As someone who has followed the Cranston schools budget process for a number of years (although my involvement in going to meetings has lessened this past year due to other responsibilities — more on that later) I find this update by Steve Stycos to be very thought-provoking.

BUDGET HEARING

The Cranston City Council will review the school budget tomorrow (Wednesday) night at 7:30 at the Cranston East Auditorium. Turnout from parents is helpful. Those concerned with education, however, should also contact their city council members directly. Don’t forget the three at large council members. Addresses and phone numbers are listed on the city’s web site.

SAVING SPORTS

Is Michael Traficante’s recent announcement that the New England Laborers/Cranston Public Schools Construction Career Academy will contribute $88,241 to save Cranston high school tennis, golf and indoor track teams a wonderful act of generosity by the former football and wrestling coach? Or is it a financial slight of hand by the former mayor whose administration was characterized by corruption and fiscal mismanagement?

The truth probably lies somewhere in between.

More importantly, why does the Laborers charter school have so much money when many Rhode Island school districts and municipal governments are running in the red?

Like all charter schools, the Laborers charter school receives most of its funding from tuitions, half paid by the state and half by the Cranston school department. Unlike other charter schools, however, it also receives a subsidy of about $400,000 in services from the Cranston Public Schools. Cranston pays for the Laborers charter school’s special education, busing and school lunch programs, in addition to supplying central administrative services like payroll and personnel. This extra money from Cranston allows the Laborers charter school to make donations, like the $88,241 to save sports.

In July, the Laborers charter school unelected board voted unanimously to pay $193,840 in costs for “construction craft laborers instructors.” These positions, hired and controlled by the union, had previously been paid entirely by the union. The cost of the instructors was part of the original partnership between the union and the Cranston schools. I questioned the change and argued that if the Laborers charter school had $193,840 for the union, it should also give $193,840 to the Cranston Public Schools.

Mr. Traficante, who chairs the charter school board of directors and the Cranston School Committee, and is an employee of the Laborers Union, countered that the former superintendent promised the union would only have to pay for the “construction craft laborers instructors” for the school’s first five years. This agreement is not in writing and was kept secret from the school committee and the public until I questioned it. Nevertheless, my resolution to seek $193,840 from the school was defeated by the school committee.

Mr. Traficante, however, said the Laborers charter school wanted to help with Cranston’s financial woes and came forward with a transfer of $187,218. In response to questioning from several school committee members, we discovered that this “gift” was state reimbursement for special education services already paid by the Cranston Public Schools. Had the charter school kept the money, it would have been paid twice for the same special education services. Once by its partner, the Cranston Public Schools, and once by the state of Rhode Island. Since Cranston pays for the special education services, Cranston should automatically receive the money.

Now comes the promise to pay for sports.

While the Laborers Union contributes some funds to the charter school’s operation, more than 95 percent of the school’s $3 million budget comes from Cranston and state taxpayers. The school is not a low-cost operation. In fact, teachers and staff are covered by the same union contract as Cranston Public Schools employees. (The construction craft laborers instructors, however, who are hired by the union, receive a school year wage and benefit package equal to $97,751 while a comparable technical assistant at Cranston’s vocation school earns $45,870 in wages and benefits.) According to the Providence Journal, the Laborers charter school is able to save the Cranston tennis, golf and indoor track because it is running a surplus of $387,000 – or approximately the amount of the Cranston Public Schools subsidy.

Even the most incompetent superintendent could run a surplus if he/she were able to get someone else to pay for special education, busing, cafeteria and central administration. If Cranston eliminated its subsidy for the Laborers charter school, the elected members of the school committee, not a board controlled by the Laborers Union, could decide how to spend $400,000 of tax money. And we wouldn’t need a $88,241 gift to run our sports program.

Also, just received from my local principal, here is an upcoming forum for those who want to ask questions and find ways to improve education in Cranston:

B. A. S. I. C. S.

Benefiting All Students In Cranston Schools

This is a critical financial time for our school system.

BASICS is gathering Cranston’s leaders together to stop pointing fingers and to start working together towards a brighter future. Mayor Fung, Superintendent Nero, members of the School Committee, and the City Council will be together to answer your questions. We are asking for an open dialogue that can work to rebuild our public school education to the level we all know it should be.

BASICS is an a-political, non-blame motivated organization, dedicated to finding practical solutions to the City of Cranston’s educational financial crisis. Our goal is to educate the community and to bring attention to the issues that are facing our children and their educations.

Please join us for B.A.S.I.C.S.’s

Town Meeting Open Forum: One City

Monday, April 12, 2010

7:00 pm

Cranston High School West

Every Cranston resident NEEDS to attend this meeting.

Let’s bring our city back together.

If you would like to learn more about B.A.S.I.C.S. or become a member please join us on Facebook, or contact Kerri Kelleher (401)241-1561, kamkelleher@msn.com, or Pam Schiff (401)781-4612, pfts319@aol.com.

Some questions will be selected prior to the start of the event.

Please submit your questions via Facebook or by email to Pam Schiff. Make sure to include to whom you want your question addressed, as well as your name and contact information for verification.