February 3, 2019
“Christopher Robin and I walked along….Under branches lit up by the moon…Posing our questions to Owl and Eeyore…As our days disappeared all too soon…” (Kenny Loggins;Return To Pooh Corner”
Owl stands so magnificent and reserved…he leans over and whispers to me these scholarly words…
- ” I’ve learned the voters will be voting on almost $ 6,000,000 of School Budget in two separate warrant articles. AND….if passed the budget cannot be reduced for three years. Or, as the School Board annually harps on, those numbers are “ out of their control” and the voters control for years once the voters approve the contracts.
In other words….approve the contracts this year and nothing to think about for the next three years. It’s out of everyone’s hands!” - “I’ve learned that the Master Agreement for Henniker teachers includes language which provides for stipends to be paid to teachers for 26 quasi-administrative positions, totaling $23, 800 excluding retirement payments to the State. A list of these positions can be found on page 33 of the proposed Master Agreement ( 2019-2022)…”
- “I’ve learned that the “ early retirement” language in the Henniker teachers contract Master Agreement provides for a bonus check to teachers who retire with more than 10 years of service in the district. I’ve also learned that that bonus check can potentially exceed $43,000.”
- “I have learned that the process of determining what are the appropriate levels of funding to provide for the “common good” is very often dependent on what seat you occupy…”
- “I have learned that some budgets and collective bargaining agreements are brought forth to the body politic by elected governing boards who are unaware of what is in the documents…”
- “I have learned that sometimes direct question that are germaine coming from the audience are often either not answered or obfuscated by a lengthy dissertation ending nowhere…”
- “I have learned that ardent supporters of the Town budget blame the School Budget for the excessive tax burden. Conversely, I have learned that the ardent supporters of the School Budget blame the Town budget. Of course, as previously mentioned, there is general consensus that the State is to blame…”
- “I have learned that the majority of time spent at these meetings is focused on past mistakes and current financial consternation…”
“What do you know…There’s so much to be done…Count all the bees in the hive…Chase all the clouds from the sky!”
The Henniker Teacher’s contract can be found here.
The Henniker Community School Support Staff contract can be found here.
Ahhhh…thank you wise old owl… I am grateful for all of the things you have done…!
OHB…keeping it real… making it easier for you to find the facts so you can draw your own conclusions…..
“There are things public officials would never do if they thought somebody might call them out on it.” (the wise young owl)
http://www.onlyhennikerbruce.com