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H1ghCh4r1ty
Advanced Member
967 Posts |
Posted - 05/11/2007 : 11:14:21 PM
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Wouldn't it b interesting if Steve Smith and David Ragucci both pulled papers for School Committee? In different wards of course.
That would be the best chance for a new point of view on the school committee.
As I've said before, F-cubed would have to change his underwear.
Emile Schoeffhausen |
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tetris
Moderator
2040 Posts |
Posted - 05/11/2007 : 11:24:08 PM
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| It would certainly make for more interesting meetings but until there is a clear anti-FFF majority, I don't know how much things would really change. |
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Court4Fred
Advanced Member
1201 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2007 : 07:40:57 AM
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| So, let's come up with some other names for school committee, stalwarts to run against the weak-kneed syncophants that make up the current system. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. I'd like to see Steve's wife, Judy, run. Smart lady. |
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H1ghCh4r1ty
Advanced Member
967 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2007 : 10:37:18 PM
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My Dear Court,
Your verbosity is quite impressive.
The Pup insists that a "syncophant" is a packyderm that can't swim.
However, my feeling is "one who uses compliments to gain self-serving favor or advantage from another"
Ciao
Emile Schoeffhausen |
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Court4Fred
Advanced Member
1201 Posts |
Posted - 05/13/2007 : 08:55:26 AM
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| Thank you, Emile - but in my haste, I spelled it wrong! It's sychophant...a self-seeking, servile flatter...which is exactly your definition. One only has to watch a school committee meeting (sounds of loud kissing) to know why we think so highly of the school committee. |
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tetris
Moderator
2040 Posts |
Posted - 05/13/2007 : 09:57:50 AM
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I went back to watch more of the last School Commitee Meeting than I was able to sit thru earlier and the $600,000 I posted about before was only the tip of the iceberg. They are also looking an additional $1,200,000 in Medicaid reimbusement money! I didn't catch the whole thing so I don't know what period each amount covers. They stated that they had a signed agreement from June 2004. FFF also stated that they have already met with the City Auditor and he had the exact same figures for the money the school department feels that they are due. As a part of this discussion, Alconada took a shot at Joe McGonagle for the schools being owed this money since McGonagle had earlier dared to question if the pre-school money that the city was appropriating was actually being spent for that purpose. This could get ugly.
Most of my posts so far would seem to be against the School Department. While I definitely have issues with FFF and the School Commitee, I believe that they definitely have a valid claim to any excess Medicaid reimursements as long as they being obtained within the parameters of the program. If the US has a Medicaid program that allows for such things, Everett should get its fair share.
My bigger problem is with the financial health of this city. If these excess Medicaid reimbursements have been put aside when they are received, then lets turn them over to the school department and been done with it. If they are just put into the general fund, I believe it will take an appropriation from free cash to fund such a transfer. I doubt that there is enough free cash to handle this issue and everything else that has and may come up.
I urge all members of city government and the Board of Aldermen that will be at tomorrow's meeting to come prepared to discuss the city financial issues openly and honestly and not to play politics. We as voters deserve and need to hear this discussion. |
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Citizen Kane
Advanced Member
1082 Posts |
Posted - 05/13/2007 : 1:04:32 PM
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David Ragucci has been out of office for 16 months. The School Committee is just now coming forward looking for this money? I find that very suspect. I don't think we can just hand the money over to them without some serious questions and figures being looked at .. . . and the first thing they should asked for is a copy of this signed agreement from June 2004.
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Court4Fred
Advanced Member
1201 Posts |
Posted - 05/13/2007 : 5:25:16 PM
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Good call, Citizen - the city council should definitely see what's in writing and not go by the "word" of FFF and the school committee, which is about as "seaworthy" as a collander in the Atlantic. The city council should also look at the Medicaid income between fiscal years (July 1-June 30) to make sure it goes over the benchmark. Again, reading what was agreed to is a good first step.
