It's both interesting and puzzling to note that while the student population (using officially published numbers) has varied only about 1.5 % since the 2006 academic year, the total school staff (also using officially published numbers) has grown 15 %. Just something to think about.

Last year Olsen said, and I quote "this is the worst economic climate for contract negotiations I have seen in 26 years" in an attempt to justify the skip step 0, 0 offer he stood behind to WPS teachers.
Now he talks out of the other side of his mouth and says all fiscal years are difficult and disregard the economic climate.
Bill please pick a side of your moth and at least be consistent when you make statements in regard to weather we SHOULD or SHOULD NOT disregard te overall recession in regard to school finances!

I believe the Westford residents shoud recognize this doublespeak, recognize how insulted teachers are when they hear "we are not giving you your step raise to save jobs" and then turn around and hire more and more new positions, and REJECT the proposed school budget at ATM in a week! Enough is enough, tell the school to start the cuts Jodi Ross predicts for 2015 by NOT bringing on new non mandated positions (IT Director, full time Mandarin are you kidding me!.? Guess the money tree the School Comittee believes grows in residents pockets is back in bloom)

Harkness says the positions will happen "one way or another" if that's not an acknowledgement of school budgetary fat that can be cut I don't know what is. If the schools can fund the positions w/out an additional $500,000 I say LET THEM

When was the last time any federal, state or local govt. actually reduced it's budget for the upcoming year?

When it comes to approaving this new position budget; Do like Nancy Reagan told us in the 1980s and "JUST SAY NO"

Arthur,
Thanks for raising this point, please keep in mind the "one time help out the town" contract unions in town took last year expire in the summer of 2014...2015 is going to be rough on the town from what the indications have been, yea, it makes sense to keep hiring ......NOT

Maybe we should let the schools slide back a few notches, seems we played hardball with teachers last year and now many have axes to grind, let's just settle for good schools and stop chasing the wealthy districts schools with fluffy It administrators, Chinese language (we offer Latin here, if we want Mandarin let's swap it out)
Wouldn't we rather have trash pickup, new bleachers, elevators, and shopping centers with Whole Foods rather than hoity toity blue ribbon schools?

Have to say I too find the inconsistency more than just 'troubling'

I question why it's so imperative to provide not only the 'same level of services' but in fact an increased level of services when programs like Theater Arts and Chineese are being expanded!

Student enrollment is dropping and is predicted to drop over the next 15 years yet budgets go up and up. The student to teacher ratio in Westford is 15.3. But lets add teachers and expand. It only make sense.

Looks like from Angela Harkness comments that $500,000 can be found 'one way or another' in the school budget at any given time when the SC really wants to. I imagine residents and teachers alike are taking notice of this...

Andrew,
I don't think it's appropriate that two people have the same moniker. I fear that the comments that I wrote in previous articles will be construed as being of the same beliefs of the "A Teacher" who posted here at 4:55am and 4:04pm.

Jesse James says in another post that the School Committee is artificially inflating the Special Education costs to cover the negotiated teacher contract from last year? Anyone have anything further? Proof Jesse? I am not unwilling to believe but would like to see/hear more. Something doesn't smell right

The entire town's budget doesn't smell right. They all need to go and we also need to find a way to stop allowing our town moderator to put who she wants on the finance committee.

Sam, I'm smelling what you are stepping in. Any info relevant to the JJ SPED accusation above?

New positions school budget gonna get the green light from the money tree crowd or shot down in favor of fiscal accountability at ATM tomorrow? Anyone have the inside track (Jesse James, Amber, or Sam perhaps) new positions gonna mean bigger budgets when those folks demand "Westford raises" the next few years or what?

Our sacrifices have been real and we have had enough!

Westford unions getting ready to rally and make a presence felt Monday outside townhall as cheapo Westford looks to throw its public employees under the bus again this time with taking away health care benefits. Time to draw lines in the sand and take a stand it seems.
How long do the Westford talking heads think they can play the financial poverty card? Teachers, policemen and firemen have likely had enough. There is always money for new positions though. Enough is enough. See you Monday, Buzzz

I can give you schools with roughly similar enrollment numbers for 2011-12 year. Bear in mind Olsen said it costs on average about $100k to teach special ed kids.

