Dear Everyone Learning @ Amherst, Region, and Pelham Schools:
First, thank you to everyone, regardless of which side of the vote you are/were on, for paying attention! Our progress as a democracy depends on people with numerous points of view paying attention.
Many people showed up at our information meetings, watched the "Budget 101" ACTV presentation, followed the development of the budget process, read our email and website information, and asked questions--tough questions and good questions. That's the way it is supposed to work. Again--whether they voted yes or no (hopefully they voted)--I expect their vote was based on facts, not generalizations and misinformation.
Over the past several months I have received questions about the number of administrators we have (I am always glad to illustrate with job descriptions); if we've considered trying to merge town and school departments or supervision (yes we have, and do, example: we now have a shared Facilities Director); if we have explored certain cost saving approaches (yes, we have implemented many), and why we don't benefit more from the college and university (we have, we do, and we will). We have responded to all of these--for those who wanted to listen to the answer. Similarly, I have heard the call to "live within our means" and have addressed that, as well. As you know, the three year plan defined those means and the limits to cap spending while dealing with the town's structural deficit.
We have a very open and thoughtful planning process in our schools. The School Committees routinely review our goals, hear reports from all departments, establish budget assumptions, build budgets, and start all over again, annually. There is a reason and rationale for everything we do and how we do it. Of course, I do not expect everyone to agree with what we do or how we do it. I would hope those individuals would understand that this is all a work in progress, that there is a method to our approach, and that we seek continuous improvement. I, and all of us, learn when we are critiqued. Some of the suggestions used to criticize us are actually good ones. We have already examined some of them and have them in operation now. Others have not been implemented with good reason. Regardless, I expect disagreement and critiques. You see, we "got the message" a long time ago and are working on it.
Over the past several months, we have invited people to visit the schools and to learn how and why we operate. I have invited individuals to meet to review the facts and the information behind the information, and/or sent out detailed information, yet only a few responded. What I have found troubling is that many people have not asked us questions directly while others have made generalizations and assumptions and presented them as facts, repeatedly. And what I have found even more troubling is the intentional dissemination of misinformation and the unsettling discourse that has prevailed in some instances. We will continue to seek ways to communicate, to attend to questions, and to respond.
Regarding this current financial picture, two years ago it became clear that the town was facing a structural deficit and that instead of climbing out of the proverbial hole of previous years cuts, we faced more cutting and belt-tightening this year and next. We tightened our belts and made cuts, aggressively pursued the legislature (state and federal), developed progressive plans with the college and the university (and have been meeting to discuss finances, too), and implemented efficiency measures while contending with the pressures of increased regulations and compliance issues. (I will talk more about the Finance Committee's thoughtful plan and the process necessary to accomplish this at another time). All through this, teachers have taught, administrators have led, parents have been involved, and students have achieved.
For those of you who sought factual information about the override, the three year plan, our budget, and how we operate the schools, THANK YOU. Regardless of how you voted, your objectivity and inquiry are appreciated.
Respectfully,
Jere Hochman