disagreed with the war is not important at this moment. Those who served in Vietnam didn't start the war, nor did they make political or military policy. They simply did their duty, some perhaps more than others. It still saddens me to think members of our armed forces were spit upon back then and in my opinion have never been properly recognized by our nation for doing their duty.

Barbara, I have asked this favor because I have admired John all my life, not just because of his Silver Star, but also because of the honorable way he has chosen to live his life. I love him like the brother I never had.

On a lighter note, throughout our lifelong friendship we have been teasing and playing practical jokes on one another. As I mention in a previous email, one of the reasons I moved to New Hampshire's Lakes Region after my retirement, was to be able to annoy John on a more regular basis. Pains me to admit it, but he usually has been the croaker and me the croakee. By making this announcement, you will give me a significant "one up".

By the way, if you're in for a real hoot, ask John why he retired from 3M Company after only 25 years, rather than the 30 to 35 years he intended. Just another example of his integrity and character!

So, in honor of John O'Brien, a Silver Star recipient, and to all of those attending the reunion that have served in the United States Armed Forces, I would ask everyone to please stand, raise a glass and thank them for their service to our country.

Thanks in advance for doing this thing. All the best to you and those attending the reunion.

Vic Jones Rahway High School class of 1964

PS: In case anyone's interested, John's favorite drink is Jim Beam Black on the rocks.

Thank you, sir.

Posted by Skip at 04:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The IB program will continue to be a hot topic with respect to our school system (see here, here, here, and here for some examples).

Well, I'm not going to belabor the point - just a couple of comments...

From the Citizen (6/25):

Program to receive more study in Gilford

By CUTTER MITCHELL
jmitchell@citizen.com
Article Date: Wednesday, June 25, 2008

The Gilford School Board has decided to embark on another year of study of the International Baccalaureate program.

Most members of the public who commented on the program at Monday's School Board meeting had problems with the program. The objections noted dealt with what the program would teach students and what it would really accomplish.

In discussing the program and the initial review already conducted, board member Margo Weeks noted that over the last two years there has been a lot done to improve the rigor, with little in the way of improvements to the test scores of students.

"When we put in this new program with all the buzzwords and all the educational mumbo jumbo, what is that really going to change in the classroom," questioned Weeks.

Both fellow board members and commenting members of the public alike were concerned that what really needs to happen at Gilford is an emphasis on student learning, comprehension, and high academic standards.

Weeks noted this should happen before switching focus to the next new thing.

We have spent lots - at a budget of $22 mill and a student population of 1330 (approx) and continue to spend lots.  I think it is time to demand results - we spend well over the state average per pupil and get only a very small bump above the state average test scores.

While it may be impolite and not politically correct to ask - what is the current cost / benefit ratio?  Are we getting good results for our support of our school system based not on nice words or platitudes, but by actual measurements.  Try "Results" - the actual outcomes of the service (and the school system is a large entity providing a service to the Town).

This outburst was more than a little out of sorts:

School Board member Kurt Webber did speak against this assertion, stating he had seen "the trouble the 'ugly American' has caused first hand." He explained that for too long a perception of the unwillingness of America to branch out and learn in a global community has existed.

Mr. Webber totally missed what was trying to be said - that the foundational philosophy of IB is not that of American Exceptionalism.  Rather, it is one of a denigration of the notion of a nation state and setting more of a mindset of a global citizenry.

Ugly American?  No, no one wants that nor was advocating for it.  We should have our kids educated in how the world really works (and it is not all kumbaya either).  And yes, West Point is teaching our military leaders other cultures, and that is great.  In their given choice of career, it is absolutely necessary.

But dollars to donuts, it is not being taught from the aspect of being a "global citizen" - it is as an American citizen sworn to uphold the US Constitution (whose rights are under cultural attack by that of the UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights - gotta love their #29 that gives the UN the right to change all the others - just what I want - despots and tyrants of various countries of the world uniting against the West).

And that is one of my heartburns over the IB program.  My other issue is with the deconstructivity / humanist philosophy of the TOK class - Theory Of Knowledge.  One that never seems to get a straight answer to my questions.  From what I can tell, it is based in the humanist religion / philosophy which could rightly be called postmodern:

That postmodernism is indefinable is a truism. However, it can be described as a set of critical, strategic and rhetorical practices employing concepts such as difference, repetition, the trace, the simulacrum, and hyperreality to destabilize other concepts such as presence, identity, historical progress, epistemic certainty, and the univocity of meaning. 

In essence, we cannot know anything, as there are no truths or absolutes (even those religious or behavioral truths that many of us try to install in our children will be question ad nauseum).  Everyone has their own "truth" because everyone has their own "reality"; thus, what is true for me may not be true for you.

Sorry, but in my reality, this is sheer navel gazing and nose picking to the Nth degree.  The simple action of someone coming along and sucker-punching your nose will soon disabuse anyone of "separate realities" and the truth of the matter is that hit hard enough, you will be having red fluid disgorging itself from your proboscis.

Anyways, back to the article:

The implementation of the International Baccalaureate program has an estimated cost of $75,000 to $110,000.

