Danville’s selectman chairman, Shawn O’Neil, complained during the most recent school board meeting (Oct. 1) that the district had not yet filed the financials with the Department of Education necessary for setting each town’s tax rate (DOE-25). This was due on September 1, 2015. As of Monday (Oct 5), according to a source at the DOE, it still had not been filed. This is a serious deadline as tax bills have to be sent to residents soon to allow as much time as possible before the expense of Christmas.
Not only that, but the report also contains the cost per pupil, a figure which has come under intense scrutiny since Arthur Green started analyzing TImberlane’s cost per pupil and educational outcomes compared to similar NH school districts.
The district has also not published its official enrollment numbers as of October 1, which is normally posted to the district website around now.
We are also anticipating the staffing report required by the DOE in mid-October. It was discrepancies in the reported staffing that caused me to request the budget detail for staffing at Timberlane and which is now the subject of my appeal to the state’s Supreme Court.
Why is an important state deadline not being respected at Timberlane? Don’t ask your school board. They are oblivious to it all because making sure critical reports are submitted to the DOE and the towns promptly would be “micromanaging the SAU,” and no one wants that – especially you when you get your tax bill a few weeks before Christmas.
How Right to Know Requests Grow
On October 5, Arthur Green wrote to the district asking after the DOE-25 and the enrollment figures. It has generated more “frivolous” Right to Know requests.
Dr. Metzler
I have not seen the DOE-25 report for Timberlane’s 2014/15 year posted on the district web site. Last year this report was posted immediately (at the end of August), and I would hope that the intention is to post it in the normal course of business. If this is not the case, please consider this a request under RSA 91-A for the report.
I will happily rescind this request if the report is posted publicly, which is the preferred result.
Thanks for your attention to this matter.
Arthur Green
The reply from the SAU:
Please allow this email to serve as confirmation of receipt of your right-to-know request. Your request has been forwarded to the business department. A response will be forthcoming as to when we will have these items ready for pick up.
Thank you.
Dr. Metzler
I have not seen the Oct.1 2015 enrollment report for Timberlane posted on the district web site. Last year this report was posted immediately, and I would hope that the intention is to post it in the normal course of business. If this is not the case, please consider this a request under RSA 91-A for the report.
I will happily rescind this request if the report is posted publicly, which is the preferred result.
Thanks for your attention to this matter.
Arthur Green
Reply from the SAU
Please allow this email to serve as confirmation of receipt of your right-to-know request. Your request has been forwarded to the appropriate department. A response will be forthcoming as to when we will have these items ready for pick up.
Thank you.
timberlaneandsandown 