tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2054211382609443037.post1279150562606388625..comments2024-02-19T03:52:45.898-05:00Comments on Winchester Informer: One Reason Why Our Taxes Are So Highthe Winchester Informerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01458697269098575036noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2054211382609443037.post-32715341267439512672011-12-18T07:29:33.325-05:002011-12-18T07:29:33.325-05:00If you don't have it you cant spend it-- That&...If you don't have it you cant spend it-- That's the rule we all live by and it should be the rule that our town lives by.I Agreenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2054211382609443037.post-27410870027815773412011-12-18T06:37:02.087-05:002011-12-18T06:37:02.087-05:00Perhaps what we need to do is tuition our grade 6-...Perhaps what we need to do is tuition our grade 6-12 students to Keene. It seems as though that is where we have educational issues and social issues. If we want our students to be competitive then we have to give them the educational tools to master the tasks. We apparently do a good job with our students in grades k-5. I think that even if you run the number with the bond payment you will find that the cost for this should be some where around 5.5 to 6 million dollars. That sure in hell is a far cry from 11 million.<br /><br />This solution would ensure that all students get a great education not just the sped students. I do agree with the parent who is concerned that with sped costs so high her child's education will suffer. She is correct because the "team" in Winchester does not look at cost or consider that the least restrictive environment may just be the school.<br /><br />Think about this solution it may be our only chance to guarantee an equitable education for all.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2054211382609443037.post-84607002260452429462011-12-17T14:39:03.388-05:002011-12-17T14:39:03.388-05:00TO 'STOP CRYING AND GET OUT THERE..." I ...TO 'STOP CRYING AND GET OUT THERE..." I have voted, I have gone to deliberative. The ballots are perused thru by a selectman, and the deliberative is a public farce. We need new people period! The school budget is part of it, but the town budget is responsible too. By the way, if you go to Town Hall to question the tax hike, they immediately say it's because of the school budget! I don't know about town employees or school employees, but I have had to cut spending at home because of the economy. It's pretty basic, if you don't have it, you can't spend it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2054211382609443037.post-12387100369617347692011-12-17T11:29:32.755-05:002011-12-17T11:29:32.755-05:00If we allowed all of the comments people posted we...If we allowed all of the comments people posted we would spend all of our time editing them for content and weeding out all of the nonsense crap. We have set up a filter that automatically, based on certain words deletes users comments so we don't have to babysit the blog all day long. Also, sometimes for reasons unknown that our hosts are looking into, some comments just don't get published, even though we do approve them. Lastly if you don't like how we run the blog and what we do and do not allow, I suggest you find another hobby or construct your own blog. There are certain people in town, who we won't name, that come on here every day to do nothing but disrupt and post absolute nonsense that we have grown quite tired of. It is our blog and we reserve the right to edit and remove, like it or not.the Winchester Informerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01458697269098575036noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2054211382609443037.post-20384936587987695492011-12-17T09:48:19.401-05:002011-12-17T09:48:19.401-05:00WI, If you actually posted all the things people w...WI, If you actually posted all the things people wrote, there would really be a conversation on this site. I have left several comments, none of which contain any personal attacks etc and they do not post. I have copies of them. Only allowing the controversial comments and ones without all the facts is not a true representation of all people in Winchester opionion. Why do you continually allow personal attacks on people on this site and make generalization about groups of people. Why is that?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2054211382609443037.post-345817749241968402011-12-17T07:39:56.561-05:002011-12-17T07:39:56.561-05:00If there are only a few teachers who live in Winch...If there are only a few teachers who live in Winchester, then only they are paying the increases in taxation here. What you deniers are forgetting is that the Budget Committee cut $600,000 from the school's budget last year and at the school Deliberative the teachers, all of them, their families and their supporters led by Kevan Whippie voted to put that money back and increase spending. This was attached to our annual ballot by warrant article, go read.<br />The warrant included step raises as has already been posted here and a raise for all support personnel as well. Once again, go read and stop making air-headed unsupported claims. The proof, actual facts have been posted here before and are on the school's own web site under annual report. To all the people posting nonsense on this blog attempting to discredit the information readily available, get over it, facts are facts, we've been had by a group of people who were looking out for themselves.