The BOE met last night and Sal Corda decided to reveal tactic number 5 in his efforts to continue with the unchecked spending that has fueled his reign over the Norwalk Public School System. And that tactic can best be described as, “What you don’t know won’t hurt you.” Keeping the public in the dark, as well as the BOE is apparently Corda’s insurance against being held accountable for his reckless spending that has resulted in Norwalk paying more per student than any other school system in the state. But don’t spend too much time debating that economic measure, by virtually all measures, Norwalk pays more and gets less, the state board of Education says so, the BOE’s numbers sya so, and the taxpayers who looked at it carefully say so.
So with the public mood, and support from the Council and some BOE members, all asking for more disclosure, more detail more anaylysis and budget meetings, Corda’s response is the proverbial go pound sand.
Remember those great promises Corda made about meeting with the Common Council, the BET, some BOE members and himself to discuss the budget? Corda canceled twice now. His reason, not enough time. Yet he confidently asserts that he’s going to get additional state money according to news reports. How can he know that without talking to the people who will be voting on it?
Remember that $6.7 million shortfall? Corda know says, oops I overestimated enrollment and don’t need $1.7 million of extra teachers. Let me put that in perspective, his forecasting was so far off that he essentially realized that he didn’t need to order 100 pizzas to feed a family of four. Either Corda has the stupidest administration staff doing his enrollment projections and until he exerted some oversight, the first draft was accepted, or Corda is a liar. You can’t be that far off, when for five years the schools have been experiencing declining enrollment.
But the piece de resitance of Corda’s proclmmation at last night’s BOE meeting, was that he proposed to save $6k to reduce his operations by eliminating secretarial services of the BOE minutes. Hello, can we read the though bubble on that one together, “That way all you public taxpayers will have no idea what the BOE does, insert evil laugh here.”
Even more heinous is the fact that Corda ignoed the BOE finance committee by refusing to notice the meeting, and so made his budget recommendations without overwight or input by the BOE members. Imagine that. Corda has insulted now the taxpayers, the PTOs, the teachers, the parents and the students with his imperious my way or the highway management with his latest actions. But he’s really insulted the BOE, who he has now purposely dared them to show just how ineffective they are by forgoing any type of accountable budget discussion.
Bruce Kimmel and Greg Burnett seem to realize what Corda is doing. But do the rest of the BOE?
From the Advocate:
In staffing reductions, Corda revealed an additional $1.3 million in savings because of revised enrollment estimates, more efficient scheduling and staff turnover.
Finance Committee member Bruce Kimmel said the $1.3 million savings is good news, but the large discrepancy calls into question the original estimates.
“I’m extremely concerned that the initial estimates of the board and central office were so far off,” Kimmel said. “In fact, they were so far off I don’t know how anyone will take seriously next year’s Board of Education presentations if the initial estimates can’t be trusted.”
Other than the line item for literacy specialists, the recommendations were not otherwise prioritized as requested at the last meeting of the Board’s Finance Committee.
Board and Finance Committee member Gregory Burnett reiterated that request, and Corda promised the spending reductions would be prioritized in an updated draft.
Board reaction was limited because the Finance Committee had not yet had a chance to review Corda’s recommendations.
Before the meeting, however, Kimmel said he would oppose cuts to direct services and programs for students.
“I still will not approve a budget recommendation that cuts four literacy specialists and athletic programs,” Kimmel said.
It is not clear if yesterday’s canceled Finance Committee meeting would be rescheduled before a planned public hearing Tuesday to discuss Corda’s latest recommendations.
Kimmel said he was disappointed that those in charge of providing public notice of the meeting did not follow the regulations that would have allowed the committee to meet.
“It would have been an excellent opportunity for the public to hear discussion on the budget process,” Kimmel said.
The committee held its first and only meeting so far to reconcile the budget on May 2.
From the Hour:
Corda also recommended chopping $1.5 million in savings from medical benefits, and $65,000 from the police account.
The school system is exploring the possibility of using private security in certain situations, he said.
Corda, and board member Richard Fuller, stressed that the presentation was strictly for informational purposes.
Corda acknowledged that the board, and its finance committee, had not had the opportunity to review his proposal before the meeting — as the night’s finance meeting was canceled due to lack of proper noticing.
“We will be talking about it, but now at least you have something in front of you that we can sink our teeth into,” Corda said.
Before the meeting, board member Bruce Kimmel said he was unhappy with the delayed financial meeting, which Board Chair Jody Bishop-Pullen said would likely take place June 12.
“The public has the right to hear different views of board members, some who may agree with the superintendent, and some who may not agree with the superintendent,” Kimmel said. “I think the public missed out on what should have been a productive discussion.”
Kimmel asked Corda about a memo he sent detailing how $540,000 could be made in non-personnel reductions to line items like legal fees and long term substitutes.
He also asked Corda about the approximately $1.3 million in reductions based on revised enrollment, scheduling, and staff turnover.
“On a personal level I find that embarrassing,” Kimmel said in an interview. “It seems the board’s initial estimates were so far off it’s hard to believe anyone will take seriously next year’s initial budget proposal from the Board of Education.”
Corda said many of his proposed cuts “nickel and dimed” the budget, and that he had also reviewed Kimmel’s ideas.
He said he would address Kimmel’s other concerns during more extensive discussion at the next meeting.
And again from the Advocate:
Corda also included new recommendations to eliminate secretarial services at board meetings, for a savings of $6,250, and to reduce pay to overtime police officers for security services from $130,000 to $65,000.
Because the law only requires recording actions taken by the board, which can be done by the board member who serves as secretary, there is no need to take verbatim minutes. Meetings would still be audiotaped, Corda said.
source: The Norwalk Adovcate, Corda finds ways to reduce budget, June 6, 2007
source: The Hour , Corda unveils $6.7M trim from Board of Education budget, By AMANDA PINTO,