Tetris - while it may make sense for the school committee to "claim" the Medicaid reimbursement money, please don't forget that it is the taxpayers of Everett who pay for the services and certainly deserve a share of it back to offset taxes, when the federal government reimburses back. |
Edited by - Court4Fred on 05/13/2007 5:34:57 PM |
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Masterful1
Senior Member
421 Posts |
Posted - 05/13/2007 : 9:00:21 PM
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| FFF and the good ole boys know that their "boy" in the mayors office is not to last any longer. That is why they are coming forward now for the moolah!! They want to get their greedy hands all over it before it is too late and a new mayor tells them to stick it! Freddies running scared about losing those $$$..No Eagle, No Cash! |
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tetris
Moderator
2040 Posts |
Posted - 05/13/2007 : 9:03:12 PM
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Court,
Points taken. I guess I tend to be too idealistic. I think that if we had a superintendent and a school commitee that we had more trust in, we might be willing to give more money to the schools, especially if they were responsible for generating it.
Remember, the City of Everett in the past has spent the least amount possible on its schools according to the state's Department of Education. Every year, the city receives notification from the DOE that it owes the School Department money to meet net school spending. But Lord knows how net school spending is calculated and who provides the data for it. How well this school department and school commitee actually spends their budget is obviously open for debate too. |
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Court4Fred
Advanced Member
1201 Posts |
Posted - 05/14/2007 : 09:55:00 AM
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Tetris,
You clearly believe the press that Fred and his school committee put out there. The city does NOT receive a letter every year notifying of a "shortfall" - there have been a number of years in which this city paid OVER netschool, but Fred makes sure you don't know that.
As for what the city pays - the state determines how much the city put in. It's based on ability to pay. This is on top of the state and federal grants that the school department receives. The real picture of school finances (as depicted by the fiscal information provided by superintendents and school committees across the Commonwealth) can be found on the DOE website. How accurate is it? It's only as good as the numbers FFF gives them.
While Fred and company have made a career out of crying "poor mouth" - I don't see any of them driving a Ford Focus to school. They've done very, very well. They give themselves excellent raises each and every year. None of them goes "without" while spending sped dollars on teacher dinners, football, advertising, etc. |
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Court4Fred
Advanced Member
1201 Posts |
Posted - 05/14/2007 : 10:04:10 AM
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| And Testris - one more thing. The school department doesn't "generate" revenue. Medicaid is a federal program that provides a 50% reimbursment on services (which we are required to provide.) It is the taxpayers of this city who provide the funds to provide the services, and in NO WAY, should this reimbursement money be construed as anything else but a reimbursement to the taxpayers. While "giving back" to the schools in a nice thing to do, with taxes escalating the way they are, I wouldn't believe it should be an obligation. |
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massdee
Moderator
5299 Posts |
Posted - 05/14/2007 : 10:22:10 AM
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| I think the reimbursement should be used as tax relief for the tax payers. Fred wants the money now, because he can see the handwriting on the wall and knows Hanlon is all done. If he doesn't go after the money now, he figures he will never get from a different Administration. |
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massdee
Moderator
5299 Posts |
Posted - 05/14/2007 : 2:22:01 PM
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| Tonights meeting should be very interesting. I hope the little ones cooperate, so I can watch it in peace. I would really like to attend this one. I think this could be a very long night at City Hall. I asked an Alderman if the Mayor will be here for tonights meeting and I was told, "yes." I hope the Mayor doesn't have too much of a problem with his anger control when asked the questions he doesn't want to answer. He and his department heads are probably up in the corner office practicing their untruthful answers right now. I hope the BOA makes us proud tonight. |
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tetris
Moderator
2040 Posts |
Posted - 05/14/2007 : 7:21:58 PM
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Court,
Thanks for directing me to the DOE web site. I found lots of useful information there. According to that website, there was only one year from FY 2003 thru FY 2006 when the city did not meet net school spending; for all of the other years, funding for the schools was slightly above the required amount. FY 2007 is also budgeted to be slightly above the required amount. I was clearly wrong. My memory is either going faster than I thought or I have fallen under the spell of FFF's spin machine. |
Edited by - tetris on 05/14/2007 7:25:21 PM |
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Alderman's Meeting 5/14
