Dear Editor,<\/p>\n
Once again Mr. Chartrand has misunderstood the operation of the OACSD. He commented last week that the school claims to have reduced teaching positions yet hired new teachers. He is confusing positions with the people occupying them. Example: In 2009 the music faculty numbered nine positions occupied by nine teachers. In the first big cut, one of the positions was cut and one teacher was laid off, leaving eight positions occupied by eight teachers. Subsequently, one of the remaining eight teachers resigned resulting in eight positions occupied by seven teachers. A replacement was then hired for the 8th position. Result: eight teachers in eight positions. Still a reduction of one position from nine to eight. Just as claimed. Similar changes have been made in other departments. The reduction in positions remains.<\/p>\n
It was also interesting to read his thought that although the tax levy has risen by only 1 percent or so per year that the actual bill increased 30 percent. Mathematically impossible due to just the levy change. Possible if the assessment and\/or the equalization rate changed as happened to people in the Town of Nichols. But that wasn\u2019t caused by the school district\u2019s actions. The towns do the assessing and the state sets the equalization rates. Place the blame where it belongs Joe.<\/p>\n
A few weeks ago Mr. Chartrand urged a no vote if the levy increase exceeded the tax cap. The tax cap for the OACSD this year is 5.32 percent.\u00a0The initial budget proposal is to increase the levy by 3.95 percent. Under the cap. Why isn\u2019t Mr. Chartrand happy?<\/p>\n