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2054211382609443037.post-39915953574338762572011-12-16T22:21:39.946-05:002011-12-16T22:21:39.946-05:00Stop complaining and get out and go to the deliber...Stop complaining and get out and go to the deliberative sessions and vote. Crying behind your keyboard does nothing.stop crying and do somethingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2054211382609443037.post-43019514054163994922011-12-16T17:39:48.119-05:002011-12-16T17:39:48.119-05:00My taxes rose over $1200 because of the school bud...My taxes rose over $1200 because of the school budget. I guess I wouldn't be so pissed if I had gotten a huge raise to offset this increase and was still able to put more money in my pocket like them. They have hurt many people where it hurts most and it won't be forgotten any time soon.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2054211382609443037.post-59672697930833521402011-12-16T17:37:17.126-05:002011-12-16T17:37:17.126-05:00Thank you for the link. And yes,teachers here in t...Thank you for the link. And yes,teachers here in town pay property taxes just like the rest of us; but none of us got a huge raise, roughly $7k, to help us pay our taxes. In fact most of us got saddled with a $1000 - $2500 increase to pay for their raises and other perks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2054211382609443037.post-18823890339193556722011-12-16T17:13:37.335-05:002011-12-16T17:13:37.335-05:00Only a few teachers live in Winchester. There are...Only a few teachers live in Winchester. There aren't that many. So when you say THEY voted for themselves it is actually a very small percentage.<br />Also as stated previously, only Winchester residents can vote whether they are teachers or not, they are paying the same taxes as you!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2054211382609443037.post-46257573389825287942011-12-16T16:52:30.833-05:002011-12-16T16:52:30.833-05:00Please note a large amount of the teachers dont ev...Please note a large amount of the teachers dont even live in town so I dont believe they are voting.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2054211382609443037.post-75470032308048987512011-12-16T16:11:01.326-05:002011-12-16T16:11:01.326-05:00The link to the FAQ about the school is at www.wnh...The link to the FAQ about the school is at www.wnhsd.org and under the Superindendant on the left hand side. <br /><br />I have heard from a few teachers that with their new contract that they supposedly voted for themselves...with higher amounts they pay for insurance they are taking home less this year than last. <br /><br />Also remember that the teachers that teach, and live in Winchester, and vote also have to pay the same taxes as everybody else.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2054211382609443037.post-57369097651874806822011-12-16T08:16:28.758-05:002011-12-16T08:16:28.758-05:00Before we turn this blog into a soap opera of symp...Before we turn this blog into a soap opera of sympathy for teachers let me say this, People CHOOSE to become teachers, they are not forced. Most do it for their love of children and wanting the best for them, others do it for reasons only they know. There's an old saying that goes, "doers do, those that can't do, teach" Some teachers are very good at what they do, others, well not so good. In any case these people choose where to work, they are not forced to join a district and they know full well what to expect as to salary and benefits. Having said that, this area is a poor area of NH, Winchester is a very small town with hardly any resources, the pay here isn't what you would get in a bigger market place. Our teachers know this, they also know that the benefits are the difference maker and they choose to work here. What has transpired the past year has shown me what kind of teachers we have here, that think of only themselves and not the citizens of town, parents of children or the children themselves. To vote to put such a heavy burden on everyone showed me where their loyalties lie, wasn't that a good example to set for the kids they teach? I think not.no sympathynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2054211382609443037.post-9953823846582736082011-12-16T07:21:37.516-05:002011-12-16T07:21:37.516-05:00Someone mentioned that there was a page on the sch...Someone mentioned that there was a page on the schools site that had a FAQ and answers but I can not find it. Can someone post a link or has it been removed?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2054211382609443037.post-65122060843323768012011-12-15T17:21:47.925-05:002011-12-15T17:21:47.925-05:00Those figures came directly from the school warran...Those figures came directly from the school warrant article #2. If only people in this town would educate themselves as to what is really going on around them before giving their opinions. Maybe we should take some of the wasted tax dollars earmarked for the school and have some adult education courses, it's evident that we need a remedial reading class for some here in town.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2054211382609443037.post-55800354382116786752011-12-15T16:39:04.548-05:002011-12-15T16:39:04.548-05:00Beginning teachers make about $33k without all the...Beginning teachers make about $33k without all the taxes/ dues/ and HC and retirement. Look at the WTA agreement. It is in black and white. It lists the pay scale and step changes. To make even $60k you would have to have a masters degree with over 30 additional credits and 16 years of teachers experience. Not sure where the other figures came from (37K, 51K 71K)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2054211382609443037.post-56989997401742593222011-12-15T12:33:43.206-05:002011-12-15T12:33:43.206-05:00As far as the new teachers making only $30K? I'...As far as the new teachers making only $30K? I'm sure they don't turn down the benefits, like health insurance. That would add to the salary. With other costs like dental, fica, retirement contributions, they don't JUST make $30K. Let's get real when we talk about how much they are paid, as, it probably adds 25-30% more to the dollar figure.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2054211382609443037.post-52889488285321980182011-12-15T09:35:11.465-05:002011-12-15T09:35:11.465-05:00To Ed Lake;
