by Angie Cardinal
What a turn of events tonight. The Farmington School Board had a regularly scheduled meeting. A new community initiative called "Coordinated School Health Committee" presented to the school board for the first time tonight. That was my main interest in tonight 's agenda. The committee is just getting started and are looking for parents to participate. I can send anyone more information if interested.
The closing of the meeting was a pleasant surprise. I have been spending a lot of time trying to explain, in my simplest attempts, the way the separate school budget and SAU budget timelines work. I've tried my best to outline the timing and purpose of public hearings and the deliberative session. Tonight, the Farmington School Board voted to merge the two budgets into one school budget with the SAU61 plan as its own line item within that school budget. This is how single-town districts, like what Farmington will be after this academic year, perform their fiscal planning. Our school board members consulted with their legal advisors and determined Farmington can go about the budget preparations as a single-town district now since that will be our reality for the 2016-17 academic year.
What this means for us is change could be a little smoother and holistic starting with the public hearing. The SAU61 Board will still hold the hearing at 6:30 PM on Tuesday, December 22, 2015 at the Farmington High School library. We have the opportunity to provide our input on the SAU61 spending plan. They will not hold a vote to approve a final version of an SAU61 budget this Tuesday. The next Farmington School Board meeting is scheduled for January 4, 2016. Hopefully the board plans to review and approve a newly combined SAU/school budget then.
At the January 30, 2016 deliberative session, voters may propose changes to the overall budget, the SAU61 line item included, as a final measure before the March 8, 2016 ballot vote.
Of course, I cannot say for sure if this blog had anything to do with tonight's change in the budget process. Perhaps showing how overly complex having two budgets was made others look at our budget process with more common sense. I do know the blog has reached a number of Farmington voters who would like to see funding shift from the SAU61 office into the Farmington schools. Tuesday night is still our next opportunity to influence our elected decision makers to do that. My hope is a combined budget will help make appropriate changes happen.
Monday, December 21, 2015
Thursday, December 3, 2015
Time to Take Action
by Angie Cardinal
Let's better Farmington.
Sounds like quite a broad statement, but we can do it.
Farmington is a blue collar town with some of the most honest, hardworking people I have ever met and the caring folks around this community want to better Farmington. Whether through economic development, improving roads, advancing schools or countless other areas, bettering Farmington is often a hot topic around town.
Since moving my family to Farmington two and a half years ago, I've made a concerted effort to insert myself into the community in many ways. My husband was born and raised here, but I'm not from around here and for the most part, I have received positive feedback and support from my family, the new friends I have made and the new acquaintances along the way.
People's willingness to help and learn more about what's going on around town has prompted me to start this blog. As an active member of the 500 Boys & Girls Club and the PTA and a concerned citizen at school board meetings, I have learned more about this town in two and half years than I could have ever imagined.
While people are eager to know more, it's been challenging to keep concerned and caring families updated with all the information that I come across. So, this blog is meant to catch you up on the important details and facts that I observe along the way with a focus on the schools as that is my passion.
Sure, I will insert my opinion when I see fit, but my intent is to fill you in on the different options we have when we want to make change in our community.
Armed with more information on what is happening at our schools and important upcoming meetings and votes, we can better Farmington.
Thanks for taking the time to read and check back soon for more.
Let's better Farmington.
Sounds like quite a broad statement, but we can do it.
Farmington is a blue collar town with some of the most honest, hardworking people I have ever met and the caring folks around this community want to better Farmington. Whether through economic development, improving roads, advancing schools or countless other areas, bettering Farmington is often a hot topic around town.
Since moving my family to Farmington two and a half years ago, I've made a concerted effort to insert myself into the community in many ways. My husband was born and raised here, but I'm not from around here and for the most part, I have received positive feedback and support from my family, the new friends I have made and the new acquaintances along the way.
People's willingness to help and learn more about what's going on around town has prompted me to start this blog. As an active member of the 500 Boys & Girls Club and the PTA and a concerned citizen at school board meetings, I have learned more about this town in two and half years than I could have ever imagined.
While people are eager to know more, it's been challenging to keep concerned and caring families updated with all the information that I come across. So, this blog is meant to catch you up on the important details and facts that I observe along the way with a focus on the schools as that is my passion.
Sure, I will insert my opinion when I see fit, but my intent is to fill you in on the different options we have when we want to make change in our community.
Armed with more information on what is happening at our schools and important upcoming meetings and votes, we can better Farmington.
Thanks for taking the time to read and check back soon for more.
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