Belated School Budget Meeting Scheduled Wednesday Afternoon
School Committee to meet for open session at 3:50 p.m.
The Woonsocket School Committee will meet tomorrow afternoon at 108 High St. to discuss the 2014 school budget, well past its original March 1 deadline despite the efforts of School Committee member Anita McGuire-Forcier.
The passed deadline did not escape the notice of Lorraine Corey, city resident and editor of Mywoonsocket.com, who criticized the school department, School Committee and Budget Commission for allowing the deadline to pass without presenting a budget. "Had it not been for Committeewoman Anita McGuire Forcier, the fact that the school budget was late again would not have come to light until today," Corey told City Councilors during their March 4 meeting.
The passed deadline also drew criticism from taxpayer Christine MacWilliams. Corey noted McGuire-Forcier was recently voted out as Committee chair because she spent too much time with last year's budget.
According to Superintendent Giovanna Donoyan, Corey said, the Budget Commission gave the school department an extension on the budget deadline to April 1.
"Be that as it may, the School Department has not even begun to work on the budget," Corey said." The finance sub-committee hasn't met, and there have been no workshop meetings on the budget, Corey said.
In fact, McGuire-Forcier said Wednesday afternoon, "I'll only be seeing it for the first time tomorrow."
Last year's budget took the School Committee weeks to finish, with multiple meetings each week.
"This is inexcusable," Corey said March 4. "Inexcusable, because the Budget Commission has approved every tool to ensure that the job gets done." Those tools include an interim finance director, Ralph Malafronte, the hiring of former WMS Principal Patrick McGee as Director of Curriculum, a financial controller, a confidential secretary, all paid for by the taxpayers, she said.
"She's correct," McGuire-Forcier said, "We should have had the budget done." McGuire-Forcier said she began asking questions about the budget weeks beforehand, but Committee member John Donlon, who serves on the finance subcommittee, didn't have any information for her, she said.
At the Dec. 8, 2011 city council meeting, Corey said, Donoyan asked the council to let her do her job, and not to micro-manager her. " 'If you micromanage me, I will tell you forthright, in public, that you are hurting the children of Woonsocket,' " Corey quoted Donoyan.
"It's time for some micromanaging, not only by the Budget Commission, but by the School Committee and by the City Council," Corey said, "for the taxpayers of Woonsocket who are footing the bill, and for the children."
McGuire Forcier said Donoyan should have told the School Committee about the need for the extension beforehand. "The superintendent really dropped the ball when it came to communication," she said.
Regarding criticism she's received from fellow Committee members about her focus on the budget, Forcier said the children they're responsible for depend on them to pay close attention to funding their education. She said it's true that their focus should be on education. "However, education and finance go hand in hand."
Jay
12:59 am on Wednesday, March 20, 2013
That will be an 18% late charge please. Hypocrites.
russell archambault
12:59 am on Wednesday, March 20, 2013
When will the people finally figure out that it takes business minded people who have knowledge on how to run a business to actually accomplish this process. Its not about education, its not about teachers, and its not about your precious little children. I can only hope with our new system of getting to a school committee, the mayor and the council take my view into consideration. If I was the new mayor I would meet with high level business leaders ( not your little typical cronies) to get their thoughts and sugestions to try to pick qualified candites for the job. Then present them to the council. On the other side If I was ever on the school committee,The first thing I would try to accomplish is fire the head of the school dept. In my view the Superintendent has been a problem since day 2.
Rob
10:14 am on Wednesday, March 20, 2013
C'mon Russell we all know that isnt gonna happen most citizens love Dr.Donoyan.
David T
12:59 am on Wednesday, March 20, 2013
To all the Superintendent bashers:
1. The micromanaging started last year. Where were you? It took team of retired finance people and an accounting firm from winter 2012 until last August to straighten out years of poor book keeping just to produce a 2013 budget. The city is also under micro management as well as the school. It's called the budget commission. You think charter rules aren't followed now? Just wait for the receiver!!!
2. Why only pick on the school department. Lets be fair about this. You can ask Mr. Bruce that on March 1st the school was not and is not the only department without a budget.
3. The secretary doesn't write the budget. The school committee doesn't write the budget. The school committee reviews, makes changes to and approves the budget. Patrick McGee's job shouldn't include writing the district's budget. Tricia Mallozzi, the financial controller (John Ward correct me if I'm wrong) enters data, balances the books, submits monthly reports and other crucial duties but, I believe doesn't write the budget. So, I think that leaves Ralph who may be working 2 days a week and the Superintendent.
4. The School Committee, Anita and her peers should have gotten on SC Mtg record a direct question to the super, "Will we have the budget by March 1st?" But they didn't.
I think all the negativity focused on this issue from mywoonsocket.com and others is overkill and displaced anger.
Chris12
10:14 am on Wednesday, March 20, 2013
@Dave - What other contracts are overdue? What are the due dates?
Rob
10:14 am on Wednesday, March 20, 2013
David T i agree the Budget Commission gave them this extention to do there budget. One other point the city's budget is late as well of course its probably gonna run in the red again because this city really needs a $123 million dollar budget along with a $90 million unfunded pension liability so people have no right to throw stones at the WED.
John
12:14 pm on Thursday, March 21, 2013
Regardless of all the finger pointing and redirection it is the ultimately the Superintendent's responsibility to have the budget completed on time. This means getting it completed well in advance of the March 1st deadline. March 1st is when it should be in the hands of the City Counsel and approved by the School Committee. The School Committee should have received a Draft in Mid-February.
If you pay attention Anita McGuire-Forcier has been reminding the members of the Finance Sub-Committee and Dr. Donoyan of the approaching deadline at every School Committee meeting.