Benton Elementary School

Minutes were published online from the Oct 1st 2015 meeting where Fairfield School Board Representative Mr. Stew Kinley made statements regarding how the State is not fully funding the School District "The chart demonstrated that state funding has not reached the legally mandated 55% level, but is currently running around 46%. At the same time the state has shifted the cost of the Teacher Retirement System to local districts. Mr. Kinley noted that while the state is underfunding its obligation , it continues to enforce mandated cost on local districts." NOTE: THERE ARE SEVERAL MSAD 49 EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE RETIRED FROM THEIR POSITIONS AT MSAD 49 IN ORDER TO DRAW RETIREMENT CHECKS AND ARE STILL WORKING AT THE VERY SAME POSITION THEY RETIRED FROM. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN...? MSAD 49 District taxpayers are paying twice to the same people for the same results, District ranked poorly by the State, State ranked poorly by the Nation.

Before our local elected representatives cast stones towards the State level, maybe they should look at their own conduct, productivity, pro-activity, local School Board development program, etc... The community has pointed out several areas of needed improvement locally where the ball is in our local court. Keeping the Fairfield Primary open has cost the District millions of unnecessary dollars that could have been used to better the quality of the Districts facilities and quality of education. The practice of retiring personal only to keep them on payroll after they retire in the very same positions, costs the taxpayers more often than not, more than hiring new and innovative young people, stifles forward progression in the District, slows opportunity for new employees to move into the area etc... The practice of allowing married MSAD 49 employees to have one spouse receive District medical benefit plans and at the same time pay the other spouse sums that near 15K to find their own medical plans (why would you pay for another if your spouse is already covered) is a practice costing the local taxpayers additional costs with minimal benefits. More can be viewed on facebook "Arel Spaulding (School Board e-mails).

After several attempts to view the curriculum from K-12 communicating directly to the staff, administration, school board and the Department of Education Office in Augusta, one year later a curriculum was provided by the Superintendent for our review. The curriculum provided was incomplete and out dated. After becoming a School Board member 2014 both School Board Policies and Curriculum are now available online. There are 13 School Board members that make up the School Board yet three School Board members and the Superintendent meet each week and discuss business without involving the other members of the School Board and meet without public notice or agenda. The School Board has not followed Policy ADA which requires them to set annual goals in cooperation with the staff, administration and citizens of the community. Setting annual goals per policy ADA have not been complied with for many years. The School Board as a body has publicly stated they are not required to hear public comments or concerns. When suggesting to have goals established and a schedule set to meet those goals and review progress, the School Board refused to adopt this basic practice of success.