They = The teachers, admins and their ...To Ed Lake;<br />They = The teachers, admins and their supporters who created the problem.the Winchester Informerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01458697269098575036noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2054211382609443037.post-18374771620110141462011-12-15T07:59:15.114-05:002011-12-15T07:59:15.114-05:00The figures mentioned are not fact, nor true. Firs...The figures mentioned are not fact, nor true. First off, everyone has to start at the bottom and work your way up based on merit and performance. Unless of course you have a relative or friend in charge and they are going to use their influence to treat you much differently from everyone else. This is how things work in the real world. You go to school to learn, then apply what you learned to get ahead. No one forced anyone to become a teacher, why should they be treated any differently than anyone else?<br /><br />In Winchester's world, the teachers and admins of our schools decided they would never get what they wanted sticking with the old SAU unit they were governed by and decided to form their own unit in order to lavish upon themselves more money and prestige. Besides it would take less votes and they knew they had their own voting block to accomplish their goal of getting raises. Something that was voted down in the old SAU by the people.So they broke away on the promise it would cost us less money.<br />Last year they voted to approve the following increases and this , not any unforeseen expenses held over from a mismanaged SAU38 shortfall is what caused the huge increases in our tax bills.<br /><br />To refresh your memory, they voted to increase the school budget to:<br />$11,112,784 an increase of nearly a million dollars.<br />They voted to raise teacher's salaries<br />2011-2012 $37,306<br />2012-2013 $57,495<br />2013-2014 $71,722<br />That's a $34,416 dollar raise each in 3 yrs.!<br />They also stipulated it would go into effect immediately in the upcoming year (in 2011) creating a deficit in the teacher salary line.<br />They also voted to raise support staff salaries by $8,338, again creating a deficit in the budget line.<br /><br />All of this info can be found in the Schools annual report and you'd have known this had you attended the February School deliberative session.<br /><br />The teachers, admins and their supporters created the problem. No one else is to blame for the huge increases but themselves. As for the SPED student who cost us over $300,000. go ask Colleen Duquette what that story is, she was responsible for bringing him here.the Winchester Informerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01458697269098575036noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2054211382609443037.post-51275194185253942542011-12-15T07:21:49.683-05:002011-12-15T07:21:49.683-05:00Why would anyone pay for an education to become a ...Why would anyone pay for an education to become a teacher, if these figures are true, just get a job in the town hall. You would make more money, work half a week, and come and go as you please, and have no education loans to pay. Doesn't get any better that that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2054211382609443037.post-35978913099669215542011-12-14T20:25:34.407-05:002011-12-14T20:25:34.407-05:00What's sadder about a beginning teachers makin...What's sadder about a beginning teachers making less than $30,000 is that the SAU secretaries make more than that!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2054211382609443037.post-66575796582564871202011-12-14T20:23:48.930-05:002011-12-14T20:23:48.930-05:00We were lied to buy the old SAU administration. I...We were lied to buy the old SAU administration. It looks like the new administration is trying to be more open by posting info on the school website about the budget. Unfortunately for us that don't have SPED students are going to see our kids suffer because what they will be cutting is regular ed programs etc because they must by state/federal law provide for special ed students. $330,000 for 1 student is absurd but until the government begins paying the full portion of what they are supposed to pay we will just have to watch our future of bright, talented students get the bare bones if that for an education. This is no way to build a better future for us or our children, but what are we to do...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2054211382609443037.post-53077661353688922552011-12-14T18:45:44.540-05:002011-12-14T18:45:44.540-05:00You should know what you are talking about before ...You should know what you are talking about before you post a comment, it makes you look foolish.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2054211382609443037.post-15000870206670938962011-12-14T18:29:09.416-05:002011-12-14T18:29:09.416-05:00Not sure what raises teachers got? A beginning te...Not sure what raises teachers got? A beginning teacher barely makes $30K after 4 years of college. Pretty sad.<br />You also cannot vote unless you are a Winchester resident, thus they are paying the same tax increase as everyone else.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2054211382609443037.post-57398623439196151152011-12-14T08:03:39.072-05:002011-12-14T08:03:39.072-05:00It was also suggested to the school board to have ...It was also suggested to the school board to have the school deliberative held on a Saturday, just like our Town deliberative meeting instead of having it on a school night, so early many parents could not get home from work, line up a sitter and attend; but no, they all were against having too many parents there; otherwise none of this may have happened. The board controlled the outcome of the meeting and dictated all of this extra spending. Shame on you Kevan for lieing to all of us, where are the cuts?was therenoreply@blogger.com