Town | Enroll | Sped | Sped % | Tot Teach | Sped | Sped T %
Franklin |6032| 1072 |17.77| 416.1| 81.7 | 19.63
Marshfield |4671| 831 | 17.79 | 323.5 | 50.5 |15.61
Natick |4825| 750 | 15.54 | 333.1 | 28.4 | 8.53
Fitchburg |4881| 1260 | 25.81 | 333.8 | 58.2 | 17.43
Somerville |4855| 1104 | 22.74 | 338 | 33 | 9.76
Chelmsford |5307| 857 |16.14 | 340.3 | 42.5 | 12.48
Needham |5358| 803 | 14.98 | 344.7 | 21.2 | 6.12
Marlborough |4573| 1013 | 22.15 | 348.7 | 45.9 | 13.16
Shrewsbury |5938| 972 | 16.37 | 351.9 | 48.7 | 13.84
Wellesley |4892| 832 | 17 | 357.4 | 48.6 | 13.6
Woburn |4809| 894 |18.59 | 364.3 | 37.1 | 10.18
Attkeboro |5855| 1137 | 19.42 | 365.8 | 67.1 | 18.34
Medford |4849| 999 | 20.6 | 382.9 | 68.3 | 17.84

Nothing new should be bought, until you can pay your town people as you told them you would. That includes not "back door" docking them via insurance.

Should I just repost the towns article on how they saved the town money on health insurance by getting them an equal plan, but just as I said, (because I've done this before, but then again why listen to me) the next year the insurance went up, copays went up. The town advertised that they saved the town money with an equal plan while they could, knowing full well that was the teaser rate to get them to switch, the next year, it went up, now they want to cut the insurance plan and increase costs again.

Your taxes burden (rate x avg value) is higher than all but one of those towns

Your teachers are paid lower than most of those towns

You spend less per child than many of these towns, few spend less than you. But they do not rank in the top 5% of school systems.

You have literally hundreds of fewer sped kids than those other towns. Sometimes they have double the number withh similar overall enrollment.

The sped kids you have statistically shouldn't be that expensive to teach because you have one of the lowest sped teacher ratios.

You just saved a bundle by withholding steps for all town workers.

Your insurance coverage and split is already amongst the worst in MA, you want to make insurance even worse.

This is not longer teacher vs towns men, fireman vs, private sector. I've got the numbers...

I've done the research, Westford has a serious problem on it's hands. You are stacked against the competition in every way favorable to you at the expense of town employees, yet you pay some of the highest taxes. IT IS NOT GOING TO THE TEACHERS NOR THEIR INSURANCE, NOR THE SPED KIDS! Where is it going.

The last round of sacrifices the town employees were more than fair, I can't believe the Town has the gall to try to get more. And they masterfully get you to look at teachers as the problem. I gave you the numbers folks, you are smart enough to add and subtract, what is it going to take for people to wake up and start asking what the real problem is?

Continuing to squeeze your employees is not an option, and none of the unions should stand for it. None. You fold this time around you are just going to be pushed around forever. You've been reasonable, it's time for the the town Govt to show some responsibility and reason.

So, what's the solution? An override will probably be attempted, but will certainly fail, particularly when the fed and state taxes are going out of sight. What should be cut to pay for public employee raises and insurance? Cut the number of employees?

teachers will be work to rule if not this Spring, certainly the fall, is my prediction. better get those college letters of recommendation now because after teacher are reverse violated yet again it ain't gonna be pretty.
the solution was stop hiring more new positions but Olsen said he doesn't pay attention to the current financial situation when setting the school budget (and it's clear he was being brutally honest)

Westford has spent (wasted) tens of thousands of dollars on ridiculous UBD curriculum implementation with little to show yet can't afford to properly pay employees. But Olsen doesn't pay attention to yearly fiscal situation

I would love for the S.C. to put out the $ spent the last 15 years on curriculums. Most peoples jaws would hit the floor.

Hey Andrew,
Can I suggest a patch question to Super Olsen for the Westford PS expenditure on UBD/ Curriculum past 7 years please?

It would have to be the S.C. and I highly doubt they will release it. Let's try though.

Hey VinnyD, why dont you DRIVE BY the common and town hall tomorrow around 3pm and see your Police Officers, Fire Fighters, and Educators ready to march on Town Hall? Buzzzzzz.
That demonstration cant be good for the serene westford nice community rep know what I mean? I am sure the conversation will be the fat prop 2 1/2 override for next fall and what it means to anger police, firefighters and teachers all at one time! Bad Karma brotherman!

What do you need a camera for?

Part of this whole mess is the prop 2.5 over rides being associated with the teachers. I've layed out the numbers, I'll even email you the spreadsheets Vincent if you want them legalcontractsMA@gmail.com

You shouldn't need a prop 2.5 over ride to accomplish what you have to do.