Ventnor Educational Community Compex
VENTNOR - Feeling pressure from a critical social media community as they approach budget season, Board of Education members Wednesday, Oct. 24 revived a previous discussion about the possibility of hiring a consulting firm to conduct an investigation to assure the district is operating efficiently. But after somewhat contentious conversation, they held off making a decision.
Board member Douglas Biagi said he reversed his previous opinion opposing the idea and suggested looking into hiring a consultant to review school operations and funding to ensure we have total transparency.
I have total faith in our administration, absolutely 100 percent, that they guide us to the place we need to be, but to have total transparency&I think that we should at least rethink bringing someone in, Biagi said.
Hiring a consultant would provide an independent view that could help with the public's perception of the district, he said.
I doubt they would find a bunch of ways to change things and save a lot of money, but at least we can say we did it, he said.
Biagi, board President James Pacanowski and board member Kim Bassford said they are often approached by citizens who complain about the district and their taxes.
A consultant could review educational programming and the way education is delivered and recommend areas that could save money, Bassford said.
If everything is great in our district, what do we have to fear? Bassford said. It would be a validation for all of us to say we opened our books and got a second set of eyes to say we're doing a great job.
Answering a question from board member Albert Battaglia about how broad the investigation could be, board Solicitor Andrew Brown said that any consultant would need instruction on how to proceed.
It's defining what you want someone to do and then figuring out if there's somebody out there who can do it, he said. You can't just say look at everything, the consultant needs some kind of direction.
Pacanowski, who supports the idea of hiring a consultant, said the district is facing a tough budget year.
We're going into a budget season that will be contentious at best, and I'm already getting stuff from the mayor and administration, and they are not liking the numbers, Pacanowski said.
Despite the bond the city issued to pay for capital projects, the district will be still be short on funding for the 2019-2020 school budget, he said.
The numbers do not match, he said. We are not number crunchers. The thought of bringing somebody in to take a look at everything from budgeting figures to enrollment to what our programs are so we can be better educated is what we are looking at, Pacanowski said.
Superintendent Eileen Johnson, who was somewhat blindsided by the suggestion, said she is always open and honest about financial issues.
You have a business administrator and auditors, Johnson said. If you have any questions about money, I would suggest you have a meeting and sit down with myself, the business administrator and the auditors.
Biagi said the board has confidence in the administration and is pleased with the result of last year's teacher contract negotiations, but an outside opinion would validate our confidence in our district, he said.
Board members said that after last year's contentious budget meetings and the Board of Commissioners insistence that the district bond for capital improvements instead of funding improvements through the operating budget, the district plans to hold public budget meetings before the budget is presented to the Board of School Estimates.
Middle School Principal Rob Baker said if a consultant is hired, there should be no hidden agenda.
Under our leadership, together we've created a culture of cooperation, where differences can be worked out properly without contentiousness. So, why make it contentious when you have a pleasant situation where your people are giving, and the staff is on board? Baker said.
Resident Xan Grant suggested the district feed the sharks before we go swimming with them, by conducting a low cost, high impact digital public information campaign promoting budget meetings to the public.
A digital campaign on the district's website could inform residents about the district's plans, provide an opportunity for them to respond online, and possibly attend a meeting before the board votes, he said.
If someone does not respond online or attend a meeting, we have saved a ton of money, he said.
Biagi said it is disappointing that people who offer criticism of the district do not attend school board meetings.
I would love the public to engage us more often, Biagi said. I would love the opportunity to answer their questions. The brains of the operation is the administration∧ we are observers or gate-keepers. We do have limitations. I would love not to have to go through all the bull after the fact.
Speaking for the administration, Johnson said her team tries to keep things positive and "always does the right thing."
But I will not be spoken to in a way that is disrespectful. I will not accept emails that are disrespectful. We need to make it clear that either we are going to respect the administration and show it in our actions every day, or we are going to have to figure something else out. It is not acceptable for this to be starting this early, she said.
Biagi and Pacanowski apologized for creating tension.
The board made no decision about hiring a consultant.
