Community questions and answers:

Below is the second set of questions and answers from the second "town hall" style meeting - conducted on January 10 at the Selkirk Fire House.

I have a new web page on RCS Today.  It is great! I have posted all my questions and answers onto it, and there is a direct link to it from the web page directory.  Here is the next series of questions and answers.  I hope you find them helpful.

QUESTION: How long will it take administration to work the fundraising issue out to a policy?

ANSWER:  I am hopeful that we will everything worked out by the end of the school year.  There are so many questions, procedures and discussions that have to take place within the organization and with the Board of Education that it will take us time to get through everything.  This is a complex issue that stems from the Comptroller’s Audit, from last year’s Budget Advisory Committee, and from concerns in the community that our students may be doing too much fund raising to pay for field trips that are part of the educational process.  We also ask parents to pay directly for field trips, and we need to determine what the impact would be on the budget if we - as a district -absorbed that cost. We are looking at Commissioner’s Regulations, our current policy, and the implication of Pamphlet #6 which governs extra classroom activity funds.  At this time the issue is in front of the Leadership Council.  The discussion will then go before the Board with a recommendation.

QUESTION: Did the superintendent speak to Matt Miller about the Vote of No Confidence?

ANSWER:  No, we have not had a lengthy conversation about it.  We have mentioned the topic briefly.  I have not been accorded a copy of that document so all I have really heard was what was spoken at the meeting which stated that the RCSTA had a lack of confidence in the central administration and the Board.  This is a very personal issue for me, and I am not even sure how to even address the issue.

QUESTION: Where did the actual vote take place?

ANSWER: I really do not know since I was not advised that there was even a vote being taken.  I have been told that the vote was taken in the schools.  I do not know how teachers were made aware of the vote.  I do not know how the vote was taken. 

QUESTION: Have the issues of the vote been addressed?

ANSWER: The Board and I have not discussed this issue.  There were general statements about the fiscal concern of the district, and I have spearheaded an aggressive plan to address the points of the audits.  I have changed the way I work within the organization.  I am working “on” the system instead of “in” the system, and I follow through and have oversight for projects that each of the administrators undertake whether it’s an instructional program, an O/M issue or a business project.  I am actively involved in the budget process, the reallocation of resources in the business office and in the hiring of a treasurer and a business administrator.  I am following through in a more tangible way than before by having more conversations with administration, meeting more frequently with the public, using the Superintendent’s Cabinet to implement recommendations putting more things in writing, co-facilitating the Budget Advisory Committee and now I have my own web page which I will use to inform the public of useful and important information. 

QUESTION: Do you believe that the community has confidence in you?

ANSWER:  I speak with people in our community all the time.  I see you at the supermarket, in the bank, at the post office, at the cleaners and at our eating establishments.  The people I speak to are friendly, always have a good word to say and enjoy seeing me at the various student events.  I know people are concerned about the audit findings although our audit is a good audit.  There are many things we have to change and redefine, but there are NO allegations or charges of fraud or misappropriation of district monies. There are factions within the community I am sure that are not happy with decisions that have been made, or changes that have come forward over the past several years, but I have no reason to think that the community is dissatisfied with the job the district has done overall since I have come on board.

QUESTION: Has the superintendent answered all the questions from the last meeting?

ANSWER:  Yes, I have.  Some of the answers came in December, but it takes quite a bit of thought to write the answers and I want to be thorough.  I will try to do a better job of getting these questions posted sooner.

QUESTION: Is the superintendent spread too thin?  Is this hurting our community?

ANSWER: The job of the superintendent is a very complex and multi-faceted one.  I do work long hours many times getting home after 9 p.m..  On Board meeting days, it is even later than that.  I support as many student activities as I can such as the concerts, the drama presentation, games, working the concession stand when I can and traveling to some sports events.  I spend hours over the weekend getting ready for reports, reviewing data and catching up on email.  The job of the superintendent is long and hard.  Every person in the job learns that very quickly, but I really enjoy what I do, and I believe wholeheartedly that we have done some positive things for our district.  We have uncovered many out of date practices that have to be corrected, and I will continue to work tirelessly to bring about a financially sound business office, complete with recommended policies, administrative regulations and procedures. Sure I’m spread thin.  It comes with the job, but I do not believe that the pace or the stress is hurting the community or our students. 

QUESTION:  Is the vote of no confidence a document and has the superintendent examined it?

ANSWER: I have not been given a copy of the statement that was read at the Board of Education meeting, so I have not had an opportunity to examine it.