Not cheap.  And given the other money spent so far with little to show for it, one has to wonder if it will be a good expenditure.

Posted by Skip at 11:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Town of Gilford - the Selectmen, the Administrators, the Budget Committee, et al, strive very hard to not only live up to the letter of the Right To Know laws but also the spirit too!  Folks here in Gilford should be giving them all "attaboys" and "attagirls" for admitting errors when they happen and "do-overs" to make things right.

Not so with the Belknap County Convention over "held in secret" brouhaha over appointing Craig Wiggin to the vacant Office of the Sheriff.  They circled the wagons, hunkered down and lawyered up and maintained that they were hiring an employee.

Due to the efforts of Tom Tardif and Doug Lambert, they have doggedly tried to protect OUR right to know how those that govern us have arrived at their decisions.

Heck, even the NH Supreme Court sided with them and slapped the expensive lawyer around during oral arguments (frankly, I felt sorry for him as I watched the proceeding here - he had nothing to work with and Tom did a masterful job, for a non-lawyer, in arguing his case).

This is one of those cases in life where what seems to be the issue is not.  The surface level "stuff" obscures what really is at stake. This is not just "procedural nitpicking" - it is sufficiently important and precedent setting that three additional judicil cases have been argued (and won) with the use of citing this case.

We here in Gilford are outside the seat's district, but if you are a Laconia citizen reading this, consider voting for Tom for Belknap County Commissioner.

Posted by Skip at 11:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Like I said, I'm trying to play catch up for a lot of stuff that has happened that I had to put aside at the time - so, humor me as I "let fly"!

From the Citizen (6/20/08 - yeah, that far back)

Editor, The Citizen: While the summer months have quieted the earlier debate, the question of town support for community non-profits continues. As the Executive Director of a local nonprofit, allow me to offer some insight on services and the importance of town funding.

Ah, but you have brought it back, and as we are nearly on the cusp of Budget Season, it will come back full force!

Look, as most of us said last year, it is NOT the case that the goals and services are not admirable by any of these groups (ok, I'm fibbing - given the nature of killing babies by Planned Parenthood and their disgusting new site for kids concerning sex [Take Care Down There - Warning! NSFWOK - Not Save For Work Or Kids] that talks about oral sex).

That said, why do they insist that your property taxes should rightly be given to them rather than them politely asking you to individually for a charitable donation? It seems that we've gone from "I gave of my heart, time and money personally" to "I gave at the office" to "I gave through my taxes".

I believe we are starting to see "be careful of what you wish for".  For years, the NGOs had quite a bit of funding through local, county, state, and federal tax monies (either payment for services, donations, or grants).  Peoples' tax bills got larger and larger - so why give more - government is taking care of them!

While some nonprofit organizations receive limited funding or payment to assist in supporting their services, for most organizations, there is either no payment or the payment is inadequate to cover the true cost of these services. When the funding does not meet the cost of providing such services, agencies have only two choices: try to raise the money elsewhere or curtail the service.

The nub of the whole argument.  Pricing and funding in both the private and public sectors serve a role in sending signals.  In the private sector, if no one is buying your product, you go out of business.  The similar holds true in the NGO sector - if the funding diminishes, it should be a signal that perhaps the service is not wanted by those funding it.

As in the private sector, where the individual consumer determines what is needed or wanted, so does the taxpayer in the public sector.

Those of us who manage nonprofit agencies know that community needs are great and growing.

There will always be greater and greater needs and wants.  Free (to the recipient) is not cheap (to the donor).

We know that a professional workforce including nurses, physical therapists, nursing assistants and others are in limited supply. We also know that the people working for us, like workers everywhere, expect to be paid a fair wage.

And like the rest of us in the private sector, there is no guarantee to a job. If they are not getting a "fair wage", they, like the rest of us, can change jobs. It seems that this fact is obscured a lot in discussions about positions.

On the other side of the equation, we understand that potential donors make choices about where to direct their resources. When I speak to donors, business leaders, selectmen or budget committee members, I remind them that CH&H serves their community, their neighbors, and possibly themselves. Visiting Nurse Associations like ours help many individuals whose care is not profitable in a financial sense, but is profitable in a community sense because it restores the health and function of people in the community.

Well (no surprise), I was with her until I saw selectmen or budget committee members.

These individuals would not be cared for by a for-profit organization because there is just no profit to be made on their care.

Margaret Franckhauser, RN, MS, MPH
Community Health & Hospice, Inc., Laconia 

That may be true, it might not.  It also shows a structural change in society, beginning with the New Deal in the 1930s, when government started to tread where families once took care of their own.  That pace to have government play a larger role than families has accelerated in recent years.

Is this a good thing or a bad thing?  Like all things, there are both good and bad.

That said, it used to be that charities used to be privately funded.  That's probably a better device for signaling when a service truly is needed in a community. 

And for those who believe that society has moved on and that the Older Ways can no longer function, one only has to look to the Amish - there, family and friends take care of elders and those who really need the help - and not put the burden on strangers.

Posted by Skip at 10:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)