Fuller Calls Out Barrington School Board Colleagues on Spending

Barrington School Committee member Scott Fuller called out his colleagues last week on proposed spending next year for the schools. He didn’t get much of a response.

“Well, I guess I did,” Fuller said soon after the school board meeting last Thursday.

“Their lack of response is typical,” he said. “We’ve had enough time to think about the budget. To my way of thinking, they should have had an idea as to what they want to spend and where by now, regardless of the contract.”

He is referring to a new contract with the teachers' union, which is still being negotiated.

A proposed overall school budget of $46.18 million has gone to the Committee on Appropriations for its review. That's 3.7 percent more in spending than this year -- about $1.46 million. But proposed spending is still a work in progress because of the  new contract, which has not been finalized and, from Fuller's viewpoint, has tied the hands of the School Committee.

“I knew a couple of months ago where I stood,” said Fuller. “Everybody knows the contract is still out there. But we still need to decide on all-day kindergarten and technology and other spending after the contract. I wish I had put a stake in the ground earlier.”

The lack of an immediate response to his concerns, said Fuller, is probably because “I surprised them.”

“But we always seem to work backwards,” he said. “I want to put out a number that is fair to the whole system. I don’t want to be forced into a corner.”

Fuller sees a budget increase of $1 million as more than fair to everyone.

“That’s a lot of money,” he said. “And I think that’s all we can spend.”

Fuller made his statement to the rest of the School Committee in a prepared statement. He provided it to Patch:

“I’d like to share my thoughts regarding the proposed BSC budget for FY 14.  Several  weeks ago SC members received the proposed budget from school administration. It suggested a 3.1% increase over FY 12. I cannot support this recommendation.

“Since then, I’ve analyzed much data. There are several areas that I’ve considered and reviewed. I’ve attempted to be balanced, thoughtful and holistic in my approach in order to arrive at a reasoned conclusion around a sensible budget increase:

A General Economic Scan indicates that:

• Unemployment in RI for the past year stands at 10.3% and in Barrington it’s been 7.3 %  for the past 12 months (RI Department of Labor)
• For the past 10 years, the operating budget of the school department has increased  4.2% through FY 13;  over the past 5 years through FY 13 it has increased 3.00%
• The increase to taxpayers from the BSC for 5 years has been 2.92% and 10 years 4.38% increase
• $2MM bond for roads needed
• New Middle School bonded indebtedness in 3 – 5 years
• School population has decreased by about 100 students this past year and will continue to decrease by several hundred over the next ten years.

“I am very mindful of the comments by Chairwoman Kadigan (Committee on Appropriations) that the BSC must continue to optimize resources. And I very much appreciate Mr. Andrew Kadak’s opinion piece in the Barrington Times recently when he queried: “Who’s watching out for the taxpayer?” It is my fervent hope that all of the elected officials, including the BSC are, in fact, watching out for the taxpayer.

My conclusions based on the data are as follows:

1. The BSC strategic plan is an important guide to continual improvement. The financial metrics, however, as currently constructed  in the strategic plan, are at this time neither specific nor are they measurable. They must be improved.  In my view, the ADK (all-day kindergarten) is the top priority this year and must be funded. Technology must also be funded in part.
2. In order to optimize resources, a complete Program Evaluation by the superintendent. and BSC should continue in order to strategically prioritize initiatives financially. This could be accomplished before the Financial Town Meeting.
3. In my judgment, the SC should evaluate budget initiatives in light of not only school but town priorities due to scarce resources in a down economy. And this should be done longitudinally for 3 – 5 years.  Annual meetings with the Tri-Council (the School Committee, Town Council and Committee on Appropriations) should assist in this effort.

4.   All options should be pursued to save tax dollars at every level, especially when it comes to savings where services are duplicated on both sides of government. Continue efforts to save $$ via privatization, combining/sharing services with town around technology, human resources/personnel, and maintenance.

5. Based on the above, I will support an increase in this year’s operating budget of up to $1 million, which is slightly more than a 2.0% increase over FY12. An increase in this range shows consideration for economic considerations, should be able to support ADK, equitable compensation to employees , and would allow for town maintenance efforts as well. As importantly, it would mean virtually no tax increase."