Tuesday, January 17, 2012

"Why wouldn't we want to do that?"

The Amherst School Committee voted unanimously this evening to fill the seat left vacant by Steve Rivkin, although Superintendent Maria Geryk seemed skeptical that it is indeed necessary.

Once the Amherst Select Board is formally notified of this positive vote they will have time to discuss it at their January 26 meeting, issue a public call for candidates, and choose a winner at a joint meeting with the School Committee on February 6.

The new member will serve until the next election, April 4. The next few months are particularly important as the School Committees (all Amherst SC members are also members of the four town Regional School Committee along with Pelham, Leverett and Shutesbury) takes up discussion of the FY13 budget.

The Regional High School budget currently faces a $500,000 shortfall and the three other towns are already griping about their expensive assessments. Just today a highly contentious $1.4 million Library Override in Shutesbury was decided by a single disputed vote ruled valid, thus increasing taxes all the more.

According to the regional agreement, three out of the four towns must vote in favor of their assessment or else it's back to the drawing board.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Is the new member being selected out of Maria's Rolodex?

Anonymous said...

Anyone want to place bets on this new member having any different ideas or opinions than the other four?

Can we nominate one of Maria Geryk's hand puppets?

Anonymous said...

"Those with a critique of the effectiveness of Amherst schools need not apply."

Anonymous said...

Tell me again:

Just how many school employees are making $85K or more? And how many of them are teachers? This is our town's version of "the 1 percent".

Let's face it: there will be no accountability from the school administration until the next override vote. None.

Larry Kelley said...

I believe it was 21, with not one being a front line teacher.

Anonymous said...

wow, the upper one percent of earners in this town are only making $85,000+/year?

that's much less than i would have guessed! where do you get these figures anon 10:22?

and surely you've figured in the full year work shedule of administrators compared to the 185 days teachers work...

Anonymous said...

maria geryk has been critiquing the effectiveness of the amherst schools since she started working here like 11 or 12 years ago. and i don't recall a s.c in the last ten years or so that has not been critical. name one.

Larry Kelley said...

Not all folks on the list work a full year, Anon 11:45 PM


>>> Larry Kelley 9/21/2011 1:45 PM >>>

Quick question: Are any of those on the list working/keeping office hours less than 12 months? As in, getting the summer off?
Larry




"Yes - Here's the list of school-year staff:

Diane Chamberlain
Susan Kennedy Marx
Linda Gianesin
Karen Keough-Huff
Derek Shea
Jeanne White

These individuals are paid to work a 222-day schedule per year."

Anonymous said...

the assistant principal's time and salaries were cut as part of budget cutting. they used to be all year positions.

Anonymous said...

How can they be facing a short-fall??? We just passed an override?!!!

Anonymous said...

lots of new positions have been added this year, at least 7 or 8, ask the supe or school board what positions and the salaries and what they do.