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Sunday, June 28, 2009
LBPSB: a Citizen's Year End Report for Council - June 29, 2009
posted by Chris Eustace at 11h34
by Chris Eustace
LBPSB Notes for Council June 29, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009 - two happenings: one summer school course and two budgets
- Université de Montréal: first day of course - 'The Obama Presidency Year One', pre-assigned homework: 'Readings' include Barack Obama's Inaugural Address. An excerpt:
“And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account, to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day, because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.”
- LBPSB last Council meeting of 2008-2009 - Agenda includes much-publicized 2009-2010 Budget - a 'Public Notice' and a few newspaper articles.
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Will the budget pass? What will be the size of the projected deficit? Who knows?
Nevertheless, I am reminded of Abraham Lincoln's quote by some of the reported condescending remarks made by Marcus Tabachnick, chair of the LBPSB since its inception - about 10 years.
"People will not be able to understand how we're managing money", and "There's no way the local community can understand...." and so on. (Gazette, May 26)
I understand.
Consider for starters: we have fewer students in the English sector, yet the Quebec English School Boards Association has increased its personnel, and planned to raise membership fees again - more school-tax dollars.
Also, think about the California-based messaging system that Pearson acquired. Meanwhile, a Canadian company that deals with only school matters could have done the job for tens of thousands of dollars cheaper and with a lot less hassle. (last link below)
Anyway, I also “understand” that Pearson will distinguish itself from other school boards, in the province, by presenting two budgets. Yet, unlike the other on-island English school board that disclosed its 64-page, 2007-2008 Annual Report, I see there is no mention of that in the June 29, 2009 Agenda. I can only find the 47-page 2006-2007 Annual Report on the Pearson site. This is not ‘business-like’.
The pictures: U of M announcement of ‘Presidency Obama’ course ; President waves Good-bye to Canada on Feb. 19, '09 - just after talking to the Opposition ; and a picture of tapestry taken in March '09 on Beale Street, home of the ‘Blues’, Memphis, Tennessee.
Link # 1: a 10-part review of the value of an Ombudsman as called for in Bill 88. Democracy, justice, fairness come into play. Part 11 (eleven): “The Letter” hopefully, will follow part 10 once this post is up.
Link 2 : a recapitulation of events, questions for Council - basically back-up notes. (There is overlap )
Links 3, 4, and 5: To fully appreciate Mr. Tabachnick’s comments, below are three Gazette articles from a few weeks ago dealing with this budget.
Link 6: the Canadian messaging system company mentioned above is based in Ontario. The LBPSB must understand the board is not a bank - and the front door works.
1858 - Abraham Lincoln: "You can fool some of the people all of the time, and you can fool all of the people some of the time, but you can't fool all of the people all of the time."
2009 - from President Obama’s Inaugural Address: "Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work ...” Soon: ‘The Letter’ - Part eleven in Le Devoir link below.
http://www.ledevoir.com/2007/06/02/145926.html
http://westislandgazette.com/news/news/8279
http://westislandgazette.com/news/7915
http://www.synrevoice.com/schoolconnects.htm