New Haven Independent

Posted by: City Hall Watch | January 16, 2009 11:41 AM

New Haven has spent a bundle on massive, luxurious new schools and completely wiped out the smaller neighborhood schools. It did this under Mayor DeStefano for reasons that seem clear to me: ECS funding formula that at the time, paid at a higher rate; and because the city needed new schools or at very least re-furbished ones and the reimbursement from the state was higher. Sources tell me this was against the advice given to the mayor and the BOE. Both of these formulas have hit the small towns hard because they don't build magnet schools, they don't build luxurious buildings, and as a consequence, the state payment per child is pretty low.

Now, the formula is scheduled to change and get more fair for the rest of the state, but the city has boxed itself into a business model that will force hard choices. That's not something the city is good at doing. In fact, it never faces hard spending decisions. It just raises taxes and blames everybody else.

What do these superintendents suggest be cut in terms of state spending so they can continue to get these large payments per pupil? Or better yet, how about all these superintendents combine their school systems into one regional system, do aways with the individual school boards, administration and all that duplicative overhead and use the money for the children if this is really the best way to go?

Posted by: Beansie'sMom | January 16, 2009 10:55 PM

Under a Democratic Governor, Gov. O'Neil, the state lost and is required to provide opportunities for minorities. How absurd is it to say now, put it all under one state sytem.

The same state where the Current Governor has let a transportation department run wild. Who wasted a golden opportunity to develop Bipartisianism when we had a Rep Governor and a Democratic Lt. Governor. SHAME, SHAME, SHAME.

Contractor's have made money, children like to go to new schools and now we should abolish this or have buildings sit empty.

Certainly, I dont' want one education system for the entire state. Health care doesn't work equally for the poorest in this state. Individuals who worked hard for over fifty years make less than some here only a few years. WHY?

Healthcare a supposedly growing industry, can't provide reasonable heal care to the bottom third to half of it's workers. Can an orderly or a CNA afford H/C for their family. It certainly is out of range for the working class in this state.

My children go to schools that teach values and morality. Their schools aren't fully funded by the state, the city or the federal government. I'm not getting any tax break. I'm in the 15% tax bracket alledgely. Really, b/c I pay a lot more. My wages fund the undocumented, fund the disabled so they can continue their additions to alcohol and narcotics, fund new definitions of family and marriage.

My money also helps to pay pensions for paroled elected officials or law enforcement personnel that failed in their most basic tasks and responsibilities. Why, I'm told it's only fair b/c they paid into them. REALLY, with funds they shouldn't have earned or didn't earn legitimately.

Why not go after the pensions of the retired teachers who put together these wish lists at the various Metro area Magnet programs. Who can fail teaching some of our children but spend time arguing about color choices. Especially when they take their fat paychecks and go home to the suburbs.

Or about a retro tax on construction company profits from these peak building times. Maybe if school designers had bought locally, we wouldn't face this problem.

Fix the basic problems with CT funding, don't have the towns relying on property tax. Go after those who benefitted from sending jobs overseas or to another state.

Why do we mail so many of our bills for basic utilities OUT OF STATE. Why does the ambulance bill come from OHIO? Why do call for a Healthcare of Connecticut company go to Florida?

Schools redesigned to be more energy efficient-- these should go empty.

What is the matter with the basic thought process of the executive and legislative branches to think this is a possible solution. Maybe since so many schools will be closed, instead of home schooling, maybe we should have a child follow everyone who works in government and give the child a proxy to make better choices than the grownups.

Children think you can give a homeless person a thousand dollars and they can build themselves a home. Their mother sees the same person panhandling, wearing a nicer coat than she has. Clearly this isn't the case with all the homeless.

Perhaps Madam Governor can explain why the state armory is open in Branford when the majority of the homeless are in, dropped off at, or receive services in the CITY of New Haven. I rarely come across panhandlers in Branford. But this is where she decides to keep an emergency shelter open? Between East Main, West Main and plain Main, can a homeless person find it? Is the Ct Transit bus company delivering people to Branford each night for free?

Really how do I explain this to 8 year olds. They dream of seeing the Hotel for Dogs. IF Hollywood can think it up and film it, why can't we here in Connecitcut find a better solution.

Posted by: IdleHands | January 16, 2009 11:10 PM

Waaahhhh. Please foot the bill for my legacy. My entire career depends on an endless supply of cash. So what if it's mispent. I want more money and I'm going to hold my breath until I get it.

Posted by: BedFace | January 18, 2009 8:18 AM

Dr. Snead,

Didn't Obama spend the first half of his formative years in Catholic Schools and then the second half at a prestigious prep school on a needs based scholarship. I'm surprised you would could have ignored that. Not exactly truthfull.