GilfordGrok

Well, it is almost time for the Budget Committee season to start again; this will be my third year (and yes, I am contemplating running for reelection).  Economic times are, well, weird - some industries sectors and companies are doing quite well (some well indeed) while others are in the tank.  Some of the overall economic data is showing good trends - and others are also in the tank.  So what to do, what to do?

Many families are angst ridden over "what to do?" as re-examining their family incomes and expenses around the kitchen table (especially the expense).  What would they do if the Economic Grim Reaper materialized at their door ready to ding the doorbell?  What about the families who stare in horror as the fiend has already knocked the door down and is astride the threshold (or invited him in as a result of prior decisions)?

In all cases, all expenses are being re-examined, including that one that is one of the biggest (and normally considered to be "non-discretionary") of each family - property taxes.

Fortunately here in Gilford, YOU CAN make a difference - your voice can be heard.  Call the Selectmen, the School Board, the Budget Committee (I encourage you to email me or leave comments here!), and your fellow residents.  Attend the meetings, write the Letters to the Editors (e.g. Laconia Daily Sun, Laconia Citizen, Gilford Steamer), talk the issues around the watercooler / coffeepot.

Just don't sit there and moan! Do like this person who wanted their voice to be heard - do something!

Side note: Yes, after a bit of back and forth, I have decided to protect the identity of the emailer and family to ensure that there are no repercussions - but the person does live here in town.

Hello Gentlemen,
 
My name is <redacted> and I am a resident of Gilford.
I'm not sure if this is the right venue to voice my opinion and proposal, but I have a proposal that may help the school board with budgeting for the upcoming year.
 
First of all, with Sandy McGonagle and Jim Kemmerer retiring, I see absolutely no need for 3 principals in this district. This would be the opportune time to institute one district wide principal (be it Ken Wiswell or whomever), who would oversee all aspects of each school but which would shift the responsibilities to the assistant principals, Ernest, Sawyer and Lamontagne, who could then report to the person in charge of the district, i.e., Ken Wiswell. Doing this one district wide principal would free up approximately $250,000 (+/-) yearly which would allow for approximately 4 new teachers, or 6-8 new para-professionals, or anything else that needs budgeting for. This would free up monies that the school board could use instead of coming to the budget committee or the town for help.

I just thought I would send this along as an idea that should be brought up at the next school board meeting. Thank you for listening to my proposal.
 
<Gilford Town Resident>

We had a bit of a back and forth about the anonymous part - the writer said "no problem" but my response was "...but <family member> could get hammered......WE hammer people that deserve it, but only those people that deserve it.  We try to limit collateral damage as best we can.".  Thus, I am protecting the writer's name.

I agree with the tenor of the email - one of my questions to the School Board will be one that I had last year "what is the overhead ratio of indirect to direct labor?" and got a lot of hemming and hawing in return.  This year, I will add in the question "And if you tell me that your head count is commiserate with other towns, what about the costs of that overhead, Gilford to the comparable towns (notice I'm not saying "cities")?"

In that vein, my response to the emailer was the following (and tried to correct a couple of things):

Hi <Gilford Town Resident>

Well, Doug and I feel the same way you do - there is a problem with overhead in the District - not necessarily strictly headcount but (as you point out) the cost of that overhead.  I could post, on GilfordGrok, your letter (either signed or not - your choice) or you could call into our radio show on Saturdays (9-11 on WEMJ 1490, streamed from GraniteGrok.com) with your question for a wider audience locally.

In our view, as we have been told that we have wonderful principals of the three schools, why do we need a Superintendent (Dr. DeMinico, who is in charge of  the District)?  Only 3 schools?  Can't 3 highly qualified people run the district without a lot of overhead?

That said, I would rather see any excess monies NOT spent until better results are seen with the programs in place - with the money per student that we spend (well above the state average), we are not seeing commiserate results (NECAP, SAT scores)......return it back to the taxpayers (or better yet, don't take if from the taxpayers in the first place).  Turn out a better product by getting back to basics, show demonstrable results, then talk more money...

-Skip

And yes, I believe this topic has come up before.  I have nothing against Dr. DeMinico (actually enjoy  talking with him, and he IS good at what he does).  That said, I'm looking at costs and looking at the results of the product of the District.

Well, I got a response:

Hi Skip,
Thanks for reading my email. I just thought this would be a good time to look at overhead in the form of eliminating those positions since they are retiring anyways.
 
I don't have a problem with you posting my email on the Grok, but just keep in mind that <redacted> and I definitely see a need to trim that overhead. My figures are probably way off, but think about what could be accomplished with the salaries of these two retiring principals and not going to the town for help.
 
Thanks again,
<Gilford Town Resident>

My final email to that person included the datum that I would post up the email thread.  I also want to include this:

I encourage ANYONE to do the same - the more voices, the more that officials are kept in line (including Doug and I as elected officials on the Budget Committee).

So, to all readers - it is your town.  It IS up to you to do something about it - get moving.

I think you guys are doing an excellent job of making sure the officials of this town are doing what they are supposed to do.

And humble thanks!