harlow
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Pay for Play is up to $150.00 per child per sport last year it was $75.00 - 2006/10/12 17:01
SUBJECT: PAY FOR PLAY COST SIMBURY HIGH SCHOOL FAMILIES UP TO $600.00 A YEAR
PLUS $100.00 to PARK A CAR AT SIMSBURY HIGH SCHOOL
Simsbury has the top 10 highest taxes in the state out of 120 towns. This is partly because Simsbury does not have the help of a lot of businesses to contribute to the tax base. As a result, the burden is much heavier on the Simsbury Taxpayer. But why are the salaries of the government employees more than those of towns with a lot of businesses to support the tax base?
A new study says that 1/3 of American children are overweight. With obesity becoming a alarming problem in this country, why is it so hard to find the money for Athletics, but so simple to find everyone’s yearly raise?
Simsbury spends approximately $50 million on education. Simsbury is lacking approximately $75,000 for the education budget. (music and sports) Approximately 70 percent is spent on administration and 30 percent on the actual student costs. Well over ½ million is spent just on the salaries of the top 6 employees at Simsbury High School each year. (1 Superintendent, 1 Principle, 3 Assistant Principles one HR Director) (Let me tell you,..it wasn’t easy getting figures as no one was very forthcoming about salary and raises)
The Board of Education found money in the budget last year to hire a 3rd Assistant Principle at Simsbury High School. The cost of one Assistant Principle would cover the Music and Athletic budget (that parents must cover each year) and have approximatetly $30,000 left over each year.
In my household, when we realize that costs have risen, we tighten our belts, and we do not hire additional help nor do we reward ourselves with extra spending money (raises).
How does the school justify getting raises and then coming up short of $75,000. to an already overtaxed town. Since when do we not ALL share the expense of the Free Public Education System in our yearly town taxes?
The Superintendent gets a $8,000 a year raise, each principle gets over a $4,000.00 a year raise.
Our mayor was awarded a $12,000.00 raise this year. Simsbury spends money like there is no tomorrow, and then comes up shy each year for the budget, thus telling parents to come up with the money for “Pay for Play”. I am sure that Pay for Play had a very nobel beginning in a poor Steel Workers town, but it is wrong for a wealthy town to take advantage of “Pay for Play”.
Why all of a sudden has the athletic program become ala carte? Student’s needs should come before raises. Pay for Play could be abolished if each Simsbury household paid a additional $6.00 a year or if raises were curtailed.
If this bothers you, make a phone call to voice your opinion. As salaries increase by 4percent each year, so will the pay for play that you will pay. Last year Pay for Play was $75.00 per sport, this year it went up to $150.00 per child per sport, plus $100.00 to park a car at the high-school.
Board of Ed meetings are held on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month. (no one goes to these meetings) You can also call and voice your opinion with the Board of Finance that allocates more money to the the Board of Education.
Board of Education 651-3361 Board of Finance 658-3244 Tom Vincent, Mayor 658-3230
Sincerely,
April and Michael Smith
South Simsbury
Post edited by: harlow, at: 2006/10/12 17:05
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